House Bill 651 establishes comprehensive regulations for the installation and use of electronic monitoring devices in long-term care facilities, specifically nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The bill defines "electronic monitoring device" as a fixed-position video camera that can broadcast or record movement without audio. It allows residents or their representatives to install these devices in their rooms, provided they give written notice to the facility, cover the associated costs, and obtain consent from any co-residents. The bill also outlines the consent process, including conditions that co-residents may impose and the facility's obligation to accommodate residents wishing to use a device if consent is not granted.

Additionally, the bill prohibits facilities from discriminating against residents who choose to install electronic monitoring devices and imposes penalties for violations, including a $500 fine for facilities that deny admission or discharge residents based on their use of these devices. Only authorized individuals, such as the resident, their representative, or law enforcement, may view the recordings, and public dissemination of images captured by the devices is prohibited. The legislation also makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to tamper with or destroy the devices or their recordings. The Agency for Health Care Administration is tasked with creating standard forms for notification and consent and adopting rules for implementation, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2026.