Present law generally requires that a person obtain a certificate of need to establish a hospital, other than a mental health hospital. Effective July 1, 2028, this bill adds that a certificate of need will not be required to establish an acute care hospital, which this bill defines to mean a hospital with a primary focus on patients with an average length of stay of 25 days or less.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-11-1602(10)(B), 68-11-1602, 68-11-1607
Amended with SA0774, SA0775, SA0776 -- 03/26/2026: 68-11-1602(10)(B), 68-11-1602, 68-11-1607, 68-11-204(a)(1), 68-11-204, 68-11-202(a)(1), 68-11-202, 68-11-1607(a)(6), 68-11-1607(x)(1), 68-11-1607(x)(3), 68-11-1607(y), 68-11-205(g)(1)(A)(iii), 68-11-205, 68-11-1607(a)(3)(E)
Amended with SA0774, SA0775, SA0776, HA1113, HA1126 -- 04/16/2026: 68-11-1602(10)(B), 68-11-1602, 68-11-1607, 68-11-204(a)(1), 68-11-204, 68-11-202(a)(1), 68-11-202, 68-11-1607(a)(6), 68-11-1607(x)(1), 68-11-1607(x)(3), 68-11-1607(y), 68-11-205(g)(1)(A)(iii), 68-11-205, 68-11-1607(a)(3)(E)