The bill, S.B. No. 490, mandates that certain health care facilities, specifically hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, adopt and implement a policy for surgical smoke evacuation systems. This policy aims to mitigate exposure to surgical smoke during planned surgical procedures likely to generate such smoke. The bill defines key terms, including "surgical smoke," which refers to the gaseous by-products produced during surgical procedures, and "surgical smoke evacuation system," which encompasses equipment designed to capture and filter this smoke before it can affect individuals in the operating room.

Health care facilities are required to implement this policy by January 1, 2026, and they have the flexibility to choose any surgical smoke evacuation system that ensures protection for both patients and health care providers, tailored to the specific surgical techniques used at the facility. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()