SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 162

Protection from Surgical Smoke
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SPONSOR
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Davis
FILED BY
Tracie Davis — District 5, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Rules

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Protection from Surgical Smoke; Defining the terms “smoke evacuation system” and “surgical smoke”; requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, by a specified date, to adopt and implement policies to prevent patients and personnel from being exposed to harmful surgical smoke, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires licensed facilities to adopt policies against harmful surgical smoke.

By January 1, 2027, every licensed facility must adopt and implement policies preventing patients and staff from surgical smoke exposure that is deemed a health risk and shown by medical evidence to cause harm.

Facilities can comply using a smoke evacuation system or any other appropriate measure during procedures likely to generate surgical smoke, a term covering laser and electrosurgical byproducts such as plume, bioaerosols, and lung-damaging dust.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Licensed facilities must adopt surgical-smoke exposure policies by 2027 majors. 395.1013

AIBy January 1, 2027, every licensed facility must adopt and implement policies to prevent patients and staff from being exposed to surgical smoke that is deemed a health risk and shown by medical evidence to cause harm.

“each licensed facility shall adopt and implement policies to prevent patients and personnel from being exposed to surgical smoke” bill text, line 25 →
§ 2 Compliance can use a smoke evacuation system or other measures moderates. 395.1013

AIFacilities are not required to use any single method -- they may comply by installing a smoke evacuation system or by using any other appropriate measure during a surgical procedure likely to generate surgical smoke.

“including by using a smoke evacuation system or any other appropriate measure during any surgical procedure that is likely to generate surgical smoke.” bill text, line 28 →
§ 3 Defines 'surgical smoke' broadly to cover laser and electrosurgical byproducts technicals. 395.1013

AIDefines 'surgical smoke' as the gaseous byproduct of energy-generating devices such as lasers and electrosurgical tools, a definition that expressly reaches surgical plume, bioaerosols, laser-generated airborne contaminants, and lung-damaging dust.

“the gaseous byproduct produced by energy-generating devices, such as lasers and electrosurgical devices” bill text, line 20 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Rules
3/6/2026
Now in Rules
3/3/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services read 1st time
2/27/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/25/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
2/20/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human...
1/21/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
1/20/2026
Favorable by Health Policy; YEAS 10 NAYS 1
1/15/2026
On Committee agenda-- Health Policy, 01/20/26, 3:30 pm, 412 Knott Building
1/13/2026
Introduced
10/21/2025
Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and...
10/10/2025
Filed
6 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 395.1013
+139 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES