Certain apartment buildings must maintain emergency backup power

An assisted living services agency holds an informational hearing before a large fee increase takes effect. This applies when a fee increase exceeds 10 percent of the previous fee. The hearing must allow comments from residents, their representatives, and family members, among others. The agency may still adjust fees immediately when a change in care or services is needed for a resident’s safety or changed condition. The agency must disclose the fee increase at least 60 days before it takes effect and hold the hearing no later than 30 days before it takes effect.

Municipal agents certify that they are unaware of conflicts that could interfere with unbiased help. This applies to municipal agents for aging appointed or reappointed by a municipality. If a conflict arises during an agent’s term, the agent must report it at once, and any interested person may report it. The appointing official decides whether another agent or municipal employee can act in the agent’s place. The certification is due at appointment or reappointment on or after July 1, 2026.

Covered privately owned housing projects install and maintain emergency power generators. This applies to privately owned buildings at least 15 stories tall, with age-restricted homes and a federally insured mortgage, in municipalities with 130,000 to fewer than 140,000 people in the 2020 census. The generator must supply enough power for each unit’s heating, water, lighting, and critical medical equipment, as well as each passenger elevator. The requirement takes effect October 1, 2026.

Home health aide agencies provide necessary personal protective equipment to each home health aide employee at no cost. Employees include people hired by or contracted with a home health aide agency to provide home health aide services. The equipment must be necessary for the employee to safely provide services to each client. This requirement takes effect October 1, 2026.

The Department of Social Services limits when it may use sample results to estimate a facility’s overpayment or underpayment. This applies to audits of specified nursing, residential care, and disability facilities, including facilities that take part in Medicaid. The department may base a finding on an estimate only if there is sustained or high payment error, education failed to correct the error, or the claims total more than $200,000 in a year. Facilities generally receive 30 days’ notice before an audit, except when a service recipient’s health or safety is at risk or the facility is engaging in vendor fraud. The audit notice is due at least 30 days before an audit begins, unless a service recipient’s health or safety is at risk or the facility is engaging in vendor fraud.