DelawareHospitals and stand-alone surgery centers must filter smoke during surgeries likely to make it
Delaware hospitals and stand-alone surgery centers must put rules in place by April 1, 2026, requiring smoke-catching equipment during surgeries likely to produce smoke.
What it does
By April 1, 2026, Delaware hospitals and stand-alone surgery centers must put rules in place requiring equipment that catches and filters smoke during surgeries likely to make it.
Delaware's Division of Health Care Quality will enforce the smoke rule at hospitals and stand-alone surgery centers using powers state law already gives it.
Argument forCatching smoke where it starts could reduce what patients and staff breathe during surgeries likely to make smoke.
Argument againstMeeting the equipment rule for surgeries likely to make smoke could add costs for Delaware hospitals and stand-alone surgery centers.
More detail
Hospitals and stand-alone surgery centers must adopt and carry out rules requiring equipment that catches and filters surgical smoke. The rule covers any surgery likely to make smoke from energy-generating tools. The equipment must catch and filter smoke where it starts, before it reaches anyone's eyes or breathing passages. Employers must adopt and carry out these rules on or before April 1, 2026.
Delaware's Division of Health Care Quality will enforce the surgical smoke rule. The rule covers Delaware hospitals and stand-alone surgery centers. The division will use its existing legal powers.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Aug 25Signed by Governor Matt MeyerBecame Law
- Jun 30Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YESPassed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 30Reported Out of Committee (Executive) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 4 On Its MeritsMinor
- Jun 26Assigned to Executive Committee in SenateMinor
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 26Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 VACANTPassed House
- Jun 24Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 3 Favorable, 8 On Its MeritsMinor
- Jun 24Adopted in lieu of the original bill HB 173, and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in HouseIntroduced
HealthcarePublic Safety