HB 62 Summary

• Establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, home care agencies, and adult residential care homes, with ratios ranging from 1:1 for critical/intensive care to 4:1 for general medical-surgical care.

• Prohibits healthcare facilities from averaging patient numbers, including non-direct care staff in ratio calculations, imposing mandatory overtime, or using electronic monitoring to substitute for direct nurse observation.

• Requires nurses to exercise independent professional judgment in patient advocacy and allows nurses to refuse unsafe assignments without retaliation; prohibits facilities from limiting nurses' scope of practice or penalizing override of conflicting technology or guidelines.

• Mandates healthcare facilities maintain and publicly disclose staffing records for three years, post staffing information in patient care units, and submit certified records to the Department of Health for auditing.

• Imposes fines up to $10,000 per day for staffing violations and up to $25,000 per day for violations of nurse advocacy protections; exempts requirements during declared states of emergency if facilities make prompt, diligent efforts to maintain staffing.

• Effective January 1, 2026.