HI HB1244

Establishes mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios across hospital units, including 1:1 for trauma/critical care and operating rooms, 1:2 for intensive care units, 1:4 for medical-surgical and psychiatric units, and 1:6 for postpartum care

Requires all hospitals to establish hospital registered nurse staffing committees by September 1, 2025, with a majority of members being direct care registered nurses selected by their collective bargaining representative or peers

Mandates hospitals implement annual registered nurse staffing plans beginning July 1, 2026, developed by the staffing committee and submitted to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Imposes civil penalties of $5,000 per day for hospitals that fail to adopt staffing plans by committee consensus or fail to follow corrective action plans, with reduced penalties of $100 per day for critical access hospitals and small facilities

Prohibits retaliation against employees for participating in staffing committees, reporting staffing concerns, or refusing overtime, and authorizes the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to investigate complaints and enforce compliance