TX SB490

Requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers in Texas to adopt and implement policies for using surgical smoke evacuation systems during planned surgical procedures likely to generate surgical smoke

Defines "surgical smoke" as gaseous by-products from energy-generating surgical devices, including surgical plume, bio-aerosols, laser-generated airborne contaminants, and lung-damaging dust

Surgical smoke evacuation systems must capture, filter, and remove smoke before it contacts the eyes or respiratory tract of patients or health care providers in operating rooms

Facilities may choose any evacuation system that provides adequate protection based on the types of surgical techniques and procedures performed at that location

Health care facilities must adopt and implement the required policy by January 1, 2026, with the act taking effect September 1, 2025