Louisiana Smoke Bill on the Move

Publish Date: April 27, 2023

Louisiana SB 29, a bill to ensure harmful surgical smoke is evacuated from every operating room in Louisiana, passed out of the Louisiana Senate by a unanimous vote on Monday, April 23, 2023. If enacted, the bill would require licensed healthcare facilities that use heat-producing equipment during surgical procedures to adopt and implement policies for the use of a surgical smoke plume evacuation system to mitigate and remove surgical smoke. The new law would go into effect August 1, 2023.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Gerald Boudreaux, was the result of a collaboration among local chapters, AORN and the Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA). The LSNA is leading the local advocacy efforts with support from AORN and the engagement of local AORN members.

Ahead of this legislative session, AORN conducted a survey of members in Louisiana to gather information about the availability and usage of surgical smoke evacuation equipment in their facilities. Eighty percent of respondents to the survey confirmed that their facility has smoke evacuation equipment; however, only 13% reported that smoke is always evacuated during smoke generating procedures.

SB 29 moves on now to the Louisiana House for consideration. The Louisiana legislature is scheduled to adjourn by June 8, 2023.