HB4490Introduced in the House
OPERATING ROOM SAFETY ACT
Introduced by Barbara Hernandez, District 50
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
Creates the Operating Room Patient Safety Act. Provides that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health care facility on or after January 1, 2028 shall meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Provides that health care facilities located in a Health Professional Shortage Area or Medically Underserved Area, as determined by the federal government, shall be exempt as provided but shall have a hiring preference for surgical technologists who graduated from nationally accredited surgical technology programs and are certified through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or the National Center for Competency Testing. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits a person licensed in the State under any other Act from engaging in the practice for which the person is licensed, including, but not limited to, a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a nurse performing surgery-related tasks within the scope of the nurse's license or registration; or a student or intern from performing surgical technology services under direct supervision, as defined in the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act.
Where it stands
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
March 27, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
No recorded vote is available for this bill yet.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
Bill history
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Barbara Hernandez
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Rick Ryan
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Gill
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz
Assigned to Health Care Licenses Committee
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
Verify the information
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