Government Affairs Report for 2025

In 2025, AORN's government affairs advanced protections for perioperative nurses and strengthened the nursing workforce pipeline at both the state and federal levels, while continuing to build momentum on surgical smoke legislation in state legislatures across the country.

Federal Advocacy

As one of 64 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), AORN works to improve the health and health care of the nation by promoting wellness, advancing nursing research, and supporting timely access to care across the continuum. Through the NCC, AORN regularly advocates for funding and appropriations for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research.

In 2025, the NCC also expressed support for the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act, the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act, and the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.

In collaboration with the American Nurses Association and as part of the NCC, AORN advocated for the U.S. Department of Education to explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing programs in the regulatory definition of "professional degree programs" during implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

AORN also raised concerns about proposed cuts to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In May, AORN encouraged members to contact their Members of Congress to express concerns and support continued access to care through Medicaid.

State Advocacy

In 2025, AORN Government Affairs tracked more than 200 bills affecting perioperative nursing practice across state legislatures nationwide. AORN monitors and takes action on legislation to:

• Ensure every surgical patient has a dedicated perioperative RN circulator for the duration of each operative and invasive procedure
• Address surgical smoke exposure in the operating room
• Grant prescriptive authority and independent practice rights to APRNs
• Protect health care workers and patients from workplace violence

Surgical Smoke Legislation

Twelve states considered surgical smoke evacuation legislation in 2025: Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.

• Delaware and North Carolina enacted surgical smoke legislation in 2025, with both laws taking effect in 2026.
• With these additions, 20 states now have laws addressing surgical smoke as a workplace hazard.

Legislation in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin carries over and remains viable for consideration in 2026. In Florida, surgical smoke legislation has been introduced and advanced favorably through one legislative committee ahead of the 2026 session. AORN also is working with bill sponsors in Iowa to reintroduce surgical smoke evacuation legislation in 2026.

In addition to the Delaware and North Carolina laws taking effect in 2026, the previously enacted Missouri surgical smoke evacuation law will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Regulatory Advocacy

At the regulatory level, AORN submitted comments and feedback on draft surgical smoke evacuation rules proposed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and on a draft proposal from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Additional drafts and final regulations are anticipated in both states in the coming year.

Through coordinated advocacy at the state and federal levels, AORN continues to protect perioperative nursing practice, influence health policy, and advance patient and worker safety nationwide.

Get involved in AORN's advocacy efforts today.