Louisiana Makes it an Even Dozen

Louisiana SB 29 has been enacted by Governor Bel Edwards, who signed the bill into law on June 1, 2023, making Louisiana the 12^th state to enact surgical smoke evacuation legislation.

The new goes into effect on August 1 and requires all licensed healthcare facilities to adopt and implement policies for a smoke evacuation plan to mitigate and remove surgical smoke.

The legislative efforts in Louisiana were led by local grassroots efforts and the Louisiana State Nurses Association. The group began working on the legislation and securing a bill sponsor months before the session started in April. Early in the session, AORN members provided a demonstration on surgical smoke evacuation to legislators and staff. This demonstration was key to legislators understanding an issue that was new to them though one faced by AORN members on a daily basis.

“Senator Boudreaux was a strong legislative champion for surgical smoke evacuation across the state,” said Sheila Allen, BSN, RN, CNOR, CRNFA(E), AORN past president. “We are thrilled to make Louisiana a surgical smoke-free state and protect the health and safety of all our colleagues and our patients,” said Nathalie Walker, MBA, RN, CNOR, AORN past president.

If you would like to do a surgical smoke evacuation demonstration for legislators in your state, please contact Jennifer Pennock to coordinate next steps.