Your Voice in Action: Surgical Smoke Legislation Moves Forward in 11 States

The 2026 state legislative sessions are underway, and surgical smoke evacuation legislation is under consideration in eleven states this year: Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

AORN members have been busy advocating for the perioperative profession across the country in their state capitals, meeting with legislators, testifying before legislative committees and participating in grassroots advocacy efforts.

The Florida Nurses Association held its 2026 Advocacy Days in Tallahassee February 4-5. Senator Tracy Davis, sponsor of SB 162, hosted a surgical smoke evacuation demonstration on February 11 for her Senate colleagues.

The Arkansas legislature does not have a regular session this year but that didn’t stop Kenny Worley from attending the Arkansas Registered Nurses Association’s Hill Day on February 10. Texas AORN members will be joining the Texas Nurses Association at the Capitol next month to keep nursing issues and surgical smoke evacuation in front of legislators who do not have a regular session scheduled this year.

Have you been to the Capitol this year to advocate for the perioperative profession? Share your story with AORN government affairs or get in touch to see how you can get more involved in our grassroots advocacy campaigns because your voice matters.