Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H2442: An Act protecting patients and healthcare workers from exposure to surgical smoke
Status: In committee, April 15, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 244 the following section:- Section 245. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:- “Smoke evacuation system”, smoke evacuators, laser plume evacuators, or local exhaust ventilators that effectively capture and neutralize surgical smoke at the site of origin and before the smoke can make ocular contact or contact with the respiratory tract of the occupants of the room. “Surgical smoke”, the by-product, including surgical plume, smoke plume, bio-aerosols, laser-generated airborne contaminants, and other lung-damaging dust, that results from contact with tissue by an energy generating device. (b) All hospitals and freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities licensed in the commonwealth under this chapter shall adopt policies to ensure the elimination of surgical smoke by use of a smoke evacuation system for any procedure that generates surgical smoke from the use of energy-based devices including, but not limited to, electrosurgery and lasers. (c) Any hospital or freestanding ambulatory surgical facility that violates subsection (b) shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 for each violation. SECTION 2. (a) Section 245 of chapter 111 of the General Laws shall take effect as of January 1, 2026. (b) …
Sponsors
- James Hawkins (D, 2nd Bristol) · primary sponsor
- Margaret Scarsdale (D)
- Adam Scanlon (D, 14th Bristol)
- David Robertson (D, 19th Middlesex)
- John Moran (D, 9th Suffolk)
- McGonagle, Jr., Joseph W. (D, 28th Middlesex)
- Adrian Madaro (D)
- William MacGregor (D, 10th Suffolk)
- Patrick Kearney (D, 4th Plymouth)
- Vanna Howard (D, 17th Middlesex)
- Natalie Higgins (D, 4th Worcester)
- Homar Gómez (D)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- : Reporting date extended to Monday, June 15, 2026
- : Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- : Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
- : Reporting date extended to Thursday, October 9, 2025
- : Hearing scheduled for 06/11/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1
- : Senate concurred
- : Referred to the committee on Public Health
Votes
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Health Care Financing (April 9, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Public Health (October 8, 2025): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H2442?
- H2442 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act protecting patients and healthcare workers from exposure to surgical smoke.
- What is the status of H2442?
- In committee as of April 15, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means (April 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored H2442?
- James Hawkins (D, 2nd Bristol), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H2442?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2442
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.