Khan’s bipartisan legislation to protect nurses and healthcare workers passes General Assembly

Bill would protect surgical teams and patients from potentially harmful smoke in operating rooms

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus October 20, 2026 | 4:46 PM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 20 — State Rep. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., a nurse practitioner and long-time advocate for healthcare workers, announced that his bipartisan legislation to protect nurses, surgical teams and patients from harmful surgical smoke has passed the Pennsylvania General Assembly and is headed to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.

House Bill 27, introduced by Khan and Republican state Rep. Tim Bonner, would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to adopt policies using surgical smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke.

“As a nurse, I know firsthand how important it is to protect the people who care for us,” Khan said. “No nurse or healthcare worker should have to put their own health at risk just to do their job. This legislation is an important step toward making our operating rooms safer for both healthcare workers and patients. I’m proud we worked across party lines to get this done.”

During surgery, cauterization and other procedures can burn human tissue, producing smoke that contains potentially harmful chemicals and microscopic particles. Nurses, surgeons and other operating room staff can be exposed to this smoke repeatedly throughout their careers.

House Bill 27 would require facilities to implement policies using smoke evacuation systems that capture surgical smoke at its source, reducing exposure for healthcare workers and patients.

“Healthcare workers spend their careers protecting others. We have a responsibility to protect them, too,” Khan added. “This is what we can accomplish when Democrats and Republicans work together to solve real problems and make workplaces safer.”

Khan thanked his Republican co-prime sponsor, Rep. Tim Bonner, and lawmakers from both parties for their support in advancing the legislation.

The bill now heads to Shapiro’s office for his signature.