Sen Reg Reform Feb 5 2026: prohibit mandatory overtime for hospital nurses, except for when.....

Snark alert: you can tell it's an election year when legislators pull out the box of band aids.

Why is an overtime ban for hospital nurses a band aid? 

Three reasons: 

• it fails to address underlying causes for shortages;
• it's a long-lobbied wish of unions, familiar to the public;
• a full ban is impossible to enforce (hence the exceptions); and,
• given the exceptions, past bills have amounted to a well-publicized change without a difference.

Thursday, February 5, 2026     8:30 a.m.

AGENDA

SB 296
Sen. Chang
Health facilities: hospitals; mandatory overtime for nurses; prohibit except under certain circumstances.

SB 297
Sen. McBroom
Health facilities: hospitals; mandatory overtime for nurses; prohibit except under certain circumstances.

And any other business properly before the committee.

Time is money.

Maybe, instead of adding to hospital regulatory costs, the senators should ask their local hospitals for a list of their most costly regulations. They could then pick one (or many) to repeal, and either watch the hospitals increase hiring, or require them to do so.

Just a thought.