Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act of 2026

The Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act of 2026 prohibits healthcare providers from requiring registered, licensed practical, or licensed vocational nurses to work mandatory overtime beyond a previously scheduled shift, 48 hours in a week, or 12 consecutive hours. The bill allows exceptions during declared emergencies or disasters but requires that alternative staffing measures be attempted first and that the extended work does not extend past the end of the emergency response. Providers who violate these limits face civil money penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, with harsher fines for repeated offenses, and are required to post nurse schedules and rights notices in visible locations. Additionally, the legislation protects nurses from retaliation if they refuse mandatory overtime or report violations, while mandating that the Department of Health and Human Services study safe working hour standards and the Office of Management and Budget review practices in federally operated medical facilities.