Hospitals, additional licensing requirements provided, emergency department physician on site at all times required

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Stutts
Last action: 2026-01-13
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about enforcement or consequences for non-compliance.

Hospitals Must Have a Doctor in Emergency Departments at All Times

This bill requires hospitals with emergency departments to have at least one doctor physically present and responsible for the department whenever it is open.

What This Bill Does

Requires hospitals with emergency departments to keep at least one doctor on site who is in charge of the emergency department while it is open.
Makes this requirement a condition for getting or renewing hospital licenses.

Who It Names or Affects

Hospitals with emergency departments
Doctors who work in emergency departments

Terms To Know

Physician: A doctor licensed to practice medicine and provide medical care.
Emergency department: The part of a hospital that treats patients with urgent or life-threatening conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if a hospital cannot meet the requirement.
Does not mention how to handle situations where there are no available doctors.

Bill History

2026-01-13 Senate
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-13 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Healthcare

Official Summary Text

Hospitals, additional licensing requirements provided, emergency department physician on site at all times required

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB80 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB80
QNXHZ15-1
By Senators Stutts, Givhan, Butler
RFD: Healthcare
First Read: 13-Jan-26
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QNXHZ15-1 10/16/2025 OW (L)cr 2025-2899
Page 1
First Read: 13-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, hospital emergency
departments are not required to have a physician
physically present on site who is responsible for the
emergency department at all times the emergency
department is open.
This bill would require hospital emergency
departments to have at least one physician physically
present on site who is responsible for the emergency
department at all times the emergency department is
open.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to hospitals; to require hospitals with
emergency departments to have at least one physician
physically present on site who is responsible for the
emergency department at all times the emergency department is
open.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. As a condition of licensing and renewal,
under Article 2 of Chapter 21 of Title 22, Code of Alabama
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SB80 INTRODUCED
Page 2
under Article 2 of Chapter 21 of Title 22, Code of Alabama
1975, a hospital in the state with an emergency department,
regardless of classification, must have at least one physician
on duty and physically present who is primarily responsible
for the emergency department at all times that the emergency
department is open.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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