SB 449: Regulation of Hospitals; certain long-term care facilities to acquire and maintain sufficient emergency and standby power systems; require

Georgia law currently does not require nursing homes, assisted living communities, and similar long-term care facilities to have backup power systems that can keep residents safe for an extended outage. This bill changes that by amending the state's hospital and institution regulation law (O.C.G.A. § 31-7-3). Starting January 1, 2027, covered long-term care facilities, meaning multi-story buildings with at least 25 beds used to house residents receiving care, would have to acquire and maintain an emergency and standby power system able to keep the facility running for at least 96 hours, covering things like safe evacuation routes, emergency lighting, life support equipment, and temperature control. The Department of Community Health and the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner would jointly inspect facilities and enforce the rule. The bill also creates a grant program, subject to funding from the General Assembly, to help facilities pay for these systems, with priority given to facilities in rural counties (those under 50,000 people by the 2020 census, excluding military personnel). The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Requires long-term care facilities that are two or more stories tall with at least 25 beds to have a backup power system by January 1, 2027.
• Defines an emergency and standby power system as an on-site generator with enough fuel, or another power source approved by the Department of Community Health.
• Sets a minimum standard that backup power must sustain operations for at least 96 hours, covering egress, emergency lighting, life support equipment, and temperature control.
• Directs the Department of Community Health and the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner to jointly inspect facilities and enforce the new requirement.
• Creates a grant program, dependent on state funding, to help facilities pay for buying and installing these power systems, prioritizing rural counties.
• Lets the department decide grant amounts for each facility individually rather than using a fixed formula.

Long-term care facilities such as skilled nursing homes, intermediate care homes, assisted living communities, and personal care homes with multi-story buildings and 25 or more beds; their residents and staff; the Department of Community Health; and the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner, which would help enforce the rule.

Residents of larger, multi-story long-term care facilities would gain a guaranteed 96 hours of backup power during outages, which could affect safety during storms or other emergencies. Facilities would face new compliance costs, though the bill offers grant funding, especially for rural facilities, to offset them.

• Amends O.C.G.A. § 31-7-3 to add new subsections (e) and (f) covering emergency power requirements and a grant program.
• Subsection (e)(1) defines 'emergency and standby power system,' 'long-term care facility' (two or more stories, at least 25 beds), and 'rural county' (population under 50,000 per the 2020 census, excluding military personnel).
• Subsection (e)(2) requires covered facilities, starting January 1, 2027, to maintain backup power for at least 96 hours covering egress, lighting, life support, and temperature control.
• Subsection (e)(3) requires the Department of Community Health and the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner to coordinate inspections and enforcement.
• Subsection (f) creates a grant program, subject to legislative funding, for facilities to acquire or install these power systems, with priority for rural counties.
• Section 2 states the law takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature or becoming law without signature.

1. 2026-02-03Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-02Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)Primary sponsor
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)

• long-term care facilities
• emergency preparedness
• nursing home regulation
• rural health care
• backup power requirements