# 119-s-5319: Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act

119-s-5319, Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5319
- As of: 2026-08-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5319
- Congress: 119
- Title: Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-08-06
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-27

## Summary

**Ban on mandatory nurse overtime** at most Medicare-funded providers would set firm hour limits and add enforceable worker protections to reduce fatigue-related safety risks. - Nurses: The bill would bar requiring nurses to work beyond a previously scheduled shift, more than 48 hours in a workweek, or more than 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period. Nurses get whistleblower protections and may refuse mandatory overtime without retaliation. - Providers: Medicare-paid providers must have written policies, conspicuously post schedules, and make daily schedules available on request. The Secretary may impose civil money penalties up to $10,000 per knowing violation and publish names and violations on the HHS website. - Implementation and federal review: The rules would take effect one year after enactment and direct the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to report recommended maximum-hours standards within two years. The Office of Management and Budget must review overtime practices at federally operated medical facilities and report to Congress.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban on Mandatory Nurse Overtime: benefit, medium. If enacted, providers that take Medicare payments would not be allowed to require nurses to work past a scheduled shift. The bill would cap mandatory hours at 48 hours per workweek and 12 consecutive hours in 24 hours. It would also require a 10-hour rest after a 12-hour shift. Required meetings, t…
- Study on Safe Nurse Work Hours: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality would study and recommend safe maximum nurse work-hour standards. AHRQ could hire outside groups to do the study. Standards could vary by provider, department, duties, and shift. AHRQ would report recommendations to Congress within two year…
- Fines and Public Disclosure for Providers: mixed, medium. If enacted, HHS would be able to levy civil money penalties of up to $10,000 for each knowing overtime violation by a Medicare provider. The Secretary would be able to set higher penalties for repeat patterns and apply standard administrative rules. HHS would publish on its website the names of pen…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5319 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5319)

## Related
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5319 (as of 2026-08-27).