SB 439

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  S. B. No. 439
       2025-2026
  Senators Ingram, Hicks-Hudson
  To enact section 3722.15 of the Revised Code to  1
  require hospitals to develop discharge plans for  2
  pregnant patients and to name this act the Women  3
  Expansion of Learning and Labor Safety or WELLS  4
  Act.  5
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That section 3722.15 of the Revised Code be  6
enacted to read as follows:  7
     Sec. 3722.15. (A) Not later than January 1, 2027, and  8
subject to division (B) of this section, each hospital shall  9
develop and implement a discharge plan for a pregnant individual  10
admitted to the hospital who is both of the following:  11
     (1) Exhibiting signs and experiencing symptoms consistent  12
with labor, which may include contractions;  13
     (2) Expected to be discharged before delivery, as  14
determined and documented by the treating physician or  15
practitioner based on the physician's or practitioner's clinical  16
judgment at the time that discharge is contemplated.  17
     (B) In developing and implementing a discharge plan for a  18
pregnant individual described in division (A) of this section, a  19
hospital's plan shall do the following:  20
S. B. No. 439  Page 2
As Introduced
       (1) Provide a clinical justification for the discharge;  21
       (2) Assess the travel distance and time between the  22
hospital and the pregnant individual's primary residence;  23
       (3) Verify reliable transportation between the hospital  24
and the pregnant individual's primary residence;  25
       (4) Identify an alternate hospital or facility at which  26
the pregnant individual may obtain labor and delivery services;  27
       (5) Confirm that the discharge plan was reviewed and  28
approved by a practitioner who the hospital has determined is  29
qualified to do so under rules adopted by the director of  30
health;  31
       (6) Confirm that the pregnant individual or individual's  32
representative has received a copy of the discharge plan that is  33
written in the individual's or representative's primary language  34
and has confirmed the individual's or representative's  35
understanding of its contents.  36
       (C) Before discharging a pregnant individual described in  37
division (A) of this section, a hospital shall do all of the  38
following:  39
       (1) Include a copy of the discharge plan in the pregnant  40
individual's medical record;  41
       (2) Provide the pregnant individual or individual's  42
representative with a copy of the discharge plan that is written  43
in the individual's or representative's primary language;  44
       (3) Discuss the discharge plan with the pregnant  45
individual or individual's representative.  46
       (D) The director of health shall adopt rules as necessary  47
S. B. No. 439  Page 3
As Introduced
to implement this section, including those described in division  48
(B)(5) of this section. All rules shall be adopted in accordance  49
with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.  50
       Section 2. This act shall be known as the Women Expansion  51
of Learning and Labor Safety or WELLS Act.  52