Ohio lawmakers have introduced new legislation designed to strengthen transparency and accountability in long-term care settings by expanding access to electronic monitoring devices for residents and families. Announced on April 8, House Bill 809 was introduced by State Representatives Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) and would extend protections for in-room cameras beyond nursing homes to include assisted living and memory care communities.
The proposal builds on Esther’s Law, enacted in 2021, which established the right for nursing home residents to use electronic monitoring devices in their rooms. According to the lawmakers, House Bill 809 is intended to close gaps in current law by recognizing that residents in assisted living and memory care often face similar, and sometimes greater, vulnerabilities. The bill also seeks to address practical barriers that have limited access to monitoring devices, including excessive installation fees and restricted internet availability.
Under the legislation, residents would be permitted to use electronic monitoring devices that include both video and two-way audio. The bill would also limit fees charged by facilities to actual installation and service costs, add affordability protections for Medicaid recipients, and prohibit retaliation against residents who choose to use monitoring devices. Supporters say these changes are intended to give families greater peace of mind while improving oversight and resident safety.
In announcing the bill, Rep. Miller said the legislation would help families remain informed and connected when they cannot be physically present with a loved one. Rep. Sweeney emphasized that the measure is about protecting the dignity and safety of vulnerable Ohioans and ensuring that residents and families can take reasonable steps to support accountability in care settings.
As the conversation around the bill moves forward, the Ohio Assisted Living Association has been actively engaged with lawmakers to help ensure the legislation reflects the realities of assisted living operations. OALA, a state partner of Argentum, has worked with the sponsors of the camera legislation from the beginning, providing detailed operational feedback from assisted living communities across Ohio. Their focus has been on making sure that efforts to increase transparency are balanced with important considerations related to resident privacy, staffing, and the day-to-day delivery of care.
OALA has also raised practical concerns that have made monitoring devices difficult to implement in many communities, including high installation fees and limited internet access. In doing so, the association has helped elevate provider perspectives as lawmakers refine the proposal. Melissa Shanmugam, Executive Director of OALA, explained, “OALA has been actively engaged with the sponsors of the camera legislation from the beginning, providing detailed operational feedback from assisted living communities across Ohio. Our focus has been to ensure that any policy aimed at increasing transparency also reflects the realities of resident privacy, staffing, and day-to-day care.”
“We have also highlighted practical barriers that have limited access to monitoring devices in many communities, including excessive installation fees and restricted internet availability,” continued Shanmugam. “We appreciate that the sponsors have been willing to hear provider perspectives, and we will continue working with them to ensure the final language supports both resident rights and safe, workable implementation for assisted living providers.”
That perspective reflects an important part of the legislative process. While the bill is rooted in a desire to strengthen protections for residents and families, successful implementation will require policy that is not only well-intentioned, but also workable in real-world care settings. Assisted living communities serve residents with diverse needs, and any expansion of monitoring rights must carefully balance transparency with privacy, operational logistics, and the ability of providers to deliver care safely and effectively.
House Bill 809 is now awaiting committee assignment. As debate continues, collaboration between lawmakers, providers, residents, and advocates will likely shape how the final language evolves. For assisted living providers in Ohio, that ongoing dialogue will be critical to ensuring the legislation supports both resident rights and practical implementation across communities statewide.