House extends family-council rights to residential and memory‑care facilities

The House passed Senate Bill 228 to extend to residential care and memory-care facilities the right for families to form family councils, a collective advocacy mechanism already recognized for nursing homes. Sponsors said family councils help surface concerns early, foster collaboration with staff, and reduce stress on frontline workers.

Representative Walters, a co-carrier, described the measure as a way to give families a meaningful way to advocate for loved ones’ care, safety and dignity. The bill includes protections against interference or retaliation by facilities, and backers said the councils have proven effective in nursing homes and are appropriate to extend to other long-term care settings.

Representative Smith, also a co-carrier, said the bill addresses the needs of “our most vulnerable citizens” and urged colleagues to support it. Representative Bobby Levy, speaking from experience managing an assisted living facility years earlier, voiced support and recounted how family engagement improved care.

The House declared the bill passed. Sponsors emphasized that the law protects families’ ability to organize and raise concerns collectively without fear of retaliation but does not create new licensing standards for facilities in itself.