AB 2598 changes facility notification after a patient or resident death
Oct 11, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0082 · Published 2026-10-11 · Version 3 · Final
AB 2598 revises death-notification duties for California general acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. The September 27 law defines documented good-faith next-of-kin efforts, recognizes specified alternatives and patient preferences, and creates distinct penalty clocks for family notification and public-administrator notice.
What happened
Chaptered September 27, AB 2598 requires general acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to make a reasonable attempt to notify known next of kin after a death, including when a body is transferred to a hospital after death. The defined attempt is a documented, good-faith effort within 72 hours of death using available contact information. The law recognizes notification of the designated resident representative and a patient's prior written instruction against notifying next of kin as alternative ways to satisfy the identified requirement. If no next of kin can be located after the reasonable attempt, or either specified alternative is satisfied, the licensee must notify the county public administrator within two business days and supply available identifying information.
The penalties have different measurement rules. Failure to make the required next-of-kin attempt carries $200 per day, up to $50,000, measured from the time a reasonable attempt would take until next of kin actually knows of the death. Failure to notify the public administrator has a separate $200 daily penalty, also capped at $50,000, measured from the fifth business day after death until notification. A licensee may request the specified hearing within ten working days of receiving a penalty notice. The provisions preserve other civil remedies and exclude the identified deaths of people in state corrections custody, which follow separate Penal Code rules.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Final
- Applicability
- Potentially applicable
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- California
- Recorded date
- 2027-01-01
- Date type
- effective
Why it matters
Hospitals and skilled nursing facilities may need to revise death-notification policies, next-of-kin documentation, and exception handling.
Recommended action
Update notification escalation and records of reasonable attempts, exceptions and public-administrator contact. Legal should confirm facility-specific timing and penalty exposure.
Sources
- AB-2598 Health care facilities: notification of next of kin, bill historyOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-08-30 · Source review 2026-09-10
- AB-2598 Health care facilities: notification of next of kin, current bill text (09/03/26 - Enrolled)Official · California Legislature · 2026-09-03 · Source review 2026-09-10
- Governor Newsom issues legislative update 9.27.2026Official · Office of the Governor · 2026-09-27 · Source review 2026-10-04
- AB2598 chaptered operative textOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-09-27 · Source review 2026-10-11
- California Constitution, Article IV section 8(c), official Assembly 2023–24 editionOfficial · California State Assembly · Source review 2026-10-14
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