What AB 512 does
An act to amend Section 1367.01 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 10123.135 of the Insurance Code, relating to health care coverage.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of disability insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including pursuant to contracts with various types of managed care plans. Existing law generally authorizes a health care service plan, including a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or disability insurer to use utilization review, under which a licensed physician or a licensed health care professional who is competent to evaluate specific clinical issues may approve, modify, delay, or deny requests for health care services based on medical necessity. For a request prior to or concurrent with the provision of health care services, existing law requires utilization review decisions to be made within 5 business days from the plan’s or insurer’s receipt of the information reasonably necessary and requested by the plan or insurer to make the determination, or within 72 hours if the enrollee or insured faces an imminent and serious threat to their health or the normal timeframe would be detrimental to their life or health, as specified.
This bill would change the timeline for prior or concurrent authorization requests to no more than 3 business days from the plan’s or insurer’s receipt via electronic submission, or 5 business days from receipt via submission that is not electronic, of the information reasonably necessary and requested by the plan or insurer to make the determination. The bill would require a utilization review decision to be made within 24 hours from receipt of a prior or concurrent authorization request via electronic submission, or 48 hours from receipt via submission that is not electronic, if the enrollee or insured faces an imminent and serious threat to their health or the normal timeframe would be detrimental to their life or health. Because a willful violation of this provision by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would exclude Medi-Cal managed care plans from the above-described timeline changes.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the enrolled text, September 12, 2025. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Harabedian introduced AB 512 on February 10, 2025, with coauthors Assembly Member Patel. The text was amended 5 times, 2 in the Assembly and 3 in the Senate, and heard in 6 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, June 2, 2025: 68 ayes, 1 noes.
- Senate Floor, September 9, 2025: 30 ayes, 0 noes.
- Assembly Floor, September 10, 2025: 67 ayes, 2 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Health, April 22, 2025: Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 13-0.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 23, 2025: Do pass., 12-0.
- Senate Health, July 9, 2025: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 9-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 18, 2025: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 29, 2025: Do pass, 5-0.
Who supports and opposes AB 512
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated September 8, 2025 lists 49 organizations in support and 6 in opposition. When Assembly Health first listed positions on April 18, 2025, the count was 23 in support and 0 opposed. By the Senate Floor Analyses analysis of September 8, 2025 it was 49 to 6.
In support: California Medical Association (sponsor); AARP; Adventist Health; Alliance of Catholic Health Care, Inc; ALS Association; American Academy of Pediatrics, California; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc; American Diabetes Association; and 41 more.
Opposed: AHIP; America's Physician Groups; Association of California Life & Health Insurance Companies; California Association of Health Plans; California Chamber of Commerce Local Health Plans of California; Local Health Plans of California.
Read the Senate Floor Analyses analysis.
What happens next
The Governor vetoed it, with the last recorded action on January 22, 2026.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for health care organizations
A vetoed bill usually returns. The veto message is the clearest statement of what a successor would have to change, and the interval before it is reintroduced is when that language gets negotiated.
The health care group at Capitol Axis handles that for health care clients.
Questions about AB 512
What does AB 512 do?
This bill would change the timeline for prior or concurrent authorization requests to no more than 3 business days from the plan’s or insurer’s receipt via electronic submission, or 5 business days from receipt via submission that is not electronic, of the information reasonably necessary and requested by the plan or insurer to make the determination. The bill would require a utilization review decision to be made within 24 hours from receipt of a prior or concurrent authorization request via electronic submission, or 48 hours from receipt via submission that is not electronic, if the enrollee
Has AB 512 passed the California Legislature?
The Governor vetoed it, with the last recorded action on January 22, 2026.
Who supports and opposes AB 512?
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated September 8, 2025 lists 49 organizations in support and 6 in opposition. Supporters include California Medical Association (sponsor); AARP; Adventist Health. Opponents include AHIP; America's Physician Groups; Association of California Life & Health Insurance Companies.
What happens next with AB 512?
A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses, which is rare. The usual path is a successor bill in the next session, and the veto message is the clearest guide to what that bill would have to change.