What SB 915 does
An act to add Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 24258) to Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to health and care facilities.
Under existing law, the State Department of Public Health is responsible for the licensing and regulation of various facilities and settings that provide health care services, as specified. Existing law, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act prohibits, except to the extent expressly authorized by a patient, enrollee, or subscriber, or as otherwise permitted or required, a provider of health care, health care service plan, contractor, or corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates from disclosing medical information for immigration enforcement. Existing law requires health care provider entities, as defined, to establish or amend procedures for monitoring, documenting, and receiving visitors to health care provider entities to the extent possible, and prohibits, unless required by state or federal law, a health care provider entity and its personnel from allowing any person access to nonpublic areas of the provider’s facilities for immigration enforcement purposes, except as specified.
This bill would, among other things, require a health care provider entity to, when there is a patient accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer, verify and document the identities and agencies of the accompanying immigration enforcement officers, to the extent possible. The bill would require a health care provider entity to ask an immigration enforcement officer to step out of the patient’s room when discussing any matters pertaining to patient care, or performing any physical examination, or providing any medical care, except as specified, would prohibit an immigration enforcement officer from having any authority to make, influence, or participate in medical decisions on behalf of patient they accompany, and would require the health care provider entity personnel to report a refusal to comply with the requirements of this bill to the health care provider entity management, administration, or legal counsel, who is required to then document the actions, and, to the extent possible, the name and badge number of an immigration enforcement officer. The bill would also prohibit a health care provider entity from using blackout policies when admitting a patient who is accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer, except as specified, and defines blackout policies to mean any policy that is used by health care provider entities to conceal a patient’s presence or identity at the entity’s facility, including, but not limited to, registering patients under a pseudonym, removing the patient’s name from the health care provider entity’s directory, or prohibiting personnel from confirming that a patient is in the health care provider entity.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the amended senate text, April 28, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Senator Menjivar introduced SB 915 on January 27, 2026. The text was amended 4 times, and heard in 4 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Senate Health, April 15, 2026: Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary], 8-2.
- Senate Judiciary, April 21, 2026: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 11-2.
- Senate Appropriations, May 4, 2026: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
Who supports and opposes SB 915
The Senate Judiciary analysis dated April 20, 2026 lists 56 organizations in support and 2 in opposition. When Senate Health first listed positions on April 13, 2026, the count was 55 in support and 2 opposed. By the Senate Judiciary analysis of April 20, 2026 it was 56 to 2.
In support: California Pan-ethnic Health Network (sponsor); California Immigrant Policy Center (sponsor); Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California; Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Southern California; Buen Vecino; California Black Health Network; California Coalition of Women Prisoners; California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network; and 48 more.
Opposed: Association of California Healthcare Districts; California Hospital Association.
Read the Senate Judiciary analysis.
What happens next
It is in Senate Appropriations. The last recorded action was on May 14, 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 labor organizations
This is the stage where language still changes. Amendments taken in committee are the ones that reach the Governor, so an organization with a stake in the drafting has a reason to be in that conversation now rather than after the vote.
The labor group at Capitol Axis handles that for labor clients.
Questions about SB 915
What does SB 915 do?
This bill would, among other things, require a health care provider entity to, when there is a patient accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer, verify and document the identities and agencies of the accompanying immigration enforcement officers, to the extent possible. The bill would require a health care provider entity to ask an immigration enforcement officer to step out of the patient’s room when discussing any matters pertaining to patient care, or performing any physical examination, or providing any medical care, except as specified, would prohibit an immigration enforcement o
Has SB 915 passed the California Legislature?
It is in Senate Appropriations. The last recorded action was on May 14, 2026.
Who supports and opposes SB 915?
The Senate Judiciary analysis dated April 20, 2026 lists 56 organizations in support and 2 in opposition. Supporters include California Pan-ethnic Health Network (sponsor); California Immigrant Policy Center (sponsor); Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. Opponents include Association of California Healthcare Districts; California Hospital Association.
What happens next with SB 915?
It still has committee and floor votes ahead of it. Amendments taken now are the ones that reach the Governor, so this is the stage where language changes are still possible.