Health care legislation in the California Legislature, 2025–26.

A policy research snapshot for health care organizations. Discuss the current status, deadlines, and implications of a specific measure with the firm before acting.

On the Governor's desk.

All health care briefs

AB 2161EnrolledMedi-Cal eligibility: work or community engagement. Assemblymember Bonta. 120 support, 0 oppose.
AB 2201EnrolledMedi-Cal: eligibility redetermination. Assemblymember Boerner. 87 support, 0 oppose.
AB 2208EnrolledMedi-Cal: cost sharing and accessibility. Assemblymember Stefani. 79 support, 0 oppose.
SB 1202EnrolledMedi-Cal: dashboard and outreach. Senator Weber Pierson. 77 support, 0 oppose.
SB 903GovernorMental health professionals: artificial intelligence. Senator Padilla. 52 support, 7 oppose.
AB 2348GovernorMedi-Cal: enhanced care management and community supports. Assemblymember Bonta. 56 support, 0 oppose.
AB 512GovernorHealth care coverage: prior authorization. Assemblymember Harabedian. 49 support, 6 oppose.
AB 2160GovernorMedi-Cal: lactation services. Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez. 51 support, 1 oppose.
SB 1284EnrolledMedi-Cal benefits: employer reports. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. 11 support, 36 oppose.
AB 2760GovernorLaw enforcement: wearable electroshock devices. Assemblymember Sharp-Collins. 29 support, 18 oppose.
AB 1798GovernorGenetic testing for life and disability insurance. Assemblymember Wilson. 43 support, 3 oppose.
AB 2386EnrolledLicense to practice medicine: Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program and California Physician Expansion Act. Assemblymember Alvarez. 41 support, 4 oppose.

Bills and budget items, 2025–26 session.

SB 1120BillAI in health plan utilization review. A qualified human must make final medical-necessity determinations; AI-only denials are barred; DMHC and CDI have audit and penalty authority. In effect since January 2025, enforced.
Proposition 35ProgramPermanent managed care organization tax. Funds targeted Medi-Cal rate increases. New structure from January 1, 2027 pending federal approval; roughly two million enrollees move from managed care to fee-for-service by that date. Live, deadline-driven.
AB 108BillHospital closure grants. Up to $25 million in state grants for nonprofit and public hospitals at immediate risk of closure, administered by HCAI. Enacted 2026.

Where these bills are heard.

Assembly Health Committee and Senate Health CommitteePrimary policy committees.
Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees on Health and Human ServicesWhere Medi-Cal rates, MCO tax allocation, and hospital funding are set.

Deadlines that decide a health care bill.

Bill introduction closes in February. Policy committees must act by spring deadlines, appropriations committees hold suspense hearings in May and August, and each house must pass its own bills by the house-of-origin deadline. Session ends August 31 of the second year, and the Governor has thirty days to sign or veto. A position that arrives after the committee analysis is written has already missed the most important reader.

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