Pharmacy and drug-pricing legislation in the California Legislature, 2025–26.

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

On the Governor's desk.

All pharma briefs

AB 1887GovernorPrescription drug coverage for rare diseases. Assemblymember Zbur. 40 support, 3 oppose.
SB 1094GovernorPrescription drugs. Senator Weber Pierson. 22 support, 19 oppose.
SB 1199EnrolledPrescription drug cost sharing. Senator Weber Pierson. 25 support, 5 oppose.
SB 964GovernorPrescription drug coverage: dose adjustments. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. 26 support, 2 oppose.
SB 1271GovernorMidwifery: workforce data: availability to be a clinical preceptorship. Senator Reyes. 18 support, 0 oppose.
AB 957EnrolledCigarette and tobacco products: retail sale: pharmacies. Assemblymember Ortega. 16 support, 0 oppose.
AB 2571GovernorReimbursement for pharmacist services. Assemblymember Flora. 15 support, 0 oppose.
SB 1185EnrolledPharmaceutical facilities: skilled and trained workforce. Senator Cortese. 5 support, 7 oppose.
AB 1587EnrolledPrescription drug refills: prescriber notifications. Assemblymember Ta. 5 support, 0 oppose.
AB 2565GovernorMedi-Cal: pharmacist services: reporting. Assemblymember Wallis. 5 support, 0 oppose.
AB 1794GovernorPharmacy: enteral nutrition supplements or replacements. Assemblymember Ransom. 3 support, 0 oppose.
AB 1773EnrolledPharmacy benefit managers. Assemblymember Blanca Rubio. 2 support, 0 oppose.

Bills and budget items, 2025–26 session.

SB 41BillPharmacy benefit manager reform. Signed October 2025. Bans spread pricing from January 1, 2026, imposes a fiduciary duty on PBMs toward plan and employer clients, requires rebate pass-through, restricts exclusivity contracts with manufacturers, and limits steering to affiliated pharmacies. Contracts come into line at renewal. Enacted, in effect.
PBM licensingBillDMHC licensing for pharmacy benefit managers. Part of the 2025 PBM package. PBMs contracting with DMHC-licensed plans and CDI-licensed insurers obtain a DMHC license and file organizational, financial, and pricing data. Implementation.
CalRxProgramState-brand biosimilar insulin. CalRx insulin glargine on sale in California since January 2026 at a suggested $55 per five-pack through the Civica partnership. In-state manufacturing funding was cut from the 2025–26 budget; expansion to other drug classes is a budget-cycle question. Live program.

Where these bills are heard.

Assembly Health Committee and Senate Health CommitteePrimary jurisdiction over drug pricing, PBM, and pharmacy bills.
Assembly Business and Professions; Senate Business, Professions and Economic DevelopmentBoard of Pharmacy sunset review and licensing-law bills.
Assembly and Senate Judiciary CommitteesDrug-pricing bills that carry a private right of action.
Budget subcommittees and the Department of FinanceCalRx appropriations and pricing riders, which move in trailer bills.

Deadlines that decide a pharmaceutical 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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