California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 1970
Health care coverage: mental health or substance use disorders.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Harabedian (Democratic)
Cosponsors (2)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
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 also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law authorizes health care service plans and health insurers that cover prescription drugs to utilize reasonable medical management practices, including prior authorization and step therapy, consistent with applicable law.
This bill would prohibit a health care service plan contract or a health insurance policy that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, from imposing step therapy as a prerequisite to authorizing coverage of any prescription drug used for the treatment of a serious mental illness or substance use disorder, as those terms are defined, except as specified. The bill would specify that the prohibition on step therapy does not apply when the United States Food and Drug Administration-labeled indications and usage of a drug indicate that some prior medication must be taken. 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 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.
Text versions
- 06/29/26 - Amended Senate· Jun 29, 2026
- 03/24/26 - Amended Assembly· Mar 24, 2026
- 02/13/26 - Introduced· Feb 13, 2026
- AB1970
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 2026 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 24, 2026 Senate | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 18, 2026 House | AB 1970 Harabedian Assembly Third Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 13, 2026 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 21, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
In committee: Held under submission. - Aug 3, 2026 · Senate
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. - Jun 29, 2026 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jun 25, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 24). - Jun 15, 2026 · Senate
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. - May 27, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Com. on HEALTH. - May 18, 2026 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - May 18, 2026 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 5133.) - May 14, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 13, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 13). - Apr 22, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 22, 2026 · House
Coauthors revised. - Mar 25, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH. - Mar 24, 2026 · House
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended. - Mar 2, 2026 · House
Referred to Com. on HEALTH. - Feb 14, 2026 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16. - Feb 13, 2026 · House
Read first time. To print.