California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 539
Health care coverage: prior authorizations.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Vetoed
Sponsors
- Schiavo (Democratic)
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 provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law provides that a health care service plan or a health insurer that authorizes a specific type of treatment by a health care provider shall not rescind or modify this authorization after the provider renders the health care service in good faith and pursuant to the authorization.
This bill would require an approved prior authorization for a health care service requested by an in-network provider to remain valid for at least one year from the date of approval, or the period requested by the treating provider if less than one year. Because a violation of the bill 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
- 08/30/26 - Enrolled· Aug 30, 2026
- 08/21/26 - Amended Senate· Aug 21, 2026
- 07/02/26 - Amended Senate· Jul 2, 2026
- 04/28/25 - Amended Assembly· Apr 28, 2025
- 02/11/25 - Introduced· Feb 11, 2025
- AB539
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 8:01 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 2026 House | AB 539 Schiavo Concurrence in Senate Amendments | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 25, 2026 Senate | 3rd Reading AB539 Schiavo By Weber Pierson | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 13, 2026 Senate | Do pass | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 3, 2026 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 1, 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 12, 2025 House | AB 539 Schiavo Assembly Third Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 7, 2025 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 22, 2025 House | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Sep 20, 2026 · House
Vetoed by Governor. - Sep 3, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. - Aug 26, 2026 · House
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 64. Noes 4. Page 6560.). - Aug 25, 2026 · House
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. - Aug 25, 2026 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 0.). - Aug 24, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 21, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 13). - Aug 3, 2026 · Senate
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. - Jul 2, 2026 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jul 2, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 1). - Jun 23, 2025 · Senate
In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. - Jun 18, 2025 · Senate
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. - May 21, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Com. on HEALTH. - May 13, 2025 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - May 12, 2025 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 2. Page 1518.) - May 8, 2025 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 7, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 7). - Apr 29, 2025 · House
Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 28, 2025 · House
Read second time and amended. - Apr 24, 2025 · House
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 22). - Feb 24, 2025 · House
Referred to Com. on HEALTH. - Feb 12, 2025 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14. - Feb 11, 2025 · House
Read first time. To print.