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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 1023

Health care coverage: antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, and drug products.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (1)

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 generally prohibits a health care service plan, excluding a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or health insurer from subjecting antiretroviral drugs that are medically necessary for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, including preexposure prophylaxis or postexposure prophylaxis, to prior authorization or step therapy. Under existing law, a health care service plan or health insurer is not required to cover all of the therapeutically equivalent versions of those drugs without prior authorization or step therapy if at least one is covered without prior authorization or step therapy. This bill would instead prohibit a health care service plan, excluding a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or health insurer from subjecting antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, or drug products that are medically necessary for the prevention of HIV/AIDS to prior authorization or step therapy. The bill would require, for a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, a non-self-administered antiretroviral drug, drug device, or drug product that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of HIV/AIDS to be covered under both the plan or policy's medical benefit and prescription drug benefit, and if obtained under the plan or policy's drug benefit, would require the drug, device, or product to be dispensed and administered by a health care provider acting within the scope of their license. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, this 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

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 25, 2026
Senate		Unfinished Business SB1023 Laird et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Aug 25, 2026
Senate		Unfinished Business SB1023 Laird et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Aug 25, 2026
Senate		Unfinished Business SB1023 Laird et al. Concurrence ReconsiderpassSet your home in California to see
Aug 24, 2026
House		SB 1023 Laird Senate Third Reading By Mark GonzálezpassSet your home in California to see
Aug 13, 2026
House		Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Jun 9, 2026
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
May 18, 2026
Senate		3rd Reading SB1023 Laird et al.passSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
Senate		Do passpassSet your home in California to see
Apr 20, 2026
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 8, 2026
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see

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