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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 40

Health care coverage: insulin.

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

Sponsors

Cosponsors (5)

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's requirements a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or disability insurance policy issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2000, that covers prescription benefits to include coverage for insulin if it is determined to be medically necessary. This bill would prohibit a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, or an individual or small group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy on or after January 1, 2027, from imposing a copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or other cost sharing of more than $35 for a 30-day supply of an insulin prescription drug, except as specified. On and after January 1, 2026, the bill would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from imposing step therapy as a prerequisite to authorizing coverage of insulin, and, for a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy, would require at least one insulin for a given drug type in all forms and concentrations to be on the prescription drug formulary. The bill would limit the $35 cap for an individual or small group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to only Tier 1 and Tier 2 insulin if the drug formulary is grouped into tiers, except as provided. Because a willful violation of these provisions 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

Roll-call votes

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

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Sep 9, 2025
Senate		Unfinished Business SB40 Wiener et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Sep 3, 2025
House		SB 40 Wiener Senate Third Reading By BainspassSet your home in California to see
Aug 20, 2025
House		Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Jul 15, 2025
House		Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
May 28, 2025
Senate		3rd Reading SB40 Wiener et al.passSet your home in California to see
May 23, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amendedpassSet your home in California to see
Apr 21, 2025
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 2, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see

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