Health care coverage: mental health or substance use disorders.

Legislative status

1. Introduced
2. In Committee
3. Reported by Committee
4. Floor Vote Scheduled
5. Passed One Chamber
6. Passed Both Chambers
7. Sent to Executive
8. Signed into Law

Summary

The bill bars health‑care service plans and health‑insurance policies from forcing step‑therapy before covering drugs that treat serious mental illness or substance‑use disorders, for contracts issued after Jan. 1, 2027. It applies to most commercial and Medi‑Cal plans but excludes dental, vision‑only and Medicare‑supplement policies. Violations would be treated as a crime.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Vote

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 5133.) · May 18, 2026

Hearings

• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 13, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 3, 2026
• Health Committee Hearing
  Health · Jun 24, 2026
• Health Committee Hearing
  Health · Jun 17, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 13, 2026

History

1. May 27, 2026Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2. May 18, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 5133.)
3. May 18, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
4. May 14, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
5. May 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 13).
6. Apr 22, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7. Apr 22, 2026Coauthors revised.
8. Mar 25, 2026Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
9. Mar 24, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
10. Mar 2, 2026Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
11. Feb 14, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
12. Feb 13, 2026Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• John Harabedian (D) · sponsor
• Addis
• Ahrens
• Harabedian

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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