Medical Debt Relief Act of 2026.

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 sets up a Medical Debt Relief Program run by the California Health Facilities Financing Authority that will purchase unpaid medical bills from hospitals or debt buyers and erase them for low‑income residents who meet income and debt‑to‑income thresholds. It also imposes new limits on how hospitals can sell or collect debt and requires detailed quarterly reporting, while providing $2.5 million to fund the effort. The aim is to lessen the financial strain of medical debt and help affected Californians stay economically active.

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

Vote

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on B. & F. (Ayes 13. Noes 2.) (April 7). · Apr 8, 2026

Hearings

• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 14, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 6, 2026
• Banking and Finance Committee Hearing
  Banking and Finance · Apr 20, 2026
• Banking And Finance
  Banking And Finance · Apr 20, 2026
• Health Committee Hearing
  Health · Apr 7, 2026

History

1. May 14, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. May 6, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. Apr 21, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. Apr 13, 2026Re-referred to Com. on B. & F.
5. Apr 9, 2026Read second time and amended.
6. Apr 8, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on B. & F. (Ayes 13. Noes 2.) (April 7).
7. Mar 18, 2026In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
8. Mar 17, 2026Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
9. Mar 16, 2026Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and B. & F.
10. Mar 16, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
11. Feb 19, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
12. Feb 18, 2026Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Aguiar-Curry · sponsor
• Caloza

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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