Laws, Bills & Regs

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district that maintains one or more schools containing any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to establish a policy regarding participation in extracurricular and cocurricular activities by pupils in those grades as a condition for the receipt of specified school funding allocations. This bill, commencing with the 2027–28 school year, would prohibit a school district, county office of education, or charter school from excluding a pupil from participating in any extracurricular activity, including sports and clubs, due to the pupil not having or using addictive feeds, as defined. Existing law provides that parents and guardians of children enrolled in public schools have the right and should have the opportunity, as mutually supportive and respectful partners in the education of their children within the public schools, to be informed by the school, and to participate in the education of their children, as specified, including by, among other things, to be notified on a timely basis if their child is absent from school without permission. This bill, commencing with the 2027–28 school year, would prohibit a school district, county office of education, or charter school from using addictive feeds, as defined, as the only means of contacting pupils or pupils' parents or guardians.

Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers for the provision of services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Existing law, until July 1, 2026, creates the Advisory Council on Improving Interactions between People with Intellectual and Development Disabilities and Law Enforcement, under the Department of Justice, to, among other things, evaluate existing training for peace officers specific to interactions between law enforcement and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Existing law requires the council to submit a report including recommendations to the Legislature for improving outcomes of interactions with both individuals who have an intellectual or developmental disability and mental health conditions, as specified. This bill would require the State Department of Developmental Services to conduct a statewide evaluation of safety training services provided by regional centers, as specified. The bill would require the department, by July 1, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature summarizing its findings and recommendations and would require the recommendations to address specified topics, including, among others, recommendations for establishing standardized, statewide protocols for responding to crises involving individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to consider, upon receipt and consideration of that report, providing funding to the department for the purpose of developing, implementing, and sustaining safety training services statewide.

The Budget Act of 2026 would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2026–27 fiscal year. This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2026 by amending, adding, and repealing items of appropriation and making other changes. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law imposes a managed care organization (MCO) provider tax on licensed health care service plans and managed care plans contracted with the department. Under existing law, the tax revenues, less refunds, are deposited in the Managed Care Enrollment Fund, to be available to the department, upon appropriation, for the purpose of funding increased capitation payments to Medi-Cal managed care plans, the nonfederal share of Medi-Cal managed care rates, and transfers to the Medi-Cal Provider Payment Reserve Fund, as specified. Existing law generally makes these provisions inoperative on January 1, 2027, and repeals them on January 1, 2028, with an exception for certain provisions relating to the Managed Care Enrollment Fund. Existing law, the Protect Access to Health Care Act of 2024, an initiative measure enacted by Proposition 35, as approved by the voters at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election, extends the imposition of the MCO provider tax beyond January 1, 2027, subject to receipt of any necessary federal approvals. The act sets forth various conditions on how the tax revenue is spent for the Medi-Cal program. The act establishes the Protect Access to Health Care Fund and certain subfunds and accounts, and abolishes the Managed Care Enrollment Fund and the Medi-Cal Provider Payment Reserve Fund once all remaining encumbered moneys in those latter funds have been exhausted. Existing federal law, enacted on July 4, 2025, sets forth various changes to the Medicaid program, including, among others, certain limitations on permissible health care-related taxes, known as provider taxes, with regard to broad-based and uniformity standards and tax rates. This bill would state legislative intent to implement an MCO provider tax that is not subject to the Protect Access to Health Care Act of 2024 and that meets certain goals, including compliance with federal requirements and funding for the Medi-Cal program. The bill would impose an MCO provider tax on a health plan, as defined, for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 calendar years. The bill would prohibit the department from collecting the tax until the Director of Health Care Services certifies that the tax is a federally permissible health care-related tax meeting specified federal requirements, or until the department receives federal approval that the tax is a permissible health-care related tax, as specified. The bill would set the tax amount at $8.85 per countable enrollee per month, unless that amount is modified by the department under certain conditions. The bill would deposit the tax revenues, less refunds, in the Medi-Cal Stability Fund, which the bill would create. Under the bill, deposited moneys would be continuously appropriated to the department for the purpose of funding the department's administrative costs, the nonfederal share of increased capitation payments to Medi-Cal managed care plans, the nonfederal share of certain Medi-Cal payments, and the nonfederal share of Medi-Cal managed care rates for certain health care services, as specified. The bill would require the department to request federal approval as is necessary to implement these MCO provider tax provisions. The bill would set forth various procedures regarding the inoperative status of these provisions if the tax was determined to be noncompliant or was rejected, as specified. The bill would make these MCO provider tax provisions inoperative on January 1, 2031, and would repeal them on January 1, 2032, with an exception for certain provisions relating to the Medi-Cal Stability Fund. Existing law establishes a formula for reimbursement rates of certain primary care services, obstetric care services, doula services, and outpatient mental health services, within the Medi-Cal program, in part funded by the above-described Medi-Cal Provider Payment Reserve Fund. This bill would designate the Medi-Cal Stability Fund as a funding source for the nonfederal share of those payments, as described above. The bill would make changes to the methodology for Medi-Cal managed care plans to reimburse an eligible provider furnishing those services. The bill would also delete certain inoperative provisions regarding a community health worker being an eligible provider type for the above-described reimbursement rates. This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

Existing law requires the Governor, from time to time, to examine the organization of all agencies and determine what changes therein are necessary to accomplish specified purposes. Whenever the Governor finds that reorganization is in the public interest, existing law requires the Governor to prepare one or more reorganization plans, as specified. Existing law prescribes the form, content, and procedure of a reorganization plan. Existing law requires the Legislative counsel to prepare for introduction not later than the next regular session of the Legislature occurring more than 90 days after that in which a Governor's reorganization plan takes effect a bill effecting the changes in the reorganization in the statutes as may be necessary to reflect the changes made by the reorganization plan. Existing law, the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 2025, which became effective on July 5, 2025, assigns and reorganizes the functions of state government among executive officers and agencies by, among other things, eliminating the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency as of July 1, 2026, and instead establishing the Business and Consumer Services Agency and the California Housing and Homelessness Agency, each composed of specified departments that are currently within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, as provided. This bill would enact the statutory changes necessary to reflect portions of the changes in law made by the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 2025. The bill would make an appropriation of $300,000 to the Department of Housing and Community Development for the purpose of supplementing existing contracts pursuant to statutory requirements to translate specified guidelines, as specified. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

(1) Existing law authorizes, until January 1, 2027, a party to appear remotely and a court to conduct conferences, hearings, proceedings, and trials in civil cases, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology. Under existing law, a court may require an in-person appearance under specified conditions, including if the court determines on a hearing-by-hearing basis that an in-person appearance would materially assist in the determination of the conference, hearing, or proceeding or in the effective management or resolution of the particular case. Existing law additionally authorizes, until January 1, 2027, the use of remote technology, as defined, for other types of proceedings, including, among others, proceedings regarding the involuntary treatment and conservatorship of gravely disabled persons under specified provisions, contempt proceedings, and competency proceedings. This bill would extend these provisions to also apply to witnesses until January 1, 2032. The bill would instead authorize a court to require an-person appearance if, among other reasons, a court determines on a hearing-by-hearing basis that an in-person appearance is necessary to the determination of the conference, hearing, or proceeding or that remote attendance would materially impair the resolution of the conference, hearing, or proceeding. Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill would require courts to provide a reason for requiring an in-person appearance, as specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2027, requires each superior court to annually report to the Judicial Council, and the Judicial Council to annually report to the Legislature, to assess the impact of technology issues or problems affecting remote proceedings. This bill would extend these provisions until January 1, 2032. (2) Existing law generally allows, until January 1, 2027, upon a defendant's waiver of the right to be physically present, criminal proceedings to be conducted through the use of remote technology, except as specified. Existing law authorizes, until January 1, 2027, a witness in a criminal proceeding to testify using remote technology, except for felony trials, with the written or oral consent of the parties on the record and the consent of the court. Existing law requires a defendant to be personally present in a preliminary hearing unless otherwise specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2027, prohibits these provisions from limiting the right of a defendant to appear through the use of remote technology, as specified. This bill would extend these provisions until January 1, 2032. (3) Existing law prohibits, until January 1, 2027, a trial court from retaliating against an official court reporter or official court reporter pro tempore for notifying a judicial officer that technology or audibility issues are interfering with the creation of the verbatim record of a remote proceeding. This bill would extend these provisions until January 1, 2032. (4) Existing law generally subjects any person under 18 years of age who commits a crime to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge that person to be a ward of the court. Existing law authorizes the use of remote technology in juvenile justice proceedings, as defined, except in specified circumstances, until January 1, 2027. This bill would extend these provisions until January 1, 2032. (5) Existing law generally requires employers, including the superior court, to provide employees with the use of a lactation room or other location for employees to express milk in private, including, among other things, a clean and safe place to sit. Existing law requires the superior court, commencing July 1, 2026 , to provide any court user access to a lactation room in any courthouse in which a lactation room is also provided to court employees, as specified. This bill would delay, until July 1, 2029, the date by which the courts are required to provide public lactation rooms. (6) This bill would appropriate $100,000 from the General Fund to the Judicial Council for purposes of lactation room modifications. (7) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

The Budget Act of 2026 would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2026–27 fiscal year. This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2026 by amending the section that identifies other bills providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

(1) Existing state sales and use tax laws impose a tax on retailers measured by the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property sold at retail in this state of, or on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of, tangible personal property purchased from a retailer for storage, use, or other consumption in this state. The Sales and Use Tax Law (SUT) defines "tangible personal property" to mean personal property that may be seen, weighed, measured, felt, or touched, or that is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. Existing law punishes various violations of the SUT as crimes. The Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law (Bradley-Burns) authorizes counties and cities to impose local sales and use taxes in conformity with the SUT, and existing laws authorize districts, as specified, to impose transactions and use taxes in accordance with the Transactions and Use Tax Law, which generally conforms to the SUT. Amendments to the SUT are automatically incorporated into the local tax laws. This bill would define "tangible personal property" to additionally mean a digital product and any copyright or patent interests associated therewith for the purposes of the application of the SUT, as prescribed. The bill would define "digital product" to mean, except as provided, prewritten computer software transferred on tangible storage media, transferred electronically, or accessed remotely. The bill would also make various conforming changes. By expanding the scope of violating the SUT, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would prohibit a purchaser or retailer of a digital product that is transferred electronically or accessed remotely from entering into any form of agreement that would result, directly or indirectly, in the payment, transfer, diversion, or rebate of any tax revenue resulting from the imposition of a sales and use tax under Bradley-Burns imposed on the sale or purchase of a digital product that is transferred electronically or accessed remotely. This bill would make an appropriation of $750,000 from the General Fund to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration for the purpose of administering these sales and use tax provisions. (2) The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law authorize various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws. Existing law, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2027, limits the total tax reduction by all business credits, as defined, to $5,000,000 per taxable year, except as specified. This bill would extend this limitation through taxable years beginning before January 1, 2030. The bill would also create additional exceptions to this limitation for certain refundable credits or refundable amounts. The bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2030, similarly apply a business credit limit of 70% of the total taxes imposed or $5,000,000, whichever is greater, except as specified. Existing law, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2027, allows a taxpayer to make an irrevocable election to receive an annual refundable credit amount, beginning the 3rd taxable year after the election is made, equal to 20% of the qualified credits that would have otherwise been available to the taxpayer but for the $5,000,000 limitation. Existing law requires the annual refundable credit amount to be allowed as a credit for the taxable year, as specified, and requires the balance, if any, to be paid from the Tax Relief and Refund Account, a continuously appropriated fund, to the taxpayer. This bill would extend the provisions relating to elections to receive an annual refundable credit amount through taxable years beginning before January 1, 2030. By extending the operation of a continuous appropriation, this bill would make an appropriation. (3) Existing law imposes an annual minimum franchise tax of $800, except as provided, on every corporation incorporated in this state, qualified to transact intrastate business in this state, or doing business in this state, and an annual tax in an amount equal to the minimum franchise tax, except as provided, on every limited partnership, limited liability partnership, and limited liability company doing business in this state, as specified. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2030, would reduce the amount of the annual tax imposed on a limited partnership, limited liability partnership, and limited liability company doing business in this state from $800 to $400 for the corporation's first taxable year. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board to submit an annual report to the Legislature regarding the reduction of the annual tax for these corporations, as provided. (4) The Personal Income Tax Law and Corporation Tax Law impose taxes according to or measured by net income of a taxpayer subject to those laws, including residents of the state, at specified rates. Existing law requires the Franchise Tax Board to administer the Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law pursuant to existing law, the violation of which is a crime. The United States Department of Justice announced on May 18, 2026, the establishment of the federal Anti-Weaponization Fund for the purpose of providing a systematic process to hear and redress claims of persons who suffered weaponization and lawfare. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2030, impose a tax on any settlement fund payment from the federal Anti-Weaponization Fund, or any subsequent fund, settlement, or agreement, as provided, at a rate of 100%. The bill would provide that the taxes imposed by these provisions would not be subject to reduction due to deductions or credits, as provided. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board to administer this tax consistent with existing law relating to the administration of the Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law. By expanding the scope of crimes relating to those provisions, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature. (6) 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. (7) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

(1) Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing federal law, H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21) , enacted in 2025, sets forth various Medicaid eligibility changes for implementation at different stages of a certain timeline, including changes applied to beneficiaries between 19 and 64 years of age, inclusive, with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level, commonly known as Medicaid expansion adults. Federal H.R. 1 generally requires a Medicaid expansion adult to undergo an eligibility redetermination once every 6 months, instead of an annual redetermination. The federal law generally requires a Medicaid expansion adult to demonstrate community engagement through any of certain methods for the corresponding month, including a minimum of 80 hours of work or community service or a minimum of half-time enrollment in an educational program. The federal law reduces the period of retroactive coverage prior to the date of Medicaid application from 3 months to one month for Medicaid expansion adults and to 2 months for other Medicaid beneficiaries. The federal law requires the state to provide for a process to regularly obtain beneficiary address information from reliable data sources, and to utilize a system to prevent an individual from being simultaneously enrolled under Medicaid state plans or waivers of multiple states. This bill would make various changes to related state provisions, or would add new provisions, conforming them to the above-described changes under federal H.R. 1. The bill would require a county to accept specified methods of signatures for renewal forms. Federal H.R. 1 restricts the scope of certain categories of immigrants who qualify for Medicaid eligibility. This bill would make conforming changes to related state provisions. The bill would also modify provisions regarding individuals with certain immigration statuses, so that they would be eligible for the full scope of Medi-Cal state-funded benefits, subject to certain service limitations. Existing law requires an individual without satisfactory immigration status, as specified, who is eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal to enroll in a Medi-Cal managed care plan. This bill would instead specify that an individual without satisfactory immigration status who is eligible for the Medi-Cal program is eligible for services in the Medi-Cal fee-for-service delivery system. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions. Existing law requires the department to develop an application for insurance affordability programs, including Medi-Cal, for use by all entities authorized to make an eligibility determination for those programs. Existing law authorizes the department to develop and require use of supplemental forms to collect additional information needed to determine eligibility. This bill would make various changes to those provisions, relating to user testing, accuracy, readability, and the work or community engagement requirements under federal H.R. 1. The bill would require the department to undertake efforts to conduct outreach regarding the changes made under federal H.R. 1, and to establish a data dashboard. Under the bill, beneficiary outreach and education would be coordinated across public social services programs to help minimize barriers to administrative disenrollments. The bill would incorporate federal H.R. 1 requirements into county outreach efforts, as specified. By creating new duties for counties regarding Medi-Cal eligibility determinations, procedures, and outreach, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law, beginning no sooner than July 1, 2027, requires certain individuals who do not have satisfactory immigration status to pay a monthly premium of $30 as a condition of eligibility for the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits, subject to certain exceptions. This bill would require, no sooner than May 14, 2027, the Governor's 2027–28 May Revision to include the level of the monthly premiums, to be set at no less than $30 and no greater than $50 per beneficiary. Under existing law, no sooner than July 1, 2026, the above-described individuals who are 19 years of age or older are not eligible for dental services under the Medi-Cal program, except as specified. This bill would delay the ineligibility for dental services to a period no sooner than July 1, 2027. (3) Under existing law, to the extent that federal financial participation is available, federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and rural health clinic (RHC) services are covered Medi-Cal benefits. Under existing law, FQHC and RHC services are reimbursed on a per-visit basis, as defined. Under existing law, commencing on July 1, 2026, that reimbursement is conditioned on the services being eligible for federal financial participation. This bill would instead apply that condition commencing on July 1, 2027. (4) Existing law, the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Act, subject to receipt of any necessary federal approvals, establishes the CalAIM initiative in order to, among other things, improve quality outcomes, reduce health disparities, and transition and transform the Medi-Cal program to a more consistent and seamless system by reducing complexity and increasing flexibility. Under existing law, the CalAIM initiative ends on December 31, 2026. Existing law appropriates to the department certain amounts of federal financial participation that the department is authorized to claim for expenditures associated with the designated state health programs identified in the CalAIM Terms and Conditions. Existing law appropriates to the Health Care Deposit Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, an amount of General Fund moneys equal to the federal financial participation for use by the department for CalAIM implementation purposes. Existing law also continuously appropriates moneys from the Medi-Cal County Behavioral Health Fund to the department for purposes of implementing certain behavioral health provisions within CalAIM. This bill, subject to receipt of any necessary federal approvals, would extend the CalAIM initiative to December 31, 2031, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would require the department to seek federal approval for implementation of Employment Supports and BridgeCare, the latter of which is to provide home- and community-based services and caregiver supports to individuals enrolled in the federal Medicare Program who meet the near dual eligibility criteria, as specified. Existing law requires an individual county, or counties acting jointly, to provide and administer covered behavioral health Medi-Cal benefits under a single Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery system contract, in accordance with the CalAIM Terms and Conditions. This bill would require the county or counties, if participating in the Drug Medi-Cal organized delivery system, to deliver the behavioral health benefits through a single Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan. (5) Existing law sets forth various requirements and procedures for the enrollment of providers in the Medi-Cal program. This bill, for the period beginning on July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2027, would prohibit the granting of provisional or preferred provisional enrollment status in the Medi-Cal program to an applicant or provider as a result of the department's failure to act within any of specified timeframes. Under those circumstances, the bill would require that the application remain pending unless and until the department issues a written determination consistent with all applicable state and federal Medicaid screening requirements. (6) Existing law prohibits the use of an assets or resources test for individuals whose income eligibility for Medi-Cal is determined based on the application of a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) . Existing federal law authorizes a state to establish a non-MAGI standard for determining the eligibility of certain populations. Existing law, subject to receipt of any necessary federal approvals, implements a disregard of $130,000 in nonexempt property for a case with one member and $65,000 for each additional household member, up to a maximum of 10 members, as specified. This bill, beginning July 1, 2027, would instead implement a resource limit of $21,000 in nonexempt property for a household with one member, $31,000 for a household with 2 members, and $1,550 for each additional household member, up to a maximum of 10 members, as specified. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions. By creating new duties for counties relating to the consideration of resources for determining Medi-Cal eligibility, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (7) Existing law requires a Medi-Cal managed care plan to comply with a minimum 85% medical loss ratio consistent with certain federal regulations. Under existing law, after the department returns the requisite federal share amounts associated with any remittance funds collected in any applicable fiscal year to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the remaining amounts remitted by a Medi-Cal managed care plan under these provisions are transferred to the Medi-Cal Loan Repayment Program Special Fund for purposes of the Medi-Cal Physicians and Dentists Loan Repayment Program. This bill instead would deposit the remaining amounts remitted by a Medi-Cal managed care plan into the General Fund. The bill would remove an inoperative provision. (8) Existing law requires the department to establish and maintain a plan, known as the County Administrative Cost Control Plan, whereby costs for county administration of the determination of eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits are effectively controlled within the amounts annually appropriated for that administration. Existing law makes legislative findings that, in order for counties to do the work that is expected of them, it is necessary that they receive adequate funding, including adjustments for reasonable annual cost-of-doing-business increases. Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature to not appropriate funds for cost-of-doing-business adjustments for the 2024–25 to 2027–28, inclusive, fiscal years, among certain other previous fiscal years. This bill would remove the 2026–27 and 2027–28 fiscal years from the above-described statement of intent regarding the lack of appropriation of funds for the cost-of-doing-business adjustments. (9) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities, including general acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of these provisions is generally a crime. Existing law sets forth various provisions relating to distinct parts of acute care hospitals, including those operating skilled nursing facilities. Existing regulations define "distinct part" as an identifiable unit accommodating beds, including, but not limited to, contiguous rooms, a wing, floor, or building that is approved by the department for a specific purpose. This bill would require a general acute care hospital seeking to provide skilled nursing services in a distinct part, as defined, to submit an application and documentation to the department. If the distinct part meets certain criteria, the bill would authorize the department to approve a hospital's application for a distinct part on a case-by-case basis. The bill would require a skilled nursing distinct part to meet specified conditions, including, among others, being wholly owned by the hospital and being subject to the bylaws and operating decisions of the hospital's governing body. The bill would require a general acute care hospital seeking to add a composite distinct part to its license to submit a proposal to the department, as specified. Under the bill, "composite distinct part" would be defined as a distinct part consisting of 2 or more noncontiguous components that are not located within the same campus. If the department determines that the composite distinct part may improve access to care and address a specific unmet need in the geographical area served by the hospital, the bill would authorize the hospital to submit an application for approval of a composite distinct part. The bill would require a freestanding component of a composite distinct part to independently meet all of the licensing requirements applicable to a freestanding skilled nursing facility, including staffing requirements and ratios. The bill would prohibit a hospital from using composite distinct parts to segregate residents by payment source or on a basis other than care needs. The bill would limit the hospital to a maximum of only one licensed skilled nursing distinct part, which may be a composite distinct part, with the hospital and the distinct part or composite distinct part having only one license number. The bill would set forth related identification duties for the department. Existing law requires the department, upon approval, to issue a separate license for the provision of basic services relating to skilled nursing or intermediate care, whenever these basic services are to be provided by an acute care hospital in a separate freestanding facility, whether or not contiguous to the hospital. Existing law sets forth various exemptions to this requirement, including for beds licensed to an acute care hospital and located within the physical structure in which acute care is provided. This bill would exempt, from the above-described requirement, licensed skilled nursing beds in a distinct part located on a general acute care hospital's campus, as specified. Under the bill, a composite distinct part would be exempt only if the hospital's license has a distinct part on its campus approved for skilled nursing. By creating new requirements for general acute care hospitals, distinct parts, and composite distinct parts, the violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (10) Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to develop and maintain a statewide comprehensive community-based perinatal services program, as specified, to deliver services in medically underserved areas or areas with demonstrated need. Existing law requires the department, by July 1, 2026, to establish a 10-year pilot project within up to 5 critical access hospitals to allow participating hospitals, on an application basis, to establish standby perinatal services, as defined. Existing law requires, if qualified, the first 2 hospitals selected to be nonprofit and located in the Counties of Humboldt and Plumas. This bill would require, if qualified, a nonprofit hospital located in the County of Lake to be one of the first 3 hospitals selected. The bill would make various changes to certain criteria, with regard to staff responsibilities and procedures, for a hospital requesting approval to establish a standby perinatal service. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Lake. (11) Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of home health agencies by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law generally makes a violation of those provisions a misdemeanor. Existing law prescribes various requirements for the application for a home health agency license, including a provisional license for an applicant that has not been previously licensed. This bill, except as provided, would require a home health agency to have an administrator, administrator designee, director of patient care services, and director of patient care services designee, and to submit to the department specified information for each individual on an initial application. The bill would require existing agencies to provide this information no later than March 31, 2027. The bill would require the department to verify specified details of home health agency management personnel. The bill, except as provided, would require an applicant for licensure of a home health agency or a branch office to demonstrate an unmet need for home health services in the agency's geographic service area. The bill would specify additional grounds by which the department is authorized to deny an application for, or suspend or revoke, a license. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would prohibit the transfer of a license that is issued pursuant to these provisions. The bill would prohibit the department from approving a change of ownership of a licensed home health agency within 5 years of the date a license was initially issued to the licensee. The bill would authorize the department to make an exception for extenuating circumstances, as specified. The bill, for a specified period of time, would prohibit the department from issuing a new license to operate a home health agency or add a branch office to an existing license. The bill would authorize the department to grant an exception upon a written finding that an applicant for a new license or with a pending application has demonstrated an unmet need for home health services in the area where the applicant proposes to operate. The bill would require the department to update existing home health agency regulations as necessary and adopt regulations that, among other things, clarify the maximum time and distance that home health agency staff may travel to reach patients, as specified. (12) Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to license and regulate alcohol or other drug programs that provide recovery, treatment, or detoxification services or medications for addiction treatment. Under existing law, a licensee is required to provide at least one specified nonmedical service. Existing law requires the department to adopt American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) treatment criteria, or an equivalent evidence-based standard, as the minimum standard of care for licensed facilities, and required the department to adopt regulations to implement the ASAM Criteria by January 1, 2023. The ASAM Criteria, 4th Edition, changes the levels of care for substance use treatment and integrates withdrawal management services, formerly referred to as detoxification services, into other care levels. This bill would recast detoxification as withdrawal management and would make conforming changes. The bill would require a licensee to provide recovery and treatment services or recovery, treatment, and withdrawal management services. The bill would require a license to provide detoxification-only services to expire on July 1, 2027. The bill would prohibit a licensee from providing detoxification-only services on and after that date and would prohibit the department from issuing or extending a license for detoxification-only services on or after that date. The bill would require the department to promulgate regulations to implement the ASAM Criteria by January 1, 2030, and in the interim would authorize the department to implement the ASAM Criteria through all-county letters, plan letters, information notices, or similar instructions. On and after July 1, 2027, the bill would require a licensee that provides withdrawal management services to provide those services as required in guidance issued by the department. (13) Existing law imposes certain fair pricing requirements on hospitals, including, among other things, requiring that hospitals provide patients with a written notice containing information about the availability of the hospital's discount payment and charity care policies and restricting the sale of patient debts. Existing law requires the Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information to impose administrative penalties for each violation against a hospital that fails to comply with these provisions, except as specified. This bill would establish the Hospital Fair Pricing Penalties Fund and would require any moneys collected from the above-described administrative penalties to be deposited into the fund. The bill would, upon appropriation, authorize the department to use moneys from the fund to carry out the above-described fair-pricing provisions. (14) Existing law requires the Center for Data Insights and Innovation to compile an annual quality of care report card and produce an annual report regarding health care consumer or patient assistance help centers. Existing law establishes the Health Plan Improvement Trust Fund and requires moneys in the fund to be used for these purposes, upon appropriation by the Legislature. Existing law sets forth the shares of funding from the Managed Care Fund and Insurance Fund to be deposited into the Health Plan Improvement Trust Fund. Existing law makes personal information obtained or maintained by the center confidential and exempt from other disclosure requirements. This bill would repeal and recast the above-described provisions to be administered by the Department of Health Care Access and Information beginning July 1, 2026. The bill would also make conforming changes. Existing law requires the Department of Health Care Access and Information to establish and implement the California Health and Human Services Data Exchange Framework, which is required to include a single data sharing agreement and common set of policies and procedures that will leverage and advance national standards for information exchange and data content, and that will govern and require the exchange of health information among health care entities and governmental agencies in the state. Existing law generally requires specified entities to execute the data sharing agreement on or before January 31, 2023, and to exchange health information or provide access to health information pursuant to the framework by July 1, 2026. This bill would delay required compliance with the above-described provisions until July 1, 2027, for specified community clinics, intermittent clinics, and rural health clinics. (15) Existing law establishes the California Reproductive Health Equity Program within the Department of Health Care Access and Information to ensure abortion and contraception services are affordable for and accessible to all patients and to provide financial support for safety net providers of these services. Existing law authorizes a Medi-Cal enrolled provider to apply to the department for a grant, and a continuation award after the initial grant, to provide abortion and contraception services if specified criteria are met. Existing law establishes the California Reproductive Health Equity Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, to provide this grant funding. Existing law establishes the Abortion Access Fund, a continuously appropriated fund in the State Treasury, to provide funding for abortion services. This bill would rename the program as the California Reproductive and TGI Health Equity Program, would expand the program's purposes to ensure affordability and access to gender-affirming care, and would make conforming changes. The bill would require the department to develop an application form and begin accepting grant applications on or before January 1, 2027. The bill would authorize the department to use the money in the Abortion Access Fund to provide grant funding to safety net providers for abortion services through the program and would expand the purposes of the California Reproductive Health Equity Fund to include grant funding for gender-affirming care services, thus making an appropriation. The bill would make contracts, grants, and related program information confidential and exempt from disclosure to the public. (16) Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California and requires the board to adopt and administer standards for the continuing education of those licensees. Existing law requires the board, in determining its continuing education requirements, to consider including a course in menopausal mental or physical health. Existing law, the Osteopathic Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of osteopathic physicians and surgeons by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and requires the board to adopt and administer standards for the continuing education of those licensees. Under this bill, beginning July 1, 2027, a qualifying physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon who completes continuing medical education courses in perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopausal care would receive 2 hours of credit for each hour completed of that coursework, as specified. The bill would make changes to related provisions regarding course hours for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. 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 generally makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy, as specified, to include coverage for certain treatments for menopausal symptoms, as medically necessary. The bill would require these contracts and policies to include a program that meets specified criteria to ensure the individuals have access to current menopause information and covered items and services. The bill would require a plan or insurer to base a medical necessity determination or utilization review criteria for the treatment of symptoms resulting from menopause on current generally accepted standards of menopause care. Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill would require a plan or insurer conducting utilization review for the treatment of symptoms resulting from menopause to apply certain criteria and guidelines, as specified. 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. Existing law sets forth a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program. This bill would cover certain treatments for menopausal symptoms under the Medi-Cal program, subject to medical necessity and to the extent that federal financial participation is available. The bill would require the department to establish and maintain a policy to reimburse providers for provision of services related to menopause care. (17) Existing law establishes the Breast Cancer Fund, which consists of 2 accounts, the Breast Cancer Research Account and the Breast Cancer Control Account. Under existing law, revenues from a specified cigarette tax are deposited into the fund and divided between the 2 accounts, to be allocated upon appropriation by the Legislature. Existing law requires 10% of moneys in the Breast Cancer Research Account to be allocated to the Cancer Surveillance Section, as specified. This bill would correct an erroneous reference within the above provisions. (18) Existing law creates the California Health Benefit Exchange, also known as Covered California, to facilitate the enrollment of qualified individuals and qualified small employers in qualified health plans as required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) . Existing law establishes the Health Care Affordability Reserve Fund to be used, upon appropriation, for health care affordability programs operated by the Exchange, among other things. Existing law requires the Exchange, upon appropriation, to provide payments equaling the cost of providing coverage of abortion services for which federal funding is prohibited to individuals enrolled in a qualified health plan through the Exchange in the individual market. Existing law prohibits the payments from being less than $1 per enrollee per month. This bill would require that the Health Care Affordability Reserve Fund be utilized, upon appropriation, for the above-described payments. (19) Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, creates the Mental Health Service Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, for the purpose of funding a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to clarify procedures and terms of the MHSA by majority vote. Existing law, the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) , a legislative act amending the MHSA that was approved by the voters as Proposition 1 at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, recast the MHSA by, among other things, renaming the Mental Health Service Fund as the Behavioral Health Service Fund, expanding the MHSA to include treatment of substance use disorders, changing the county planning process, and expanding services for which counties and the state can use funds. Existing law requires a county to calculate a maximum amount it establishes as the funding level for its prudent reserve for its Local Behavioral Health Services Fund, not to exceed 20% of the average of the total funds distributed to the county, as specified, and requires a county with a population of less than 200,000 to calculate a maximum amount it establishes as the prudent reserve for its Local Behavioral Health Services Fund, not to exceed 25% of the average of the total funds distributed to the county, as specified. This bill would, commencing with the 2029–30 fiscal year and every 3 fiscal years thereafter, require a county to calculate the maximum funding level of its prudent reserve, as specified, and include a plan for the expenditure of funds exceeding the maximum amount funding level in the county's integrated plan. Existing law requires the Controller, on or before the 15th day of each month, to distribute to each Local Behavioral Health Service Fund established by counties all unexpended and unreserved funds on deposit as of the last day of the prior month in the Behavioral Health Services Fund for the provision of behavioral health programs and other related activities pursuant to a methodology provided by the State Department of Health Care Services. This bill, commencing July 1, 2028, would require the department to establish a methodology for determining annual minimum expenditure levels for funds distributed to counties, as described above. The bill would, beginning in the 2028–29 fiscal year, set the minimum expenditure level at the average annual amount of distributed funds for a county in the preceding 3 years. The bill would require a county, commencing with the 2029–30 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, to spend an amount of distributed funds that is equal to or greater than the minimum expenditure level for that fiscal year, as specified. The bill would authorize a county to spend funds from its prudent reserve only during a fiscal year for which the department publishes a revised minimum expenditure level, during any fiscal year in which the amount of distributed funds is less than the minimum expenditure level calculated for that fiscal year, or during a fiscal year in which the county determines that there has been a change in local behavioral health needs or circumstances. Existing law requires each county to prepare and submit an integrated plan and annual updates to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and the department. Existing law requires the integrated plan and annual update to include a budget that includes the county planned expenditures and reserves for the county distributions from the Behavioral Health Service Fund and any other funds allocated to the county to provide specified services and programs. Existing law requires all expenditures for county behavioral health programs to be consistent with a currently approved county integrated plan, annual update, or intermittent update. If a county fails to submit certain data and information or fails to allocate funding as specified, existing law authorizes the department to impose a corrective action plan, monetary sanctions, or temporarily withhold payments to the county. Existing law requires these monetary sanctions to be deposited in the Behavioral Health Services Act Accountability Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, to be allocated and distributed to the county that paid the monetary sanction upon the department's determination that the county has come into compliance. If a county fails to comply with the minimum expenditure requirements described above, this bill would authorize the department to impose a corrective action plan, monetary sanctions, or temporarily withhold payments to the county. Because the monetary sanctions would be a new source of moneys for the Behavioral Health Services Act Accountability Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. By creating additional duties for counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (20) Existing law requires the State Department of State Hospitals to designate a community program director who is responsible for administering community treatment programs for certain committed persons. Existing law establishes the Forensic Conditional Release Program to provide outpatient and community-based treatment to committed persons. Existing law requires the department, until June 30, 2026, to establish a statewide panel of independent evaluators to identify and evaluate state hospital patients who are appropriate for participation in the program. This bill would rename the independent evaluation panel as the independent placement panel. The bill would make certain changes to the designation process for case reviews and placement recommendations. The bill would extend these provisions indefinitely. Existing law prohibits outpatient status for a person who is charged with and found incompetent on a charge of, convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of insanity of, certain crimes until the person has actually been confined in a state hospital or other treatment facility for at least 180 days. Existing law permits outpatient status, without a person first being confined in a state hospital or other treatment facility, in the case of other crimes. Existing law requires the court to consider certain criteria before placing those persons on outpatient status. This bill would modify some of those factors that the court would be required to consider. The bill would also make changes to related provisions regarding procedures for the independent placement panel or designee to submit certain recommendations and for the court to give notice of hearing dates to specified entities. (21) Existing law authorizes the State Public Health Officer, to the extent allowable under federal law, and upon the availability of funds, to expend moneys from the continuously appropriated AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Rebate Fund for a program to cover the costs of prescribed ADAP formulary medications for the prevention of HIV infection and other specified costs. This bill would additionally allow moneys from the ADAP Rebate Fund to be used to cover costs related to state and local public health department disease intervention and investigation activities and services for specified communicable diseases, to the extent that funds are available for these purposes. The bill would also allow moneys from the fund to be used to cover costs related to housing support and other programs or initiatives relating to HIV treatment or overdose prevention and harm reduction. The bill would, to the extent deemed an allowable use of the fund, authorize the State Department of Public Health to spend up to $134,840,000 in fiscal year 2026–27, $134,490,000 in fiscal year 2027–28, $126,590,000 in fiscal year 2028–29, and $130,090,000 in fiscal year 2029–30, from the fund to implement specified programs. The bill would authorize the department to spend up to $50,000,000 for related purposes, as specified. By adding to the purposes of the ADAP Rebate Fund, the bill would make an appropriation. (22) 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. (23) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. (24) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

Establishes an Axis Deer Meat Donation Pilot Program to exempt the donation of axis deer meat to a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization for the purpose of feeding needy individuals from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of axis deer meat, carcasses, and meat products, subject to certain requirements. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2033. (CD2)

Establishes the Hawaii-Ireland Trade Commission within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for administrative purposes. Requires the Commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor. Sunsets 6/30/2031. (CD2)

Existing law establishes the Domestic Violence Prevention Act for the purpose of preventing acts of domestic violence, abuse, and sexual abuse and providing for a separation of the persons involved in the domestic violence for a period sufficient to enable those persons to seek a resolution of the causes of the violence. Existing law authorizes a court to issue an ex parte protective order enjoining a party from, among other things, stalking, battering, or disturbing the peace of the other party. This bill would authorize a court determining whether to issue a protective order to consider evidence submitted to it by either party that a military protective order has been issued against the respondent, as specified. The bill would additionally require a law enforcement officer who receives information at the scene of a domestic violence incident that a military protective order has been issued to verify the existence of that order. The bill would require a law enforcement officer who determines that a military protective order has been issued against a person involved in the domestic violence incident who violates a provision of a domestic violence protective order to notify the law enforcement agency that entered the military protective order that the restrained party may be in violation of a military protective order. By increasing duties on local law enforcement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize each law enforcement agency in the state that petitions for or enforces domestic violence protective orders to develop and adopt memoranda of understanding with military law enforcement or other designated representatives of one or more military installations located in whole or in part within the borders of its jurisdiction that govern the investigation and actions related to domestic violence involving service members assigned to units on those installations, as specified. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Requires any cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, hydrolysis facility, or mortuary to dispose of the remains of a dead human body no later than sixty days from the later of either the date a burial‑transit permit has been issued or the date of an affidavit for amendment of the permit has been submitted. (CD1)

To amend sections 3301.0714, 3314.03, and 3326.11 and to enact sections 3302.131, 3302.132, and 3313.6030 of the Revised Code with regard to academic intervention services at public schools and the establishment of mathematics improvement and intervention plans.

This Act creates a scholarship for students who have completed a Delaware Teacher Academy and are enrolled in a Delaware Educator Preparation Program. This scholarship supplements the Educator Support Scholarship and is intended to fill a $2500 funding gap for aspiring educators who are in their first year at an Educator Preparation Program. No more than 35 scholarships may be awarded. The scholarship will be expanded based on interest and funding in subsequent school years and will continue as funding is available.

Under existing law, a person who willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon specified persons, including, among others, the offender's spouse or former spouse, is guilty of a crime, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 3, or 4 years, or in a county jail for not more than 1 year, or by a fine of up to $6,000. Existing law also provides conditions for probation for a violation of these provisions if the person has a previous conviction of certain assault and battery offenses, as specified. This bill would make this crime punishable by imprisonment in state prison for 2, 4, or 5 years, or by imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000 if a person is convicted for violating these provisions within 7 years of a previous felony conviction under these provisions. The bill would also, if a person has one prior felony conviction under these provisions, require that the defendant be imprisoned in a county jail for not less than 60 days as a condition of probation. By increasing the penalty for existing crimes, 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.

By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2505) (subject to Joint Rule 9) of Peter J. Durant and Kimberly N. Ferguson (by vote of the town) for legislation relative to the dissolution of the Holmes Park Water District. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]

Authorizes the Department of Health to continue providing services statewide to Hansen's disease patients living in the community. Repeals sections of Chapter 326, Hawaii Revised Statutes, upon the 1‑year anniversary of the passing of the last patient resident of Kalaupapa as affirmed in the Governor's proclamation. Requires the Department of Health to include community organizations in the transition planning team. (CD1)

Existing law generally provides requirements for the licensing of business establishments. Existing law requires a business that provides services to minors, as defined, to provide written notice to the parent or guardian of a minor participating in the service offered by the business regarding the business' policies relating to criminal background checks for employees, as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain state summary criminal history information, as defined, and to furnish this information as required by statute to specified entities, including a human resource agency or an employer. Under existing law, the disclosure of state summary criminal history information to an unauthorized person is a crime. This bill would require a person who provides behavioral health treatment for a behavioral health center, facility, or program to undergo a background check, as specified. By expanding the scope of the crime of unlawful disclosure of state summary criminal history information, 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.

Establishes a three-year pilot program in the County of Kauai and County of Hawaii to allow qualified psychologists under the supervision of a supervising physician or psychiatrist limited authority to prescribe certain psychotropic medications to patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years under the care of the psychologist. Requires the Board of Psychology to adopt rules. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Prohibits operators of smart household security devices from sharing user data with law enforcement agencies unless the user consents, the law enforcement agency obtains a judicial warrant, or there is an emergency situation involving a clear and present danger of imminent death or great bodily harm. Prohibits operators from requiring users to consent to the sharing of data with law enforcement agencies as a condition of using a smart household security device. Allows the Department of the Attorney General to bring a civil action against operators who violate certain requirements. (CD1)

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to provide for certain notice upon registration of a vessel with the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for performance of unattended vessel checks; to authorize restitution to the Department of Natural Resources for the cost of removal, storage, and disposal of abandoned vessels; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Authorizes the display of a mobile driver's license to a law enforcement officer on a mobile electronic device, under certain conditions. Limits a law enforcement officer's access to only the information necessary to verify the driver's license credential when displayed electronically. (CD1)

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to increase the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-1-180, RELATING TO ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CONDITIONS FOR EXTENDED SESSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY CALL THEIR RESPECTIVE BODIES INTO SESSION AFTER THE SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT DATE IF THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL OR CAPITAL RESERVE FUND RESOLUTION IS NOT COMPLETED BY THE SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT DATE, TO PROVIDE THE TIME PERIOD DURING WHICH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY BE CALLED BACK TO COMPLETE THOSE MATTERS AND ANY CONFERENCE COMMITTEES APPOINTED ON OR BEFORE THE DATE OF SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TOLLING OF THE ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-DAY PERIOD THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS TO REVIEW STATE REGULATIONS. - RATIFIED TITLE

Existing law, the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 2025, beginning July 1, 2026, eliminates the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and instead establishes the Business and Consumer Services Agency and the California Housing and Homelessness Agency (agency) . Existing law requires the agency to coordinate with the California Health and Human Services Agency and the California Consumer Protection Agency on various state policies, including housing. This bill would require the agency to create a study on issues impacting pregnant people experiencing homelessness and report the results of the study, as well as recommendations to establish a PINK Alert, to the Legislature by July 1, 2028. The bill would require the recommendations to include how the PINK Alert can meet specified conditions, including that it be a system that nonprofits can opt in to in order to get notifications if there is a pregnant person in need of emergency housing or prenatal services.

This bill adds a new crime of application insurance fraud under the criminal code to include fraudulent statements submitted in support of an application to obtain or renew insurance or made for purposes of obtaining a commission or other payment from an insurer. This bill makes application-related insurance fraud a class A misdemeanor unless the benefits wrongfully obtained or sought to be obtained is at least $1,000, in which case application insurance fraud is a class G felony.

Grants peace officer status to employees of the town court of the town of Montgomery serving as uniformed court officers at such town court.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to engage in certain capital improvement projects at state small boat harbors and state parks without prior approval from the Legislature and Governor for existing facilities. Requires semiannual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets five years after the effective date. (CD1)

Increases the number of members in the public service commission from five to seven members.

Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock evaluation and authorization process. (CD1)

(1) Existing law establishes the Pierce's Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Pierce's Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Existing law allows certain money in this account to be expended to combat Pierce's disease and its vectors, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and for purposes relating to other designated pests and diseases, as provided. Existing law makes these provisions inoperative on March 1, 2031. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions indefinitely, except that the bill would make these provisions inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of Food and Agriculture finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, as described below. By extending the operation of a partially continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. (2) Existing law creates in the department the Pierce's Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board, which consists of specified members, and prescribes the functions and duties of the board with respect to implementation of the Pierce's disease program. Existing law provides for an annual assessment to be paid by grape processors, as defined, into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and continuously appropriates the collected funds for the purposes of, among other things, research and other activities related to the Pierce's disease program. Existing law repeals these provisions on March 1, 2031. This bill would change the name of the board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board. This bill would extend the operation of the provisions concerning the board indefinitely, except that this bill would require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, no later than June 30, 2030, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, to hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of these provisions should be continued. If the secretary makes a specified finding after one of those hearings, the bill would require the secretary to conduct a referendum on the continued operation of the board. If the secretary finds that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given for the continued operation of the board, the bill would end the operation of the board as of March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held. By extending the date until which the assessments are collected and deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. (3) Existing law, until March 1, 2031, requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to appoint an advisory task force for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierce's disease. This bill would also require the task force to advise the Secretary of Food and Agriculture on the control and management of other designated pests and diseases. The bill would extend the operation of the task force indefinitely, subject to becoming inoperative if the operation of the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board is discontinued. (4) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Existing law establishes the Department of Health Care Access and Information to oversee various aspects of the health care market, including oversight of hospital facilities and community benefit plans. 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 provides for the licensure and regulation of general acute care hospitals and clinics by the State Department of Public Health. This bill would, beginning on January 1, 2028, prohibit a health care provider, hospital, or health system from charging, billing, or collecting a facility fee for any outpatient services in specified circumstances, including for specified preventative health care services and health care services furnished via telehealth. The bill would not prohibit the billing of a professional fee. The bill would require a health care provider, hospital, or health system to provide notice, as specified, to a patient at the time of scheduling and at check-in if a facility fee will be charged. The bill would require the Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information to impose an administrative penalty pursuant to a specified process for each violation against a health care provider, hospital, or health system that fails to comply with these provisions. The bill would specify that multiple violations identified during the same investigation constitute a single violation for purposes of assessing an administrative penalty. The bill would require a health care provider, hospital, or health system to reimburse the patient or patients any amount actually paid for a prohibited facility fee. The bill would, beginning on January 1, 2028, prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from reimbursing, paying, or otherwise providing coverage for any prohibited facility fee. The bill would prohibit a plan from including in any contract or provider agreement any term permitting payment of a prohibited facility fee, and would prohibit a plan or insurer from passing through or otherwise shifting the fee to an enrollee or insured. Because a willful violation of these provisions relative to health care service plans would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would, beginning on January 1, 2028, require a hospital or health system, as defined, to file a report with the Department of Health Care Access and Information regarding specified information on the facility fees charged, including the number of patient visits at each facility where a facility fee was charged or billed and the total amount of fees charged. The bill would authorize the department to incorporate this report into an existing reporting requirement to minimize costs. 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.