Legislative Watch: Priority Bills - May 2025
- ANA California Staff
- May 16, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: May 27, 2025
AB 1215 – Hospitals: medical staff membership
Priority: High, Support
Expands the definition of hospital medical staff to include advanced practice nurses and other providers; aligns with broader workforce inclusion goals.
SB 324 – Medi-Cal: enhanced care management and community supports
Priority: High, Support
Enhances Medi-Cal delivery through ECM and community supports under CalAIM, targeting high-need populations.
AB 1082 – Nursing: students in out-of-state programs
Priority: High, Oppose
Allows out-of-state nursing programs to place students in California clinical settings, raising concerns about oversight and equity in placement.
AB 836 – Midwifery Workforce Training Act
Priority: High, Support
Launches a state-funded study to strengthen midwifery education across rural and urban areas, including preceptor shortages.
AB 551 – Reproductive Health Emergency Preparedness Program
Priority: High, Support
Improves access to abortion and reproductive care in emergency departments, especially in underserved areas.
SB 68 – Major food allergens
Priority: High, Support
Requires food facilities to label major allergens, including sesame, on menus to improve public safety.
SB 669 – Rural hospitals: standby perinatal services
Priority: High, Support
Establishes a pilot program to support maternity care access in rural hospitals.
AB 260 – Sexual and reproductive health care
Priority: High
Expands access to abortion and medication abortion, improves telehealth access, and protects providers.
AB 1386 – Health facilities: perinatal services
Priority: High
Requires hospitals to offer perinatal services as part of core offerings, improving maternal care access.
AB 1400 – Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program
Priority: High, Support
Creates a pilot BSN program at community colleges to expand access to nursing education statewide.
AB 1264 – Pupil nutrition: ultraprocessed food prohibition
Priority: High, Support
Phases out ultraprocessed foods in schools and improves student nutrition standards.
SB 520 – Nurse-midwifery education program
Priority: High, Support
Establishes state-funded nurse-midwifery education programs to address maternity care shortages.
SB 646 – Prenatal vitamins
Priority: High, Support
Requires prenatal vitamin manufacturers to test and disclose toxic metal levels, improving safety and transparency.
SB 403 – End of Life Option Act: sunset removal
Priority: High, Support
Removes the sunset clause, keeping California’s aid-in-dying law permanent.
AB 369 – Emergency services: liability protections
Priority: High, Support
Expands legal protections for non-medical personnel administering emergency medications like naloxone or seizure meds.
AB 489 – Artificial intelligence in healthcare communication
Priority: High, Support
Requires clear disclaimers when AI is used in patient communication and restricts misuse of healthcare titles.
AB 55 – Alternative birth centers: licensing and Medi-Cal reimbursement
Priority: High, Support
Improves access and reimbursement standards for alternative birth centers in California.
AB 543 – Medi-Cal: street medicine
Priority: High, Support
Supports delivery of healthcare to people experiencing homelessness via mobile and shelter-based models.
AB 985 – Anesthesiologist assistants
Priority: High, Support
Sets certification and supervision standards for anesthesiologist assistants.
AB 583 – Death certificates: nurse practitioners
Priority: High, Support
Allows nurse practitioners to complete and certify death certificates, easing provider workload.
SB 626 – Perinatal mental health screening and treatment
Priority: High, Support
Expands perinatal mental health care requirements for providers, plans, and insurers.
SB 682 – Environmental health: PFAS regulation
Priority: High, Support
Phases out toxic PFAS chemicals from consumer products to protect health and the environment.
SB 568 – School epinephrine delivery systems
Priority: High, Support
Requires schools to provide emergency epinephrine delivery systems and train personnel.
AB 876 – Nurse anesthetists: scope of practice
Priority: High, Support
Clarifies and affirms the scope of nurse anesthetists in California law, supporting their autonomy.
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