Legislative Watch: Where Key Nursing and Health Bills Stand

ANA\California is actively engaged in legislation that impacts patient care, the nursing workforce, and healthcare system accountability.

Below is a full update on the bills we are supporting, opposing, and monitoring, and their current status in the legislative process.

---

Supporting

AB 2575 (Ortega) – Healthcare Services: Artificial Intelligence

This bill addresses how AI is used in healthcare settings, requiring transparency and clear pathways for patients to connect with a human provider. As AI becomes more integrated into care delivery, safeguards like these are essential to protect patients and support nurses in clinical decision-making.

AB 2540 (Berman) – Community College Student Right to Access Act

Status: Assembly Health Committee (4/7, 1:30 PM)

Expands access to educational resources for community college students, helping strengthen pathways into the healthcare workforce and reducing barriers for future nurses and providers.

SB 975 (Smallwood-Cuevas) – Nursing Schools and Programs: Faculty

Status: Referred to Assembly Business & Professions and Assembly Education (no recent movement)

Addresses the ongoing shortage of nursing faculty, a key bottleneck limiting the number of students who can enter and complete nursing programs.

AB 2531 (Lee) – Public Health: Abortion Services

Status: Assembly Health Committee (4/7, 1:30 PM)

Protects access to abortion services and supports continuity of care for patients seeking reproductive healthcare across California.

AB 2345 (McCarty) – Student Loans: Health Care Workforce Supplemental Loan Program

Status: Assembly Higher Education Committee (4/21, 1:30 PM)

Provides financial relief for healthcare professionals, helping recruit and retain a strong and diverse workforce.

AB 1696 (Kalra) – Emergency Services: Nurse-Midwives

Status: Assembly Health Committee (4/14, 1:30 PM)

Expands the role of nurse-midwives in emergency settings, improving access to timely and appropriate care.

AB 1973 (Bonta) – Abortions: Authorized Procedures

Status: Assembly Business & Professions Committee (4/7, 8:00 AM)

Clarifies which providers may perform abortion-related procedures, supporting safe and accessible care.

AB 1633 (Bryan) – Taxation: Private Detention Facilities

Status: Referred to Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee

Examines taxation structures tied to private detention facilities, with broader implications for health, safety, and equity.

AB 1843 (Weber) – Communicable Diseases: Hepatitis B & C

Status: Re-referred to Assembly Health Committee

Strengthens screening, prevention, and response efforts for hepatitis B and C, improving early detection and patient outcomes.

AB 1906 (Cervantes) – Cervical Cancer Screening

Status: Re-referred to Assembly Health Committee

Expands access to cervical cancer screening, supporting early diagnosis and preventive care.

AB 1940 (Schiavo) – Discrimination: Menopause

Status: Assembly Judiciary Committee (4/14, 8:00 AM)

Addresses workplace discrimination related to menopause, supporting equitable treatment and workplace protections.

SB 1302 (Padilla) – Nursing: List of Approved Schools

Status: Referred to Senate Business & Professions and Senate Education

Improves transparency and oversight of approved nursing programs, helping ensure quality education and workforce readiness.

AB 2302 (Alanis) – Infant Formula Safety

Status: Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee (4/14, 1:30 PM)

Strengthens safety standards for infant formula, supporting infant health and consumer protection.

AB 2096 (Pacheco) – Vocational Nurses: Respiratory Care

Status: Anticipated Assembly Business & Professions Committee (4/21)

Expands considerations for vocational nurses in respiratory care, addressing workforce capacity and patient needs.

AB 1864 (Wicks) – Gene Synthesis Equipment Manufacturers and Providers

Status: Pending Assembly Judiciary Committee

Establishes oversight of gene synthesis technologies, balancing innovation with safety and ethical considerations.

AB 2447 (Friedman) – Water Supply: Protection Act

Status: Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee (4/14, 1:30 PM)

Protects water quality and environmental conditions that directly impact public health.

AB 2535 (Rivas) – School Meals: Healthy Food Access Policy

Status: Re-referred to Assembly Human Services Committee

Expands access to nutritious school meals, supporting child health and long-term outcomes.

AB 2244 (Gabriel) – California Certified Food Standard

Status: Active (coalition support submitted)

Advances statewide food standards to improve quality, safety, and transparency.

SB 936 (Blakespear & Umberg) – Nitrous Oxide Misuse Prevention

Status: Active (coalition support submitted)

Addresses misuse of nitrous oxide products while protecting legitimate medical, commercial, and industrial uses.

---

Want to take the next step?

Explore our Advocacy Institute Guide, where you’ll find ready-to-use templates, advocacy scripts, and practical tools to help you engage on issues that matter.

Visit the Templates & Advocacy Scripts section for plug-and-play resources, or head to How to Create Change for a clear, step-by-step approach to turning your voice into impact.

---

Opposing

AB 2701 (Jackson) – Domestic Violence Registry

Status: Assembly Public Safety Committee (4/7, 8:30 AM)

Raises concerns related to privacy, implementation, and potential unintended consequences that may impact individuals and systems.

---

Watching

AB 2164 (Lowenthal) – Legally Protected Activities

Status: Assembly Public Safety Committee (4/14, 8:00 AM)

Monitoring potential implications for worker protections and organizational policies.

AB 2170 (Garcia) – CEQA: Overburdened Communities

Status: Pending

Tracks environmental protections and their impact on communities disproportionately affected by environmental risks.

SB 980 (Wiener) – Access to Medical Records

Status: Senate Health Committee (4/15, 1:30 PM)Evaluating how changes to medical record access may affect patients, providers, and healthcare workflows.

AB 1637 (Holden) - No title

Status: Pending

Monitoring for additional details and potential impact.

Closing

These bills reflect the breadth of issues shaping healthcare today, from workforce development and patient access to emerging technologies and public health protections.

Staying engaged in the legislative process ensures that policies reflect real-world clinical experience and support both nurses and the patients they serve.