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CaliforniaAB 12882025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Registered environmental health specialists.

Sponsored By: Dawn Addis (Democratic), Avelino Valencia (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New education paths and exam rules

The law sets education and experience paths to register as an environmental health specialist. You need a bachelor’s degree and one of these: 30 semester (45 quarter) basic science units plus 18 months (600 hours) experience; 45 semester (68 quarter) units plus one year (450 hours); 30/45 units plus extra coursework and 9 months (300 hours); 45/68 units plus specified coursework and 6 months (200 hours); or a bachelor’s in environmental health from an approved program. Basic sciences include life, natural, physical, and health sciences; social sciences do not count. You can take the written exam in person or online. If you fail the written exam, you must wait 90 days and file a new application with the fee.

Broader duties for environmental health specialists

The law expands and clarifies what environmental health specialists do. It covers food safety; housing and institutions; land use; noise; pools and recreational waters; radiation; solid and liquid waste; hazardous materials and tanks; septic systems; vectors; drinking water; emergency response; body art; medical waste; and milk and dairy safety. The Department of Public Health sets rules for these activities after the committee recommends them.

Trainee jobs and training requirements

Local health departments may hire environmental health specialist trainees for up to five years if they have a current education evaluation letter and work under a registered specialist. Training plans must cover at least three main topics; each must be at least 20% of total hours, and other required topics together must be at least 40%. Trainees get at least 20 hours of supervised field work per month for the first six months and at least 150 total field hours. Trainees and coordinators keep verified logs and monthly reports; the local director certifies training quarterly, keeps logs for at least one year after the trainee passes the exam, and notifies the department within 30 days of hires or exits. The department may credit equivalent government or nonprofit experience, and jurisdictions must arrange a training exchange if they lack required elements.

Public registry of specialists and trainees

The Department of Public Health must keep a current public registry of registered specialists and trainees on its website. The registry must be posted within 90 days after each exam. The department keeps exam records for a set time, and you must keep your mailing address current.

Committee oversees environmental health licensing

The law creates a state committee to oversee registration for environmental health specialists. It includes the State Environmental Health Director (nonvoting) and ten members from local directors, practicing specialists, health officers, universities, and the public. Members serve four‑year terms and can be reappointed; removal needs a two‑thirds committee recommendation and a hearing. The committee elects officers each April, meets at least quarterly in person or online, and can hold hearings. Members are unpaid, but the department may approve reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Dawn Addis

    Democratic • House

  • Avelino Valencia

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 254 • No: 0

House vote • 9/12/2025

Item 142 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 80 • No: 0

Senate vote • 9/11/2025

Item 211 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 40 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/14/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/2/2025

Vote in CS60

Yes: 11 • No: 0

House vote • 6/3/2025

Item 122 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 79 • No: 0

legislature vote • 5/23/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 14 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/22/2025

Vote in CX08

Yes: 16 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 297, Statutes of 2025.

    10/3/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/3/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

    9/24/2025legislature

  4. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

    9/12/2025House

  5. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3418.).

    9/12/2025House

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2932.).

    9/11/2025Senate

  7. Ordered to special consent calendar.

    9/9/2025Senate

  8. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    9/8/2025Senate

  9. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    9/4/2025Senate

  10. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    9/2/2025Senate

  11. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

    8/29/2025Senate

  12. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

    8/29/2025Senate

  13. In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    7/14/2025Senate

  14. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/3/2025Senate

  15. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    6/18/2025Senate

  16. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    6/4/2025Senate

  17. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1992.)

    6/3/2025House

  18. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    5/27/2025House

  19. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    5/23/2025House

  20. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    5/14/2025House

  21. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/23/2025House

  22. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    4/21/2025House

  23. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.

    4/10/2025House

  24. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    3/13/2025House

  25. Read first time.

    2/24/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/3/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    9/16/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    9/4/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    8/29/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    4/10/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    2/21/2025

    HTML

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