All Roll Calls
Yes: 183 • No: 48
CaliforniaAB 13122025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Hospital pricing.
Sponsored By: Pilar Schiavo (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Hospitals must screen for discounts
Beginning July 1, 2027, hospitals must screen patients for charity care and bill discounts. Screening is required for uninsured patients, Medi-Cal patients with cost sharing or HPE, and Covered California enrollees. If you or a family member is in CalFresh, CalWORKs, Tribal TANF, WIC, CARE, LIHEAP, or a housing voucher program, the hospital accepts that as proof you qualify. If you say you are homeless, the hospital must accept your self-attestation and presume you qualify. A prior hospital charity or discount approval in the last six months also counts. When screening shows you are financially qualified, the hospital must decide eligibility without a separate application. Hospitals may also presumptively screen and approve patients beyond the required categories.
Stronger billing and verification protections
Beginning July 1, 2027, hospitals must try to independently verify eligibility before billing you. If they cannot, they must ask you in writing for proof, help when feasible, and accept self-attestation for homelessness. If you are found presumptively or fully eligible, they must give written notice before any bill and show the discount on later bills. If you are later found ineligible or unverifiable, the hospital must promptly send written notice of its charity and discount rules. Required notices must be in English and in the language you speak, when the law requires.
Your rights and privacy in screening
Beginning July 1, 2027, hospitals must tell you about screening and let you opt out. Screening info is used only to check eligibility, and screening is not an application. Hospitals cannot make you apply for Medicare or Medi-Cal before screening for a discount, though they can require a Medi-Cal eligibility screening when checking for discounts. You may share documents to help, but they are not required for screening. Hospitals may use existing records to speed screening. Each hospital must publish its written screening process and list any software or third-party services it uses. Any third-party tool cannot hurt your credit, must use eligibility rules (not ability to pay), and must be reasonably accurate.
Lower charity care limits at rural hospitals
Beginning July 1, 2027, rural hospitals may set charity care and discount income limits below 400% of the federal poverty level. This can mean fewer or smaller discounts at those hospitals. It applies only if a rural hospital chooses to lower its limits to protect its finances.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Pilar Schiavo
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 9/9/2025
Item 242 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 62 • No: 16
Senate vote • 9/8/2025
Item 395 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 27 • No: 8
legislature vote • 8/29/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 5 • No: 2
legislature vote • 8/18/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 7 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/16/2025
Vote in CS60
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 6/2/2025
Item 272 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 51 • No: 16
legislature vote • 5/23/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 11 • No: 3
legislature vote • 4/29/2025
Vote in CX08
Yes: 12 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 450, Statutes of 2025.
10/7/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/7/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
9/16/2025legislatureSenate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 62. Noes 16. Page 3123.).
9/9/2025HouseIn Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9/8/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 27. Noes 8. Page 2625.).
9/8/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/4/2025SenateRead third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9/3/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
8/29/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
8/29/2025SenateIn committee: Referred to suspense file.
8/18/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/21/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 16).
7/21/2025SenateFrom committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
7/8/2025SenateReferred to Com. on HEALTH.
6/11/2025SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
6/3/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1933.)
6/2/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
5/27/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 23).
5/23/2025HouseIn committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
5/14/2025HouseRe-referred to Com. on APPR.
5/5/2025HouseRead second time and amended.
5/1/2025HouseFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 3.) (April 29).
4/30/2025HouseReferred to Com. on HEALTH.
3/13/2025HouseRead first time.
2/24/2025House
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/7/2025
Enrolled
9/11/2025
Amended Senate
9/3/2025
Amended Senate
7/21/2025
Amended Senate
7/8/2025
Amended Assembly
5/1/2025
Introduced
2/21/2025