All Roll Calls
Yes: 139 • No: 10
CaliforniaSB 1602025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Budget Act of 2025.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 9 costs, 3 mixed.
More school hiring background disclosures
Schools and teacher-licensing bodies now get every conviction from January 1, 2020 forward when DOJ sends background checks. This applies to school districts, county offices, charter and private schools, state special schools, and the teacher credentialing commission. Relief under some record-clearing laws does not block these disclosures. This can affect hiring and credential decisions.
New rules for resident doctor licenses
Resident doctors with a postgraduate training license may diagnose and treat patients in their program. You may prescribe medicines without a cosigner. You can prescribe controlled drugs only with DEA and CURES registrations. Licenses issued on or after January 1, 2020 last 36 months. If you had a training authorization letter before January 1, 2020 and you enroll by April 30, 2025, the board issues the license automatically after you show proof. If you did not enroll by April 30, 2025, the board destroys your old applicant file.
Fingerprint checks for state workers
Many California agencies may require fingerprints for employees, applicants, volunteers, contractors, and subcontractors. This includes UC, CSU, the Schools for the Deaf and Blind, diagnostic centers, the Military Department, and Veterans Affairs. When required, the agency sends prints to the Department of Justice for state and federal checks.
Stricter checks for police and staff
Peace officers and applicants must complete fingerprint-based state and federal background checks through DOJ. Criminal justice agencies must do the same for their staff, volunteers, contractors, and subcontractors. Retiring or retired officers who want a concealed-carry endorsement may be required to get fingerprinted. DOJ must confirm firearm eligibility before an endorsement can be issued, and the agency may charge a fee.
Stricter background checks for doctors
All applicants for medical licenses and permits must give fingerprints. The board sends them to the California Department of Justice for state and federal checks. You pay any DOJ processing fee. Results can be used to deny licenses or permits. This applies to physician licenses, postgraduate training, visiting fellow, fellowship, and faculty registrations.
FQHC reviews for Mexico physician hires
Federally qualified health centers that hire physicians from the Mexico program must fund extra quality checks. Each six months, centers must arrange 10 secondary chart reviews per doctor with an approved school or residency. They must also hold at least two quality‑assurance seminars each six months. These reviews and seminars continue for the three years of the physician’s employment. Centers pay these costs on a pro rata basis.
Three-year licenses for Mexican physicians
The state creates a nonrenewable three-year license for eligible physicians from Mexico. Practice is limited to the nonprofit community health center that employs the doctor and its corresponding hospital. Applicants must hold Mexican specialty certification, pass a UNAM interview, finish board orientation, and show English skills (TOEFL 85% or OET 350). Each year, licensees must complete 25 continuing education units. Centers must give the same pay and benefits as other staff and provide malpractice insurance. The license is treated as in good standing for Medicare and Medi-Cal, and health plans cannot deny credentials solely for foreign training or program participation. If licensed without an SSN/ITIN, the doctor must seek a three-year visa and SSN within 14 days and give the SSN to the board within 10 days after issuance. Active license caps rise from 155 (max 30 psychiatry) in 2025–2029 to 275 (max 40 psychiatry) by 2041–2045, with applications Oct 1–Dec 31 in 2025, 2029, 2033, 2037, and 2041 and limited late slots in each period.
New DOJ background services and fees
Beginning January 1, 2028, DOJ may send later arrest or court outcome notices to authorized employers and licensing bodies that contract for the service. Entities must submit fingerprints for retention, verify volunteers every six months, and tell DOJ when someone leaves. DOJ charges cost-recovery fees to process fingerprint requests. The law gives DOJ a one-time $10,000 in 2025–26 to help run these rules. DOJ must also alert key legislative committees within 30 days if a law change is likely needed to keep an entity authorized to receive criminal history.
Background checks for mental health licenses
Applicants for marriage and family therapy, educational psychology, clinical social work, and professional clinical counseling must submit fingerprints for DOJ state and federal checks. Psychologist, psychological associate, psychological testing technician, and research psychoanalyst applicants must do the same. Boards use the DOJ results when deciding licenses or registrations.
Fingerprint checks for midwives and faculty
Midwife license applicants and special faculty permit applicants must submit fingerprints for DOJ state and federal checks. The boards use the DOJ results when deciding whether to deny a license or permit.
Sleep techs limited to sleep patients
Polysomnographic technologists, technicians, and trainees may only test or treat patients with sleep disorders. Other allied health workers follow their own licenses and are not covered here. The rule narrows what sleep techs may do.
New fingerprint rules for certain businesses
Repossession agencies, private investigators, household movers, and yacht or ship brokers and salespersons must submit fingerprints for DOJ state and federal checks. Owners, partners, officers, directors, members, and managers may also need to be fingerprinted. DOJ may charge processing fees, and the movers’ bureau may request follow-up arrest notifications.
Rules to register sleep technologists
Within one year, the Medical Board sets qualifications to register polysomnographic technologists, technicians, and trainees. Five years of practice may count now, but three years after the law starts everyone must pass the approved national exam. All registrants must pass DOJ state and federal criminal checks. Only registered and supervised workers may use the title and practice polysomnography.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 9/12/2025
Item 113 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 31 • No: 0
House vote • 9/11/2025
Item 158 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 80 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/20/2025
Item 94 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 28 • No: 10
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 113, Statutes of 2025.
9/17/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
9/17/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
9/15/2025legislatureAssembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 31. Noes 0. Page 2956.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9/12/2025SenateIn Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
9/12/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3328.) Ordered to the Senate.
9/11/2025HouseOrdered to third reading.
9/10/2025HouseWithdrawn from committee.
9/10/2025HouseAssembly Rule 96 suspended. (Ayes 56. Noes 19. Page 3164.)
9/10/2025HouseFrom committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on BUDGET.
9/8/2025HouseReferred to Com. on BUDGET.
3/24/2025HouseIn Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
3/20/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 450.) Ordered to the Assembly.
3/20/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
3/18/2025SenateOrdered to second reading.
3/17/2025SenateWithdrawn from committee. (Ayes 27. Noes 10. Page 384.)
3/17/2025SenateReferred to Com. on B. & F. R.
2/5/2025SenateFrom printer. May be acted upon on or after February 23.
1/24/2025SenateIntroduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
1/23/2025Senate
Bill Text
Chaptered
9/17/2025
Enrolled
9/13/2025
Amended Assembly
9/8/2025
Introduced
1/23/2025