All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 0
CaliforniaSB 6692025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Rural hospitals: standby perinatal medical services.
Sponsored By: Mike McGuire (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Emergency birth and newborn care 24/7
Hospitals must meet Level I maternal and Level 1 newborn nursery standards. They keep cesarean and neonatal resuscitation ready at all times, and can give life‑sustaining care for up to 12 hours. They must stock key tools and drugs, like fetal monitors, oxygen and suction for mother and infant, a postpartum hemorrhage kit with a uterine tamponade device, neonatal masks, steroids, and refrigerated uterotonics. They keep transfer agreements, blood access, ambulance services, and 24/7 on‑call staff who can be onsite within 30 minutes, with a registered nurse in the hospital at all times. These rules run July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2036.
Rural standby birth services pilot starts
The law starts a 10-year pilot on July 1, 2026. Up to five rural critical access hospitals can run standby perinatal services. If qualified, the first two are nonprofit hospitals in Humboldt and Plumas Counties. The health department meets with hospitals, clinicians, labor, plans, and consumers to set standards. It can issue All Facilities Letters to give quick guidance, and the pilot ends July 1, 2036.
Stronger staffing and training for births
Hospitals must name a responsible physician in OB/GYN, pediatrics, or family medicine to oversee services and set policies. Combined labor, delivery, and postpartum areas must meet existing nurse‑to‑patient ratios. A physician, certified nurse‑midwife, or registered nurse must attend patients under anesthesia in labor, delivery, and right after birth. Hospitals run ongoing training, simulation, and yearly skill checks for perinatal nurses; nurses keep BLS, ACLS, electronic fetal monitoring, S.T.A.B.L.E., and neonatal resuscitation certifications, with some doing week‑long rotations every two years. Hospitals also run education and quality‑improvement programs with higher‑level partners; these rules apply July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2036.
Rules for hospitals to join pilot
Beginning July 1, 2026, the department lets hospitals join only if they meet strict standards. They must provide surgery and anesthesia, timely lab tests, premixed infusions, a licensed emergency service, and a designated room for the service. In hospitals with 25 or fewer beds, an operating room may serve as the delivery room, but not as the only standby space. Hospitals that are subject to federal Medicare obstetrical rules must stay in compliance. The department can approve limited flexibility and can suspend or revoke approval if safety or standards are not met; these rules end July 1, 2036.
Pilot hospitals must report results
Starting July 1, 2026, pilot hospitals report required data each quarter in the format the department sets. The department collects safety, outcome, use, and demographic data and may add details in consultation with stakeholders. It posts a public evaluation and sends it to the Legislature within two years after the pilot ends, by July 1, 2038. Reporting runs through July 1, 2036.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Mike McGuire
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Mia Bonta
Democratic • House
Anna Caballero
Democratic • Senate
Sabrina Cervantes
Democratic • Senate
Megan Dahle
Republican • Senate
Mark Mark González
Democratic • House
Melissa Hurtado
Democratic • Senate
Eloise Gómez Reyes
Democratic • Senate
Laura Richardson
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 9/11/2025
Item 45 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 40 • No: 0
House vote • 9/9/2025
Item 97 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 80 • No: 0
legislature vote • 8/29/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 15 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/1/2025
Vote in CX08
Yes: 15 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/29/2025
Item 338 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 38 • No: 0
legislature vote • 5/23/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 6 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/28/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 7 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/9/2025
Vote in CS60
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 603, Statutes of 2025.
10/11/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/11/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
9/22/2025legislatureAssembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2899.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9/11/2025SenateIn Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
9/9/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3078.) Ordered to the Senate.
9/9/2025HouseOrdered to third reading.
9/5/2025HouseRead third time and amended.
9/5/2025HouseAssembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.
9/5/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/2/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).
8/29/2025HouseJuly 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
7/16/2025HouseRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/3/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (July 1).
7/2/2025HouseFrom committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
6/9/2025HouseReferred to Com. on HEALTH.
6/5/2025HouseIn Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
5/29/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1328.) Ordered to the Assembly.
5/29/2025SenateOrdered to special consent calendar.
5/27/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
5/23/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1208.) (May 23).
5/23/2025SenateSet for hearing May 23.
5/16/2025SenateApril 28 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
4/28/2025SenateSet for hearing April 28.
4/17/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4/10/2025Senate
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/11/2025
Enrolled
9/16/2025
Amended Assembly
9/5/2025
Amended Assembly
7/3/2025
Amended Assembly
6/9/2025
Amended Senate
4/10/2025
Amended Senate
4/2/2025
Introduced
2/20/2025