Laura Richardson
- Democratic
- Senator
- District 35
Author
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act's requirements a crime. Existing law sets forth specified coverage requirements for plan contracts. This bill, the Obesity Care Access Act, would require an individual or group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy that provides coverage for outpatient prescription drug benefits and is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, to include coverage for bariatric surgery and at least one antiobesity medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
August 29 hearing postponed by committee.
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (July 15).
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 3. Page 1302.) Ordered to the Assembly.
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1203.) (May 23).
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Set for hearing May 23.
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
Set for hearing May 12.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 965.) (April 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Set for hearing April 30.
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| SB535 | HTML |
| 02/20/25 - Introduced | |
| 07/17/25 - Amended Assembly |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| 04/28/25- Senate Health | |
| 05/09/25- Senate Appropriations | |
| 05/26/25- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 07/11/25- Assembly Health | |
| 08/18/25- Assembly Appropriations |
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