CA AB 1703
enactedOsteopathic physicians and surgeons: unauthorized practice: unauthorized use of titles.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did CA AB 1703 pass?
Yes. CA AB 1703 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-27): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 543, Statutes of 2026.
What is CA AB 1703 about?
Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons. Existing law establishes the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of osteopathic physicians and surgeons and requires the Osteopathic Medical Board of California to enforce the Medical Practice Act with respect to its licensees, consistent with the Osteopathic Act, as specified. A violation of the Medical Practice Act is a crime. Existing law generally makes the unauthorized practice of medicine a crime. Existing law makes an exception to that criminal provision if a person, before performing services, complies with certain disclosure requirements. Existing law excludes from that exception a list of specified services, including, among others, conducting surgery or any other procedure on another person that punctures the skin or harmfully invades the body. This bill, on and after January 1, 2028, would add the provision of osteopathic manipulative treatment, as defined, to that list of specifically excluded services. By excluding those services from the exception to the unauthorized practice of medicine, the bill would expand the scope of a crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. Existing law, with specified exceptions, makes it a misdemeanor for a person to use the words "doctor" or "physician," the letters or prefix "Dr.," the initials "M.D." or "D.O.," or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that the person is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or a practitioner under the Medical Practice Act or other law, or to represent or hold themselves out as a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner under the act or other law without having a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended certificate as a physician and surgeon under the act. Existing law prohibits a person from using those terms or letters or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that the person is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner in a health care setting that would lead a reasonable patient to determine that the person is a licensed "M.D." or "D.O." This bill, on and after January 1, 2028, would also make it a misdemeanor for a person who is not licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California to use the phrase "doctor of osteopathy" or the initials "D.O.," or use the word "osteopath" in a way that implies that they are a licensed osteopath, a licensed doctor of osteopathy, or a physician and surgeon licensed by the board when offering or providing a service to treat a medical or physical condition. By creating a new 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.
Who sponsors CA AB 1703?
Hart is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1703.
Description
Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons. Existing law establishes the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of osteopathic physicians and surgeons and requires the Osteopathic Medical Board of California to enforce the Medical Practice Act with respect to its licensees, consistent with the Osteopathic Act, as specified. A violation of the Medical Practice Act is a crime. Existing law generally makes the unauthorized practice of medicine a crime. Existing law makes an exception to that criminal provision if a person, before performing services, complies with certain disclosure requirements. Existing law excludes from that exception a list of specified services, including, among others, conducting surgery or any other procedure on another person that punctures the skin or harmfully invades the body. This bill, on and after January 1, 2028, would add the provision of osteopathic manipulative treatment, as defined, to that list of specifically excluded services. By excluding those services from the exception to the unauthorized practice of medicine, the bill would expand the scope of a crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. Existing law, with specified exceptions, makes it a misdemeanor for a person to use the words "doctor" or "physician," the letters or prefix "Dr.," the initials "M.D." or "D.O.," or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that the person is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or a practitioner under the Medical Practice Act or other law, or to represent or hold themselves out as a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner under the act or other law without having a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended certificate as a physician and surgeon under the act. Existing law prohibits a person from using those terms or letters or any other terms or letters indicating or implying that the person is a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner in a health care setting that would lead a reasonable patient to determine that the person is a licensed "M.D." or "D.O." This bill, on and after January 1, 2028, would also make it a misdemeanor for a person who is not licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California to use the phrase "doctor of osteopathy" or the initials "D.O.," or use the word "osteopath" in a way that implies that they are a licensed osteopath, a licensed doctor of osteopathy, or a physician and surgeon licensed by the board when offering or providing a service to treat a medical or physical condition. By creating a new 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.
- Introduced
- 2026-02-23
- Latest action
- 2026-09-27 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 543, Statutes of 2026.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Hartauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-09-27
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 543, Statutes of 2026.
became-law
2026-09-27
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2026-08-31
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2026-08-25
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.).
2026-08-25
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2026-08-25
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0.).
2026-08-25
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 6511.).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-24
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-20
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-17
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-13
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage
2026-08-13
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-06-29
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2026-06-15
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-06-09
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-05-20
Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
referral-committee
2026-05-12
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
reading-1,referral-committee
2026-05-11
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 4997.)
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-04-30
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-04-29
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 29).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-04-14
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-02-24
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
referral-committee
2026-02-23
Referred to Com. on B. & P.
referral-committee
2026-02-23
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-02-05
From printer. May be heard in committee March 7.
2026-02-04
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
Versions
- 02/04/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-04Compare
- 02/23/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-02-23Compare
- 06/09/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-06-09Compare
- 08/13/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-13Compare
- 08/20/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-20Compare
- 08/27/26 - Enrolled — 2026-08-27Compare
- 09/27/26 - Chaptered — 2026-09-27Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
- AB1703Compare
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Votes
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-04-14 · pass · 19-0
Member-level votes (19)
- Nguyen: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Bains: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Hart: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Chen: yes
- Haney: yes
- Berman: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Addis: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Alanis: yes
Do pass.
2026-04-29 · pass · 14-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Tangipa: yes
- Solache: yes
- Fong: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Krell: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Ta: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Muratsuchi: other
AB 1703 Hart Assembly Third Reading
2026-05-11 · pass · 73-0
Member-level votes (80)
- Jackson: yes
- Lee: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Haney: yes
- Flora: yes
- Berman: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Davies: yes
- Mark González: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Ta: yes
- Hart: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Patel: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Fong: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Chen: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Papan: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Bains: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Addis: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Krell: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Ward: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- DeMaio: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Castillo: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Solache: other
- Lowenthal: other
- Michelle Rodriguez: other
- Soria: other
- Celeste Rodriguez: other
- Quirk-Silva: other
- Arambula: other
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-06-15 · pass · 11-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Strickland: yes
- Choi: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Niello: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Caballero: yes
Placed on suspense file
2026-06-29 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Cervantes: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Grayson: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-09-29T10:46:33.746753Z
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