CA AB 1979
enrolledHealth care services: artificial intelligence.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did CA AB 1979 pass?
Not yet law. CA AB 1979 has passed both chambers and is enrolled, awaiting executive action (signature or veto) as of 2026-08-27. Latest recorded action (2026-09-04): Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
What is CA AB 1979 about?
(1) The Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) prohibits a provider of health care, a health care service plan, a contractor, or a corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates from intentionally sharing, selling, using for marketing, or otherwise using any medical information, as defined, for any purpose not necessary to provide health care services to a patient, except as provided. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions that results in economic loss or personal injury punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law deems a business that offers a mental health digital service or reproductive or sexual health digital service to a consumer for the purpose of allowing the individual to manage the individual's information, or for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of a medical condition of the individual, to be a provider of health care subject to the requirements of the CMIA. The bill would additionally deem a business that offers a health care chatbot, as defined, to a consumer for the above-described purposes to be a provider of health care subject to the requirements of the CMIA. Because the bill would expand the scope of a crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice that uses generative artificial intelligence to generate written or verbal patient communications pertaining to patient clinical information, as defined, to ensure that those communications include both a disclaimer that indicates to the patient that a communication was generated by generative artificial intelligence, as specified, and clear instructions describing how a patient may contact a human health care provider, employee, or other appropriate person, except as specified. This bill would require a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice to take reasonable steps to ensure that a licensed health care professional, acting within their scope of practice, retains the ability to exercise independent professional judgment in their care of a patient whenever that care is informed by the output of a clinical decision support system, as defined. The bill would prohibit a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice from using or deploying a tool, system, or device that includes artificial intelligence to independently perform any clinical function that is required by law to be performed by a person with a professional license. The bill would make a violation of these provisions by a physician subject to the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. The bill would also authorize the appropriate professional licensing board to pursue an injunction or restraining order to enforce these provisions to the extent that a violation constitutes the practice of a health care profession without a license. The bill would specify that these provisions do not apply to the use of automated decision systems for documentation and communication that does not involve the application of professional judgment, including automated messages to inform patients of updates to their health records. (3) 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 1979?
Bonta is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1979.
Description
(1) The Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) prohibits a provider of health care, a health care service plan, a contractor, or a corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates from intentionally sharing, selling, using for marketing, or otherwise using any medical information, as defined, for any purpose not necessary to provide health care services to a patient, except as provided. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions that results in economic loss or personal injury punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law deems a business that offers a mental health digital service or reproductive or sexual health digital service to a consumer for the purpose of allowing the individual to manage the individual's information, or for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of a medical condition of the individual, to be a provider of health care subject to the requirements of the CMIA. The bill would additionally deem a business that offers a health care chatbot, as defined, to a consumer for the above-described purposes to be a provider of health care subject to the requirements of the CMIA. Because the bill would expand the scope of a crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice that uses generative artificial intelligence to generate written or verbal patient communications pertaining to patient clinical information, as defined, to ensure that those communications include both a disclaimer that indicates to the patient that a communication was generated by generative artificial intelligence, as specified, and clear instructions describing how a patient may contact a human health care provider, employee, or other appropriate person, except as specified. This bill would require a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice to take reasonable steps to ensure that a licensed health care professional, acting within their scope of practice, retains the ability to exercise independent professional judgment in their care of a patient whenever that care is informed by the output of a clinical decision support system, as defined. The bill would prohibit a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice from using or deploying a tool, system, or device that includes artificial intelligence to independently perform any clinical function that is required by law to be performed by a person with a professional license. The bill would make a violation of these provisions by a physician subject to the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. The bill would also authorize the appropriate professional licensing board to pursue an injunction or restraining order to enforce these provisions to the extent that a violation constitutes the practice of a health care profession without a license. The bill would specify that these provisions do not apply to the use of automated decision systems for documentation and communication that does not involve the application of professional judgment, including automated messages to inform patients of updates to their health records. (3) 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
- 2026-03-16
- Latest action
- 2026-09-04 — Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Bontaauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2026-02-13
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
2026-02-14
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
2026-03-16
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-03-16
Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and P. & C.P.
referral-committee
2026-03-17
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2026-03-19
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-03-23
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2026-04-08
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 12. Noes 3.) (April 7).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-04-09
Read second time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-04-13
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
referral-committee
2026-04-17
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-04-22
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (April 21).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-04-23
Read second time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-04-27
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
referral-committee
2026-05-13
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2026-05-14
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
2026-05-14
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 14).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-05-18
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-05-21
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 48. Noes 15. Page 5213.)
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-21
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
reading-1,referral-committee
2026-06-03
Referred to Coms. on P., D.T., & C.P. and HEALTH.
referral-committee
2026-06-16
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 7. Noes 2.) (June 15).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-06-17
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-06-22
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-07-02
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 1).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-07-02
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-08-03
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2026-08-13
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-13
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-20
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-24
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-26
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 9.).
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-27
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 66. Noes 10.).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-27
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2026-09-04
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
executive-receipt
Versions
- 02/13/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-13Compare
- 03/16/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-03-16Compare
- 03/19/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-03-19Compare
- 04/09/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-04-09Compare
- 04/23/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-04-23Compare
- 06/17/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-06-17Compare
- 06/22/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-06-22Compare
- 07/02/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-07-02Compare
- 08/20/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-20Compare
- 09/01/26 - Enrolled — 2026-09-01Compare
- AB1979Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
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Votes
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy and Consumer Protection]
2026-04-07 · pass · 12-3
Member-level votes (16)
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Addis: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Patel: yes
- Johnson: no
- Sanchez: no
- Patterson: no
- Chen: other
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-04-21 · pass · 11-4
Member-level votes (15)
- Bryan: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Ward: yes
- Hoover: no
- Macedo: no
- Patterson: no
- DeMaio: no
Do pass.
2026-05-14 · pass · 11-4
Member-level votes (15)
- Krell: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Fong: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Solache: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Tangipa: no
- Ta: no
- Dixon: no
- Hoover: no
AB 1979 Bonta Assembly Third Reading
2026-05-21 · pass · 48-15
Member-level votes (80)
- Lowenthal: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Soria: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Berman: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Papan: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Haney: yes
- Solache: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Patel: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Lee: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Krell: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Bains: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Fong: yes
- Addis: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Ward: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Hart: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Ellis: no
- Ta: no
- Castillo: no
- Hadwick: no
- Tangipa: no
- Patterson: no
- DeMaio: no
- Dixon: no
- Johnson: no
- Macedo: no
- Sanchez: no
- Wallis: no
- Alanis: no
- Ávila Farías: no
- Jeff Gonzalez: no
- Celeste Rodriguez: other
- Ramos: other
- Pacheco: other
- Wilson: other
- Gallagher: other
- Carrillo: other
- Michelle Rodriguez: other
- Valencia: other
- Flora: other
- Garcia: other
- Davies: other
- Blanca Rubio: other
- Gipson: other
- Arambula: other
- Lackey: other
- Hoover: other
- Chen: other
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Health]
2026-06-15 · pass · 7-2
Member-level votes (9)
- Umberg: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Jones: no
- Ochoa Bogh: no
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-07-01 · pass · 8-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Durazo: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Grove: other
- Rubio: other
- Valladares: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-09-06T05:41:42.863227Z
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