Bill Commons

CA AB 298

dead

Health care coverage cost sharing.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did CA AB 298 pass?

No. CA AB 298 did not pass — it was defeated or died in the legislative process. Latest recorded action (2026-02-02): From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

What is CA AB 298 about?

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 provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law limits the copayment, coinsurance, deductible, and other cost sharing that may be imposed for specified health care services. This bill would prohibit a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or other cost-sharing requirement for in-network health care services, as defined, provided to an enrollee or insured under 21 years of age, except as otherwise specified. The bill would prohibit an individual or entity from billing or seeking reimbursement, as provided, for in-network health care services provided to an enrollee or insured under 21 years of age, except as otherwise specified. 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.

Who sponsors CA AB 298?

Bonta is the primary sponsor of CA AB 298.

Description

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 provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law limits the copayment, coinsurance, deductible, and other cost sharing that may be imposed for specified health care services. This bill would prohibit a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or other cost-sharing requirement for in-network health care services, as defined, provided to an enrollee or insured under 21 years of age, except as otherwise specified. The bill would prohibit an individual or entity from billing or seeking reimbursement, as provided, for in-network health care services provided to an enrollee or insured under 21 years of age, except as otherwise specified. 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.

Introduced
2025-03-04
Latest action
2026-02-02 — From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Bontaauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-02-02

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

    committee-passage,failure

  2. 2026-01-31

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

    failure

  3. 2026-01-22

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2026-01-22

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

    referral-committee

  5. 2026-01-13

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  6. 2026-01-06

    Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    referral-committee

  7. 2026-01-05

    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

  8. 2025-03-05

    Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    referral-committee

  9. 2025-03-04

    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

  10. 2025-02-10

    Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    referral-committee

  11. 2025-01-24

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 23.

  12. 2025-01-23

    Read first time. To print.

    reading-1

Versions

  • 01/23/25 - Introduced — 2025-01-23Compare
  • 03/04/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-03-04Compare
  • 01/05/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-01-05Compare
  • AB298Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2026-01-13 · pass · 11-0

    Member-level votes (16)
    • Bonta: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Gallagher: other
    • Celeste Rodriguez: other
    • Sanchez: other
    • Patterson: other
    • Chen: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

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