CA AB 350
enactedHealth care coverage: fluoride treatments.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did CA AB 350 pass?
Yes. CA AB 350 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-27): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 500, Statutes of 2026.
What is CA AB 350 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 sets forth specified coverage requirements for health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies. Existing law requires an individual or small group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2017, to include, at a minimum, coverage for essential health benefits pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Existing law requires an essential health benefit to be provided only to the extent that federal law does not require the state to defray the costs of the benefit. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, that provides coverage for the application of fluoride varnish as a pediatric oral care benefit to provide coverage without cost sharing for the application of fluoride varnish as medically necessary regardless of whether the service is billed as a dental benefit or as a medical benefit, except as specified. If this coverage requirement creates an obligation for the state to defray costs for an individual, the bill would not require coverage unless there is an appropriation for this purpose, as specified. Because a willful violation of this provision by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which health care services are provided to low-income individuals. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program and provides for various services, including certain dental services, that are rendered by Medi-Cal enrolled providers. Under existing law, silver diamine fluoride treatments are a covered benefit for eligible children 0 to 6 years of age, inclusive, as specified, and application of fluoride or other appropriate fluoride treatment is covered for children 17 years of age and under. This bill would make the application of fluoride or other appropriate fluoride treatment, as defined by the department, a covered benefit under the Medi-Cal program for children under 21 years of age. The bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, no later than July 1, 2027, to issue billing guidance and make any necessary updates to ensure the coverage policy for Medi-Cal beneficiaries under 21 years of age is consistent with certain federal benefits and would require that policy to allow the application of fluoride varnish, as specified. 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. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 14132 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 1949 and SB 944 to be operative only if this bill and either or both AB 1949 and SB 944 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
Who sponsors CA AB 350?
Bonta is the primary sponsor of CA AB 350, joined by 2 cosponsors.
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 sets forth specified coverage requirements for health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies. Existing law requires an individual or small group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2017, to include, at a minimum, coverage for essential health benefits pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Existing law requires an essential health benefit to be provided only to the extent that federal law does not require the state to defray the costs of the benefit. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, that provides coverage for the application of fluoride varnish as a pediatric oral care benefit to provide coverage without cost sharing for the application of fluoride varnish as medically necessary regardless of whether the service is billed as a dental benefit or as a medical benefit, except as specified. If this coverage requirement creates an obligation for the state to defray costs for an individual, the bill would not require coverage unless there is an appropriation for this purpose, as specified. Because a willful violation of this provision by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which health care services are provided to low-income individuals. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program and provides for various services, including certain dental services, that are rendered by Medi-Cal enrolled providers. Under existing law, silver diamine fluoride treatments are a covered benefit for eligible children 0 to 6 years of age, inclusive, as specified, and application of fluoride or other appropriate fluoride treatment is covered for children 17 years of age and under. This bill would make the application of fluoride or other appropriate fluoride treatment, as defined by the department, a covered benefit under the Medi-Cal program for children under 21 years of age. The bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, no later than July 1, 2027, to issue billing guidance and make any necessary updates to ensure the coverage policy for Medi-Cal beneficiaries under 21 years of age is consistent with certain federal benefits and would require that policy to allow the application of fluoride varnish, as specified. 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. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 14132 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 1949 and SB 944 to be operative only if this bill and either or both AB 1949 and SB 944 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
- Introduced
- 2025-04-23
- Latest action
- 2026-09-27 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 500, Statutes of 2026.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Bontaauthor
- Jacksoncoauthor
- Rubiocoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-09-27
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 500, Statutes of 2026.
became-law
2026-09-27
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2026-09-03
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
executive-receipt
2026-08-26
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
2026-08-26
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2026-08-26
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).
2026-08-26
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6625.).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-24
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-08-20
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-05-14
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-05-13
From inactive file.
2026-05-13
Ordered to second reading.
reading-1,reading-2
2026-05-13
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-09-10
Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Rubio.
2025-09-08
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-05
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-08-29
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-08-29
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-08-18
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
referral-committee
2025-07-07
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-03
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 2).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2025-06-11
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2025-06-03
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
reading-1,referral-committee
2025-06-02
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 1. Page 1927.)
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-05-27
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-05-23
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 23).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage
2025-05-23
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
2025-05-23
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-05-07
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2025-04-28
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
referral-committee
2025-04-24
Read second time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-04-23
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 22).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2025-02-18
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2025-01-30
From printer. May be heard in committee March 1.
2025-01-29
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
Versions
- 01/29/25 - Introduced — 2025-01-29Compare
- 04/24/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-04-24Compare
- 05/23/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-05-23Compare
- 07/07/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-07-07Compare
- 09/05/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-09-05Compare
- 05/13/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-05-13Compare
- 08/20/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-20Compare
- 08/30/26 - Enrolled — 2026-08-30Compare
- 09/27/26 - Chaptered — 2026-09-27Compare
- AB350Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
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Votes
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-22 · pass · 14-0
Member-level votes (16)
- Chen: yes
- Patel: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Krell: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Flora: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Addis: yes
- Sanchez: other
- Schiavo: other
Do pass as amended.
2025-05-23 · pass · 13-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Calderon: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Hart: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Solache: yes
- Ta: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Fong: yes
- Sanchez: other
- Tangipa: other
AB 350 Bonta Assembly Third Reading
2025-06-03 · pass · 75-1
Member-level votes (79)
- Addis: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Lee: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Krell: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Ward: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Patel: yes
- Solache: yes
- Chen: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Papan: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Fong: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Soria: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Davies: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Haney: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Castillo: yes
- Hart: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Berman: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Ta: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Flora: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Bains: yes
- Valencia: yes
- DeMaio: no
- Bennett: other
- Sanchez: other
- Tangipa: other
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-07-02 · pass · 11-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Gonzalez: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Grove: yes
- Limón: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Menjivar: yes
Placed on suspense file
2025-08-18 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Richardson: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Grayson: yes
Do pass
2025-08-29 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-09-30T20:07:25.328060Z
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