CA SB 1094
enactedPrescription drugs.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did CA SB 1094 pass?
Yes. CA SB 1094 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-30): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1007, Statutes of 2026.
What is CA SB 1094 about?
(1) The Pharmacy Law governs the practice of pharmacy in this state, including the permissible duties of licensed pharmacists. A knowing violation of the Pharmacy Law is a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to select an alternative biological product when filling a prescription order for a prescribed biological product if the alternative biological product is interchangeable, as defined, and the prescriber does not personally indicate in a specified manner that a substitution is not to be made. This bill would additionally authorize a pharmacist to select an alternative biological product when filling a prescription order for a prescribed biological product if the alternative biological product is biosimilar to, as defined, or interchangeable with, the prescribed reference product, and the prescriber does not personally indicate in a specified manner that a substitution is not to be made. Because a knowing violation of this provision would be a misdemeanor, the bill would create a new crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. (2) 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 a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law prohibits a health care service plan that covers prescription drug benefits from limiting or excluding coverage for a drug that was previously approved for coverage if an enrollee continues to be prescribed that drug and that drug is appropriately prescribed and considered safe and effective for treating the enrollee's medical condition. Existing law specifies that these provisions do not preclude a prescribing provider from prescribing another drug covered by the plan that is medically appropriate for the enrollee or a generic drug substitution authorized by a pharmacist, as specified. This bill would prohibit a health insurance policy that covers prescription drug benefits from limiting or excluding coverage for a drug that was previously approved for coverage if an insured continues to be prescribed that drug and the drug is appropriately prescribed, and is considered safe and effective for treating the insured's medical condition. With respect to both health care service plans and health insurers, the bill would specify that these provisions do not prohibit a prescribing provider from prescribing a drug, biosimilar, or interchangeable biological product substitution authorized by a pharmacist, as described above. The bill would authorize a health care service plan, health insurer, or utilization review organization to require an enrollee or insured to try a biosimilar or interchangeable biological product in place of a prescribed reference product that is subject to continuing coverage by the plan or insurer if specified conditions are met. The 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 prescription drug benefits and maintains one or more drug formularies that include a reference product to include on the relevant formulary at least one biosimilar or interchangeable biological product licensed for the same reference product if the biosimilar has a lower net cost to the plan or insurer than the reference product. Because a violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) This bill would provide that its provisions are severable. (4) 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 SB 1094?
Weber Pierson is the primary sponsor of CA SB 1094.
Description
(1) The Pharmacy Law governs the practice of pharmacy in this state, including the permissible duties of licensed pharmacists. A knowing violation of the Pharmacy Law is a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to select an alternative biological product when filling a prescription order for a prescribed biological product if the alternative biological product is interchangeable, as defined, and the prescriber does not personally indicate in a specified manner that a substitution is not to be made. This bill would additionally authorize a pharmacist to select an alternative biological product when filling a prescription order for a prescribed biological product if the alternative biological product is biosimilar to, as defined, or interchangeable with, the prescribed reference product, and the prescriber does not personally indicate in a specified manner that a substitution is not to be made. Because a knowing violation of this provision would be a misdemeanor, the bill would create a new crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. (2) 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 a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law prohibits a health care service plan that covers prescription drug benefits from limiting or excluding coverage for a drug that was previously approved for coverage if an enrollee continues to be prescribed that drug and that drug is appropriately prescribed and considered safe and effective for treating the enrollee's medical condition. Existing law specifies that these provisions do not preclude a prescribing provider from prescribing another drug covered by the plan that is medically appropriate for the enrollee or a generic drug substitution authorized by a pharmacist, as specified. This bill would prohibit a health insurance policy that covers prescription drug benefits from limiting or excluding coverage for a drug that was previously approved for coverage if an insured continues to be prescribed that drug and the drug is appropriately prescribed, and is considered safe and effective for treating the insured's medical condition. With respect to both health care service plans and health insurers, the bill would specify that these provisions do not prohibit a prescribing provider from prescribing a drug, biosimilar, or interchangeable biological product substitution authorized by a pharmacist, as described above. The bill would authorize a health care service plan, health insurer, or utilization review organization to require an enrollee or insured to try a biosimilar or interchangeable biological product in place of a prescribed reference product that is subject to continuing coverage by the plan or insurer if specified conditions are met. The 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 prescription drug benefits and maintains one or more drug formularies that include a reference product to include on the relevant formulary at least one biosimilar or interchangeable biological product licensed for the same reference product if the biosimilar has a lower net cost to the plan or insurer than the reference product. Because a violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) This bill would provide that its provisions are severable. (4) 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
- 2026-02-13
- Latest action
- 2026-09-30 — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1007, Statutes of 2026.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Weber Piersonauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-09-30
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1007, Statutes of 2026.
became-law
2026-09-30
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2026-09-03
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
executive-receipt
2026-08-27
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-26
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-26
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2026-08-26
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6607.) Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-19
Read third time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-19
Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-13
Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
2026-08-13
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-13
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-05
August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
2026-07-02
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-07-01
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 30).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-06-23
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-05-26
Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and HEALTH.
referral-committee
2026-05-19
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
reading-1
2026-05-18
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4316.) Ordered to the Assembly.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-05
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-05-04
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-04-24
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-23
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 4010.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-04-10
Set for hearing April 22.
2026-04-08
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-04-07
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 3740.) (April 6).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-03-26
Set for hearing April 6.
2026-03-17
March 23 hearing postponed by committee.
2026-03-16
Set for hearing March 23.
2026-02-26
Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and HEALTH.
referral-committee
2026-02-17
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 16.
2026-02-13
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,reading-1,referral-committee
Versions
- 02/13/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-13Compare
- 04/08/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-04-08Compare
- 07/02/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-07-02Compare
- 08/19/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-08-19Compare
- 08/30/26 - Enrolled — 2026-08-30Compare
- 09/30/26 - Chaptered — 2026-09-30Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
- SB1094Compare
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Votes
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Health]
2026-04-06 · pass · 10-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Strickland: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Niello: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Choi: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: other
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-04-22 · pass · 10-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Gonzalez: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Grove: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: other
3rd Reading SB1094 Weber Pierson
2026-05-18 · pass · 38-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Caballero: yes
- Alvarado-Gil: yes
- Grove: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Laird: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Choi: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Becker: yes
- Jones: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Stern: yes
- Limón: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Allen: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Padilla: other
- Niello: other
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Health]
2026-06-23 · pass · 19-0
Member-level votes (19)
- Patterson: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Berman: yes
- Addis: yes
- Chen: yes
- Haney: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Bains: yes
- Hart: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Pellerin: yes
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-06-30 · pass · 14-0
Member-level votes (16)
- Schiavo: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Addis: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Patel: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: other
- Celeste Rodriguez: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-10-03T19:40:11.332654Z
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