CA SB 626
enactedPerinatal health screenings and treatment.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did CA SB 626 pass?
Yes. CA SB 626 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-30): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 973, Statutes of 2026.
What is CA SB 626 about?
Existing law requires a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal, postpartum, or interpregnancy care for a patient to offer to screen or appropriately screen a mother for maternal mental health conditions. For purposes of that requirement, existing law defines "maternal mental health condition" to mean a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy, the postpartum period, or interpregnancy, as specified. This bill would limit the definition of "maternal mental health condition" to a mental health condition that occurs during the pregnancy or the postpartum period, as specified. The bill would authorize a licensed health care practitioner to satisfy the above-described requirement for maternal mental health screening by referring the patient or client to another licensed health care practitioner who is authorized to screen, evaluate, diagnose, and treat the patient or client for a maternal mental health condition. The bill would require a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal, postpartum, or perinatal care for a patient or client who screens positive for a maternal mental health condition to ensure that the patient or client receives appropriate clinical evaluation, and, if the practitioner diagnoses a patient or client with a maternal mental health condition, offer or provide treatment to the patient or client, consistent with the provider's scope of practice. 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 requires a health care service plan or health insurer to develop a maternal mental health program designed to promote quality and cost-effective outcomes. Existing law requires the program to, among other things, conduct specified maternal mental health screenings during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Existing law requires the program guidelines and criteria to be provided to relevant medical providers, including all contracting obstetric providers. Existing law encourages health care service plans and health insurers to, among other things, improve screening, treatment, and referral to maternal mental health services. For purposes of these provisions, existing law defines "maternal mental health" to mean a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum period, as specified. This bill would modify the term to "maternal mental health condition" and define it as a mental health condition that occurs during the pregnancy or the postpartum period, as defined by the most recent clinical guidelines adopted by the American College of Obstetricians, as specified. The bill would instead require the above-described maternal mental health program to include maternal mental health screening to be conducted during pregnancy and one or more mental health screenings to be conducted during the postpartum period in accordance with applicable clinical guidelines and the standards of care appropriate to the provider's scope of practice, as specified. The bill would require program guidelines and criteria to be provided to relevant licensed health care practitioners, as defined, including all contracting obstetric providers. The bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer to provide case management or care coordination for an enrollee or insured who screens positive for a maternal mental health condition in accordance with the plan's or insurer's existing case management and care coordination programs. The bill would encourage health care service plans and health insurers to improve treatment, including through the use of outpatient prescription drugs approved for maternal mental health by the United States Food and Drug Administration. 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 SB 626?
Smallwood-Cuevas is the primary sponsor of CA SB 626, joined by 2 cosponsors.
Description
Existing law requires a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal, postpartum, or interpregnancy care for a patient to offer to screen or appropriately screen a mother for maternal mental health conditions. For purposes of that requirement, existing law defines "maternal mental health condition" to mean a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy, the postpartum period, or interpregnancy, as specified. This bill would limit the definition of "maternal mental health condition" to a mental health condition that occurs during the pregnancy or the postpartum period, as specified. The bill would authorize a licensed health care practitioner to satisfy the above-described requirement for maternal mental health screening by referring the patient or client to another licensed health care practitioner who is authorized to screen, evaluate, diagnose, and treat the patient or client for a maternal mental health condition. The bill would require a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal, postpartum, or perinatal care for a patient or client who screens positive for a maternal mental health condition to ensure that the patient or client receives appropriate clinical evaluation, and, if the practitioner diagnoses a patient or client with a maternal mental health condition, offer or provide treatment to the patient or client, consistent with the provider's scope of practice. 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 requires a health care service plan or health insurer to develop a maternal mental health program designed to promote quality and cost-effective outcomes. Existing law requires the program to, among other things, conduct specified maternal mental health screenings during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Existing law requires the program guidelines and criteria to be provided to relevant medical providers, including all contracting obstetric providers. Existing law encourages health care service plans and health insurers to, among other things, improve screening, treatment, and referral to maternal mental health services. For purposes of these provisions, existing law defines "maternal mental health" to mean a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy or during the postpartum period, as specified. This bill would modify the term to "maternal mental health condition" and define it as a mental health condition that occurs during the pregnancy or the postpartum period, as defined by the most recent clinical guidelines adopted by the American College of Obstetricians, as specified. The bill would instead require the above-described maternal mental health program to include maternal mental health screening to be conducted during pregnancy and one or more mental health screenings to be conducted during the postpartum period in accordance with applicable clinical guidelines and the standards of care appropriate to the provider's scope of practice, as specified. The bill would require program guidelines and criteria to be provided to relevant licensed health care practitioners, as defined, including all contracting obstetric providers. The bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer to provide case management or care coordination for an enrollee or insured who screens positive for a maternal mental health condition in accordance with the plan's or insurer's existing case management and care coordination programs. The bill would encourage health care service plans and health insurers to improve treatment, including through the use of outpatient prescription drugs approved for maternal mental health by the United States Food and Drug Administration. 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
- 2025-02-20
- Latest action
- 2026-09-30 — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 973, Statutes of 2026.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Smallwood-Cuevasauthor
- Cervantesauthor
- Valladarescoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-09-30
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 973, Statutes of 2026.
became-law
2026-09-30
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2026-09-04
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
executive-receipt
2026-08-28
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2026-08-27
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2026-08-25
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-25
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2026-08-25
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6514.) Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-20
Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-20
Read third time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-03
Action rescinded whereby bill was read third time, passed, and ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-03
Action rescinded whereby bill was read third time, passed, and ordered to Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-03
Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-3
2026-01-12
In Assembly. Held at Desk.
2026-01-12
From inactive file on motion of Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.
2026-01-12
Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-09-03
Ordered to inactive file on request of Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.
2025-08-28
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-08-28
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2776.) Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-08-21
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
reading-1,reading-2
2025-08-20
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-07-17
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-16
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (July 15).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-07-01
July 8 hearing postponed by committee.
2025-06-09
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2025-06-03
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
reading-1
2025-06-02
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1395.) Ordered to the Assembly.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-05-23
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-05-23
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1207.) (May 23).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-05-20
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-19
May 19 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-09
Set for hearing May 19.
2025-05-05
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-05-01
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 966.) (April 30).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-04
Set for hearing April 30.
2025-03-24
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-03-05
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
referral-committee
2025-02-21
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,reading-1,referral-committee
Versions
- 02/20/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-20Compare
- 03/24/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-03-24Compare
- 05/05/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-05-05Compare
- 07/17/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-07-17Compare
- 08/20/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-08-20Compare
- 08/31/26 - Enrolled — 2026-08-31Compare
- 09/30/26 - Chaptered — 2026-09-30Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
- SB626Compare
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Votes
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-30 · pass · 11-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Padilla: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Limón: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Grove: yes
Placed on suspense file
2025-05-19 · pass · 5-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Wahab: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Cabaldon: other
- Dahle: other
Do pass
2025-05-23 · pass · 6-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Caballero: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Dahle: other
3rd Reading SB626 Smallwood-Cuevas
2025-06-02 · pass · 38-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Menjivar: yes
- Niello: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Alvarado-Gil: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Choi: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Jones: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Becker: yes
- Laird: yes
- Durazo: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Allen: yes
- Limón: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Grove: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Stern: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Hurtado: other
- Reyes: other
Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
2025-07-15 · pass · 16-0
Member-level votes (16)
- Bonta: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Krell: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Flora: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Addis: yes
- Chen: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Patel: yes
Do pass. To Consent Calendar.
2025-08-20 · pass · 15-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Fong: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Ta: yes
- Solache: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Hart: yes
- Mark González: yes
SB 626 Smallwood-Cuevas Consent Calendar Second Day
2025-08-28 · pass · 74-0
Member-level votes (79)
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Dixon: yes
- DeMaio: yes
- Krell: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Chen: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Papan: yes
- Lee: yes
- Soria: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Addis: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Hart: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Solache: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Castillo: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Ward: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Ta: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Bains: yes
- Flora: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Patel: yes
- Davies: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Fong: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Haney: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Alvarez: other
- Berman: other
- Elhawary: other
- Valencia: other
- Gallagher: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
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