California Legislative Updates
Legislature Returns from Spring Recess
Below is a list of bills among those that CSAP has taken positions on that will be heard in their First House policy committees in the next month. SB 987 (Weber Pierson) - SB 987 would establish the California Health Access Fund to ensure that state savings resulting from Medi-Cal coverage [...]
AI and Mental Health Care: New Guardrails Proposed
State Senator Steve Padilla has introduced SB 903, a bill that would prohibit artificial intelligence from providing or advertising “therapy” unless a licensed mental health professional is responsible for the care. The legislation responds to the growing use of AI-powered therapy tools and ongoing concerns about patient safety amid high demand [...]
State Budget
This morning, California Director of Finance Joe Stephenshaw announced the details of Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2026-27 state budget proposal. Below are key highlights. The Governor's proposed budget ended up being relatively status quo due to a significant infusion of unanticipated revenue over the past several months. Thus, for now, just [...]
Newsom Names Former CDC Leaders to Public Health Team and Announces PHNIX
Governor Newsom has announced that California is bringing on former CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez and recent CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry to launch the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX). PHNIX will work to move California and the nation forward despite the CDC’s retreat from science under [...]
Protecting Kids in the Age of AI: California’s New Regulatory Vision
California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom recently gathered a powerful group of women to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: how to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). In an industry that has long resisted regulation, particularly from the state level, this initiative by Siebel Newsom challenges Silicon Valley’s [...]
Legislative Update
Governor Acts on Bills Governor Newsom has vetoed CSAP-supported AB 255 (Haney), the Supportive-Recovery Residence Program. AB 255 would have allowed state programs to fund residences for people experiencing homelessness who also face substance use challenges, with an abstinence emphasis but still operating within the Housing First framework (i.e. low barriers, voluntary [...]