Equity

Not Passed
AB 311 (Santiago, D-Los Angeles)
Support
Held on the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file on Aug. 15.

AB 311 would have ensured undocumented immigrants are eligible to receive food assistance benefits.

Vanessa Gonzalez

Job title:
VP State Advocacy
Phone number:
916-552-7670

Peggy Wheeler

Job title:
VP Policy
Phone number:
916-552-7689
Passed
AB 3161 (Bonta, D-Oakland)
Follow
Signed by the governor on Sept. 27.

AB 3161 was amended on Aug. 23 to remove the requirement for hospitals to report patient demographic information to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) when reporting an adverse event. The bill is now limited to requiring hospitals to update their patient safety plans to (1) allow anyone to make an anonymous patient safety report; (2) include patient sociodemographic factors when analyzing patient safety events; and (3) include a process for addressing racism and discrimination. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, hospitals are required to submit their patient safety plans to CDPH biannually, and the plans will be posted on CDPH’s website. The bill authorizes CDPH to impose a fine of up to $5,000 on health facilities that do not adopt, update, or submit patient safety plans.

Vanessa Gonzalez

Job title:
VP State Advocacy
Phone number:
916-552-7670

Lois Richardson

Job title:
Vice President Legal Counsel
Phone number:
916-552-7611
Not Passed
SB 37 (Caballero, D-Merced)
Support
Vetoed by the governor on Sept. 25.

SB 37 would, upon appropriation of funding by the Legislature, have required the Department of Housing and Community Development to begin developing the Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Pilot Program to award competitive grants to eligible entities including nonprofit community-based organizations, continuums of care, public housing authorities, and area agencies on aging. Grant funds would have provided housing subsidies to older adults and adults with disabilities whose households are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

Vanessa Gonzalez

Job title:
VP State Advocacy
Phone number:
916-552-7670

Pat Blaisdell

Job title:
VP Policy
Phone number:
916-552-7553