California Assembly Bill AB164

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 2/3/25
• Engrossed: 3/20/25
• Refer: 3/20/25
• Refer: 4/2/25

Caption

An act relating to the Budget Act of 2025. An act to amend Sections 2191 and 2811.5 of, and to add Sections 2190.4, 2454.7, and 3524.65 to, the Business and Professions Code, to amend Section 100520.5 of the Government Code, to amend Sections 1254, 1256.05, 1256.06, 1367.03, 1367.04, 1367.626, 1728.1, 1728.3, 1728.7, 1734, 1735, 11832.2, 11832.18, 11834.015, 11834.02, 11834.026, 11834.26, 11834.30, 11834.31, 11834.40, 11834.50, 11839.2, 11839.3, 11839.6.1, 11839.16, 120956, 127630, 127631, 127632, 127633, 127634, 127635, 127638, 130201, and 130290 of, to add Sections 1253.4, 1367.252, 1367.253, 1728.75, 1728.9, 1728.95, 127437, and 127631.1 to, to add Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 127770) to Part 2 of Division 107 of, and to repeal Sections 11834.29, 130204, 130206, 130208, and 130209 of, the Health and Safety Code, to amend Section 10133.8 of, and to add Sections 10123.861 and 10123.862 to, the Insurance Code, to amend Sections 1602, 1603, and 1604 of the Penal Code, to amend Section 30461.6 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and to amend Sections 5892, 5963.02, 5963.04, 14005.36, 14005.37, 14007.5, 14007.65, 14007.8, 14016.2, 14019, 14019.6, 14043.26, 14132.100, 14154, 14184.101, 14184.102, 14184.200, 14184.404, 14197.2, and 15926 of, to amend, repeal, and add Sections 14005.62 and 14005.11 of, and to add Sections 4360.5, 5892.2, 14005.365, 14005.69, 14007.12, 14132.14, and 14184.900 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to health, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

Summary

AB 164 is a budget-related placeholder bill for the 2025-26 legislative session. As introduced, it does not make substantive policy changes on its own; instead, it states the Legislature’s intent to enact statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2025. In California practice, bills of this type are often used as vehicles to carry budget trailer language or other budget implementation provisions later in the session. Although the introduced text is minimal, the bill context shows that AB 164 ultimately became a broad budget-related health measure. The caption indicates it would amend numerous provisions across the Business and Professions Code, Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Insurance Code, Penal Code, Revenue and Taxation Code, and Welfare and Institutions Code, with an appropriation and immediate effect. That suggests the bill was intended to implement or support budget decisions affecting health programs, insurance regulation, public health, and related administrative and enforcement provisions.

Impact

As introduced, AB 164 would not itself change state law beyond expressing legislative intent. Based on the bill caption and later status, however, it is tied to a large package of statutory changes affecting health-related programs and regulations, including public health, Medi-Cal or other health coverage provisions, behavioral health or treatment programs, insurance rules, and related fiscal and administrative statutes. If enacted in its final form, it would likely alter multiple code sections and appropriate state funds as part of the Budget Act of 2025.

Sentiment

The available vote history suggests the bill had majority support in the Assembly, passing third reading 53-17. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate detailed support or opposition arguments. The vote pattern implies the measure was generally viewed favorably enough to advance, consistent with a budget-related bill that is likely part of a larger negotiated package.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be the bill’s budget-related nature and the breadth of the eventual statutory changes implied by the caption. Because the introduced text is only an intent statement, substantive disagreements would likely center on the later health, insurance, and welfare provisions that the bill was intended to carry, rather than the introduced language itself. The recorded floor vote shows some opposition, but no specific objections are available in the provided materials.