AB 2368 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Low-income health care: internet website and information.

Summary

Existing law requires each county to provide aid, commonly known as a general assistance program, to the county's indigent residents who are not supported by other means and are ineligible for the Medi-Cal program, as specified. Existing law sets forth various provisions relating to county-based health care services for indigent individuals and to reporting systems for those services. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, by July 1, 2027, to establish an internet website where the public can access information on safety-net health care services in the state. The bill would require that the website include certain information and resources, including, among other items, information about each county that provides health care to low-income county residents who are uninsured or underinsured, including eligibility requirements, the cost structure for applicants, and other specified elements. The bill would require the department, in consultation with certain entities, to review the information and resources on the website, as specified. The bill would require each county to submit any changes to the above-described elements to the department within 120 calendar days, as specified. By creating new data-reporting duties for counties, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Aug 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

06/11/26 - Amended Senate → 07/02/26 - Amended Senate · 7 edits · Jul 2, 2026

MODERATE

The July 2 amendment to AB 2368 broadens the bill's scope from indigent health care to indigent low-income health care, explicitly covering underinsured residents in addition to uninsured ones. Most significantly, it removes the entire county planning requirement (former Section 17032) that would have mandated each county submit a detailed plan by January 1, 2028, with projected caseload and expenditure increases. The remaining website information requirements are expanded to include immigration status, resource limits, and repayment/collection terms.

Scope change

Scope broadened from indigent (uninsured) individuals to include low-income underinsured residents. The county planning mandate requiring detailed financial projections by January 1, 2028, is eliminated entirely, reducing the bill's regulatory burden on counties while expanding the informational requirements for the state website.

SCOPE

The bill's scope is broadened from 'indigent health care' to 'indigent low-income health care,' explicitly covering programs that serve low-income residents who are uninsured or underinsured, not just the indigent.

The consultation requirement removes 'local health officers' from the list of entities the department must consult with, and adds 'low-income Californians' as a category of expertise to consider.

REQUIREMENT

Section 17032 is entirely removed. This section required each county to prepare and submit a plan by January 1, 2028, to operate programs providing health care to medically indigent individuals, including projected caseload increases, expenditure increases, and workforce investment needs. The department would have been required to provide technical assistance upon request.

A new subparagraph (E) requires the website to disclose whether use of a county program is subject to repayment and by what means the county may collect from patients.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility information on the website must now include citizenship or immigration status requirements and resource limits in addition to age, residency, and income limits. The program description is broadened to cover 'low-income county residents who are uninsured or underinsured.'

TECHNICAL

The cost disclosure requirement changes from 'the cost of services' to 'the cost structure for applicants,' which is more specific about what information must be provided.

The telephone number requirement changes from reaching 'the appropriate county program administrator' to a number to 'obtain information about the program,' shifting focus from an official contact to general information access.

04/16/26 - Amended Assembly → 06/11/26 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Jun 11, 2026

MODERATE

The Senate amendment narrows the county planning requirement by removing the trigger language tying plans to 'reduced access to health care coverage,' drops the funding source assessment from required plan elements, and adds a new 120-day data-reporting obligation requiring counties to notify the state department of changes to website-listed program elements. The change shifts the bill's emphasis from a one-time planning exercise toward ongoing transparency and reporting about county indigent health care programs.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed slightly: counties are no longer required to justify their plans by reference to reduced coverage access, and they no longer must assess funding gaps. However, scope expanded in practice through the new 120-day change-notification requirement, which creates an ongoing reporting obligation rather than a one-time plan submission.

SCOPE

Removed the phrase 'as necessary to meet additional need due to reduced access to health care coverage' from Section 17032, so counties must submit plans regardless of whether a specific reduction in coverage triggered the need.

REQUIREMENT

Deleted plan requirement (4) that called for an assessment of current federal, state, and local funding sources and the gap between available and necessary funding.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new subdivision (h) to Section 17031 requiring each county to submit any changes to eligibility requirements, cost structure, contact information, or website links to the state department within 120 calendar days of board approval or an administrative/regulatory change.

DEFINITION

Changed 'The cost of services' to 'The cost structure for applicants' in the website content requirements, shifting focus from general service pricing to what applicants actually pay.

TECHNICAL

Updated the legislative digest to describe the county obligation as 'data-reporting duties' rather than 'planning duties,' reflecting the new ongoing reporting requirement. Also added 'internet website and information' to the digest title.

Floor votes · Assembly May 26, 2026

How they voted

76–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 79

May 26, 2026

D Democratic59

57 Yea 2

96% Yea

R Republican20

19 Yea 1

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

upper

Aug 3, 2026

Committee

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

upper

Jul 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

Jul 2, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (July 1).

upper

Jun 11, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

upper

Jun 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

upper

May 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)

lower

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 14).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors