AB 551 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Reproductive Health Emergency Preparedness Program.

Summary

Existing law establishes the Department of Health Care Access and Information to oversee and administer various health programs. The California Constitution prohibits the state from denying or interfering with an individual's reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions. Existing law establishes the California Reproductive Health Equity Program within the department to ensure abortion and contraception services are affordable for and accessible to all patients and to provide financial support for safety net providers of these services. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature or the availability of funds from private sources, establish the Reproductive Health Emergency Preparedness Program (RHEPP) for the purpose of expanding and improving access to reproductive and sexual health care in emergency departments across California. The bill would require the department to award the grants and administer the RHEPP in collaboration with California-based organizations to serve as the technical assistance provider. The bill would require the department to establish minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants and would specify the qualifications for the collaborating organizations. The bill would limit the permissible uses of grant funds under the program, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

03/10/25 - Amended Assembly → 04/10/25 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · Apr 10, 2025

MODERATE

The April 10 amendment to AB 551 removes repeated references to emergency departments 'choosing to provide these services' or 'electing to provide these services' and replaces them with language tying all program activities to participation in the RHEPP itself. This shifts the framework from one where departments voluntarily opt into providing specific services like abortion and miscarriage care, to one where enrollment in the program is the operative criterion. The change could make it more difficult for a department to accept RHEPP grants while declining to offer abortion or evidence-based miscarriage care.

SCOPE

Section 127650(b) changed from 'emergency departments choosing to provide these services' to 'emergency departments that participate in the RHEPP,' making program participation rather than voluntary service selection the governing condition for abortion and miscarriage care provisions.

Legislative finding (g) removed the phrase 'for those opting in to provide this service' after 'abortion care,' eliminating the opt-in qualifier from the stated purpose of the statewide project.

REQUIREMENT

Section 127652(d) removed 'electing to provide these services' from the medication abortion piloting provision, so any department participating in RHEPP can pilot medication abortion without a separate opt-in requirement.

Section 127652(e) removed 'in emergency departments electing to provide these services' from the capacity-building provision for integrating medication abortion and aspiration techniques, again tying the activity solely to RHEPP participation.

DEFINITION

Section 127652 header changed from 'Participating emergency departments or outpatient clinics' to 'Emergency departments or outpatient clinics participating in the RHEPP,' clarifying that the relevant status is program enrollment rather than a general designation as 'participating.'

TECHNICAL

Multiple sections added the clarifying phrase 'participating in the RHEPP' to reduce ambiguity about which departments are covered (sections 127651(d)(2), 127652(f)).

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Committee

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

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (April 8).

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Introduced

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

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor