SB-439
Health & Public Health

California Health Benefit Review Program: extension.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Extends the California Health Benefit Review Program through July 2033 to analyze healthcare legislation impacts.
  • Increases the annual fee cap on health insurers and plans from $2.2 million to $3.2 million.
  • Requires health plans to pay assessment fees by August 1 each year to fund program operations.
  • Mandates the University of California to analyze health legislation impacts within 60 days of request.

Summary

Senator Weber Pierson's proposal to extend California's Health Benefit Review Program through 2033 includes key modifications to the program's funding structure and operational parameters. The legislation would increase the maximum annual assessment on health care service plans and insurers from $2.2 million to $3.2 million, while maintaining the University of California's role in analyzing proposed health insurance benefit legislation.

The bill extends the program's funding mechanism by authorizing continued assessments on health plans and insurers from fiscal year 2026-27 through 2032-33. These assessments support the University of California's analysis of legislation that would mandate or repeal health insurance benefits, including evaluation of public health impacts, medical effectiveness, and financial consequences. The program examines effects on both private insurance markets and public programs like Medi-Cal, though references to the Healthy Families Program would be removed from the analysis framework.

Under the revised structure, health plans and insurers must remit assessed fees by August 1 annually, with notices provided by June 15 for health care service plans and aligned with existing assessment schedules for health insurers. The Department of Managed Health Care and Department of Insurance would continue coordinating fee collection and transmitting funds to the State Controller for deposit in the Health Care Benefits Fund. The program would sunset on July 1, 2033, with formal repeal following on January 1, 2034.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB439 Weber Pierson
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Health Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Health Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Akilah Weber Pierson
Akilah Weber PiersonD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Latest Voting History

June 17, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
150116PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Extends the California Health Benefit Review Program through July 2033 to analyze healthcare legislation impacts.
  • Increases the annual fee cap on health insurers and plans from $2.2 million to $3.2 million.
  • Requires health plans to pay assessment fees by August 1 each year to fund program operations.
  • Mandates the University of California to analyze health legislation impacts within 60 days of request.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Akilah Weber Pierson
Akilah Weber PiersonD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Weber Pierson's proposal to extend California's Health Benefit Review Program through 2033 includes key modifications to the program's funding structure and operational parameters. The legislation would increase the maximum annual assessment on health care service plans and insurers from $2.2 million to $3.2 million, while maintaining the University of California's role in analyzing proposed health insurance benefit legislation.

The bill extends the program's funding mechanism by authorizing continued assessments on health plans and insurers from fiscal year 2026-27 through 2032-33. These assessments support the University of California's analysis of legislation that would mandate or repeal health insurance benefits, including evaluation of public health impacts, medical effectiveness, and financial consequences. The program examines effects on both private insurance markets and public programs like Medi-Cal, though references to the Healthy Families Program would be removed from the analysis framework.

Under the revised structure, health plans and insurers must remit assessed fees by August 1 annually, with notices provided by June 15 for health care service plans and aligned with existing assessment schedules for health insurers. The Department of Managed Health Care and Department of Insurance would continue coordinating fee collection and transmitting funds to the State Controller for deposit in the Health Care Benefits Fund. The program would sunset on July 1, 2033, with formal repeal following on January 1, 2034.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB439 Weber Pierson
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Health Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Health Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

June 17, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
150116PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member