SB-751
Health & Public Health

Veterans and Former First Responders Research Pilot Program.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a research program to study psilocybin therapy for veterans and former first responders with mental health disorders.
  • Creates pilot programs in five California counties under University of California oversight through 2031.
  • Requires participants to be 21 or older and undergo medical screening before receiving supervised psilocybin treatment.
  • Establishes a special fund for program costs including staff training, data collection, and counseling services.

Summary

Senators Becker and Jones have proposed establishing a research pilot program through the University of California system to study psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans and former first responders with severe mental health disorders. The program would operate in up to five counties through 2031, with university partners overseeing protocol design, institutional review board approvals, and data collection.

The legislation requires that psilocybin services be provided by practitioners experienced in psychedelic therapy under strict FDA and DEA guidelines. Participants must be at least 21 years old, undergo comprehensive assessments, and receive detailed information about treatment implications, alternatives, and their right to withdraw. Partner healthcare facilities would deliver services while collecting data on program outcomes and participant experiences.

A new Veterans and Former First Responders Research Pilot Special Fund would support program administration, staff training, data analysis, and counseling services through state appropriations, grants, and federal funding. University partners must submit regular progress reports, with a peer-reviewed efficacy study due by January 2029 and final recommendations to state leadership by January 2030. The program includes data-sharing provisions to facilitate research collaboration while maintaining appropriate privacy protections.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Education Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Education Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Health Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Health Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Education]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Heath FloraR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Heath FloraR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Bob ArchuletaD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Isaac BryanD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Josh LowenthalD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Brian Jones
Brian JonesR
California State Senator
Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Scott Wiener
Scott WienerD
California State Senator
Greg Wallis
Greg WallisR
California State Assembly Member
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
California State Senator
Corey Jackson
Corey JacksonD
California State Assembly Member
Heath Flora
Heath FloraR
California State Assembly Member
Isaac Bryan
Isaac BryanD
California State Assembly Member
Bob Archuleta
Bob ArchuletaD
California State Senator
Josh Lowenthal
Josh LowenthalD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Latest Voting History

May 12, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a research program to study psilocybin therapy for veterans and former first responders with mental health disorders.
  • Creates pilot programs in five California counties under University of California oversight through 2031.
  • Requires participants to be 21 or older and undergo medical screening before receiving supervised psilocybin treatment.
  • Establishes a special fund for program costs including staff training, data collection, and counseling services.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Brian Jones
Brian JonesR
California State Senator
Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Scott Wiener
Scott WienerD
California State Senator
Greg Wallis
Greg WallisR
California State Assembly Member
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
California State Senator
Corey Jackson
Corey JacksonD
California State Assembly Member
Heath Flora
Heath FloraR
California State Assembly Member
Isaac Bryan
Isaac BryanD
California State Assembly Member
Bob Archuleta
Bob ArchuletaD
California State Senator
Josh Lowenthal
Josh LowenthalD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Senators Becker and Jones have proposed establishing a research pilot program through the University of California system to study psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans and former first responders with severe mental health disorders. The program would operate in up to five counties through 2031, with university partners overseeing protocol design, institutional review board approvals, and data collection.

The legislation requires that psilocybin services be provided by practitioners experienced in psychedelic therapy under strict FDA and DEA guidelines. Participants must be at least 21 years old, undergo comprehensive assessments, and receive detailed information about treatment implications, alternatives, and their right to withdraw. Partner healthcare facilities would deliver services while collecting data on program outcomes and participant experiences.

A new Veterans and Former First Responders Research Pilot Special Fund would support program administration, staff training, data analysis, and counseling services through state appropriations, grants, and federal funding. University partners must submit regular progress reports, with a peer-reviewed efficacy study due by January 2029 and final recommendations to state leadership by January 2030. The program includes data-sharing provisions to facilitate research collaboration while maintaining appropriate privacy protections.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Education Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Education Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Health Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Health Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Education]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

May 12, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7007PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Heath FloraR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Heath FloraR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Bob ArchuletaD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Isaac BryanD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Josh LowenthalD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member