California 20252026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

AB 955 — Mexican prepaid health plans.

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

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Assembly. Introduced February 20, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Assembly.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 36% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law requires a prepaid health plan to apply for licensure as a health care service plan if the prepaid health plan operating lawfully under the laws of Mexico elects to operate a health care service plan in this state. Existing law requires the application for licensure to demonstrate compliance with specified requirements, including that the prepaid health plan offers and sells in this state only employer-sponsored group plan contracts exclusively for the benefit of Mexican nationals legally employed in the County of San Diego or the County of Imperial, and their dependents, that pay for the delivery of health care services that are provided wholly in Mexico, except as specified. Existing law also requires the application for licensure to demonstrate that the prepaid health plan maintains a tangible net equity of at least $1,000,000 or to demonstrate a reasonable acceptable alternative reimbursement arrangement that the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care is authorized, in the director's discretion, to accept. This bill would modify the above-described requirement that a prepaid health plan offers and sells in this state only employer-sponsored group plan contracts exclusively for the benefit of specified Mexican nationals to additionally include employer-sponsored group plan contracts for the benefit of individuals legally employed in the County of San Diego or the County of Imperial, and for the benefit of their dependents regardless of nationality. The bill would authorize a prepaid health plan operating lawfully under the laws of Mexico that is licensed to operate a health care service plan to offer and sell that employer-sponsored group plan contract only to an employer that provides alternative health care coverage through either a specified full-service health care service plan or a health insurance policy. The bill would modify the above-described requirement that a prepaid health plan maintains a tangible net equity of at least $1,000,000 to instead require a prepaid health plan to maintain a tangible net equity of at least $2,300,000 or to demonstrate an alternative reimbursement arrangement subject to the director's discretion, as described above. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a prepaid health plan, as described above, would be a crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

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

  2. Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. In committee: Held under submission.

  4. Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)

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

  6. In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

  7. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  8. Read second time and amended.

  9. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 22).

  10. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

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

  12. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  13. From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  14. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 16 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 4000
Democratic 12000
Total 16000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Celeste Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Patterson, Joe Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 955 do?
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law requires a prepaid health plan to apply for licensure as a health care service plan if the prepaid health plan operating lawfully under the laws of Mexico elects to operate a health care service plan in this state. Existing law requires the application for licensure to demonstrate compliance with specified requirements, including that the prepaid health plan offers and sells in this state only employer-sponsored group plan contracts exclusively for the benefit of Mexican nationals legally employed in the County of San Diego or the County of Imperial, and their dependents, that pay for the delivery of health care services that are provided wholly in Mexico, except as specified. Existing law also requires the application for licensure to demonstrate that the prepaid health plan maintains a tangible net equity of at least $1,000,000 or to demonstrate a reasonable acceptable alternative reimbursement arrangement that the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care is authorized, in the director's discretion, to accept. This bill would modify the above-described requirement that a prepaid health plan offers and sells in this state only employer-sponsored group plan contracts exclusively for the benefit of specified Mexican nationals to additionally include employer-sponsored group plan contracts for the benefit of individuals legally employed in the County of San Diego or the County of Imperial, and for the benefit of their dependents regardless of nationality. The bill would authorize a prepaid health plan operating lawfully under the laws of Mexico that is licensed to operate a health care service plan to offer and sell that employer-sponsored group plan contract only to an employer that provides alternative health care coverage through either a specified full-service health care service plan or a health insurance policy. The bill would modify the above-described requirement that a prepaid health plan maintains a tangible net equity of at least $1,000,000 to instead require a prepaid health plan to maintain a tangible net equity of at least $2,300,000 or to demonstrate an alternative reimbursement arrangement subject to the director's discretion, as described above. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a prepaid health plan, as described above, would be a crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors AB 955?
AB 955 is sponsored by Alvarez, David (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 955?
This bill is in committee in the Assembly. Introduced February 20, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track AB 955?
Track AB 955 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on AB 955

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of AB 955

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →