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AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 18, 2026

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AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 23, 2026

AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 24, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

94

Introduced by Senator Richardson

February 13, 2026

An act to amend Section 127697 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to health.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) to enter into partnerships resulting in the production of generic prescription drugs, including at least one form of insulin made available at production and dispensing costs, if one does not already exist in the market. Existing law additionally authorizes CHHSA to enter into partnerships to increase competition, lower prices, and address supply shortages for generic or brand name drugs to address emerging health concerns.

This bill, the Preventive Treatment Health Care Act, would specify that the above-described authorized partnerships include those authorize CHHSA to enter into partnerships, if needed and subject to an appropriation, to increase competition, lower prices, and address supply shortages for at least one glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) antiobesity medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The bill would require CHHSA to establish distribution partners, if needed, and make its best effort to negotiate pricing at or lower than the cost to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in 2025.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Preventive Treatment Health Care Act.

SEC. 2.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) There are approximately 30,000,000 adults 18 years of age and older living in California.

(b) (1) According to the University of California, Los Angeles, California Health Interview Survey, nearly 61 percent of, or more than 24,500,000, California adults 18 to 64 years of age, inclusive, are suffering from chronic weight disease, thereby falling into the combined overweight or obese category.

(2) The body mass index (BMI) is a formula that screens for excess weight relative to height.

(3) The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies weight into six categories. The BMI formula used is categorized as follows:

(4) Further, BMI is measured to determine risk for weight-related disease often associated with a waist size of 35 inches or more in women and 40 inches or more in men.

(c) Californians with a greater determination of overweight beyond a BMI higher than 30.0 are clinically described as obese, which has increased from 19.3 percent in 2001 to over 29 percent in 2023. Even more alarming, without prevention, obesity could reach 41 percent by 2030 in California adults.

(d) Serious chronic weight disease with a BMI formula rating over 30 is recognized as such by major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association since 2013, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, the American College of Cardiology, the Endocrine Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the American Urological Association, and the American College of Surgeons.

(e) (1) Chronic weight disease extends beyond the need to lose pounds but can also contribute to possible cancers and other comorbidities. From 2005 to 2014, several cancers that may be associated with chronic weight disease have increased in the United States, while cancers associated with other health factors decreased.

(2) Chronic weight disease reduces a patient’s overall cancer-specific survival rate, as well as increases the risk of cancer recurrence.

(3) The 13 types of cancer related to chronic weight disease are:

(A) Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

(B) Postmenopausal breast.

(C) Colon and rectal, or colorectal.

(D) Endometrial of the uterus.

(E) Gallbladder.

(F) Gastric cardia, or upper stomach.

(G) Renal cell carcinoma of the kidney.

(H) Liver.

(I) Ovarian.

(J) Pancreatic.

(K) Thyroid.

(L) Meningioma, a type of brain cancer.

(M) Multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.

(4) Chronic weight disease is associated with an increased risk of more than 200 comorbid conditions. Some of those conditions are:

(A) Type 2 diabetes.

(B) High blood pressure.

(C) Heart disease.

(D) Stroke.

(E) Metabolic syndrome.

(F) Fatty liver diseases.

(G) Other types of cancers.

(H) Breathing problems.

(I) Osteoarthritis.

(J) Gout.

(K) Diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas.

(L) Kidney disease.

(M) Pregnancy problems.

(N) Fertility problems.

(O) Sexual function problems.

(P) Mental health problems.

(f) (1) In addition to individual health impacts of chronic weight disease, employee productivity and contributions to California’s economy are impacted by the prevention and management of chronic weight disease.

(2) Chronic weight disease can be related to reduced labor participation and earnings and increased early mortality, absenteeism, disability, and health care costs exceeding $1 billion and a 2.6-percent reduction in the California gross domestic product.

(g) Barriers to the reduction, maintenance, or elimination of chronic weight disease are essentially access and cost.

(h) This act is intended to promote access to affordable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight management medication for Californians. Californians, which includes a GLP-1, GLP-1 receptor agonist, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide plus GLP-1, GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, or tirzepatide, and future weight management medications in this category.

SEC. 3.

Section 127697 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

127697.

(a) In addition to partnerships authorized pursuant to Sections 127692 and 127693, the California Health and Human Services Agency may, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, enter into partnerships to increase competition, lower prices, and address supply shortages under any of the following circumstances:

(1) For over-the-counter naloxone products. Partnerships entered into pursuant to this section may allow the development, manufacturing, or distribution of over-the-counter naloxone products by an entity that is authorized to do so under federal or state law.

(2) For generic or brand name drugs to address emerging health concerns, including in reproductive health care, gender affirming care and gender-affirming health care, or at least one glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) antiobesity medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. For purposes of this section, a “glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) antiobesity medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration” includes a GLP-1, GLP-1 receptor agonist, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide plus GLP-1, GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, or tirzepatide. The California Health and Human Services Agency shall also make its best effort to negotiate pricing at or lower than the cost to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in 2025. care.

(3) For the development, production, procurement, or distribution of vaccines, by an entity that is authorized to do so under federal or state law, with the intent that these vaccines be made widely available to public and private purchasers, providers, suppliers, and pharmacies.

(4) For the manufacture, purchase, or distribution of medical supplies or medical devices.