ACTION PAGE
In 2025, neighbors and those in recovery have been fortunate to have been heard by a number of legislators and to have the support of the California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force. Recognizing that previous bills have had limited impact, a number of more impactful bills have been put forward that need your support. Here's how you can make a difference.
Shortly, some of these bills may need letters of support. You have a choice of sending these as emails, which is easier but slightly less preferable, or submitting a bill through the legislature's portal. Once you register at the portal, it may seem just as easy, so please choose what you feel is best for you. Here are our instructions for "How to Register For the Portal." Registering for the portal does not result in spam coming to your email address. Click on the bill number to be taken to a description of the bill, a sample letter and how to send it. Below is the status of bills passing through the legislature as of July 2:
Shortly, some of these bills may need letters of support. You have a choice of sending these as emails, which is easier but slightly less preferable, or submitting a bill through the legislature's portal. Once you register at the portal, it may seem just as easy, so please choose what you feel is best for you. Here are our instructions for "How to Register For the Portal." Registering for the portal does not result in spam coming to your email address. Click on the bill number to be taken to a description of the bill, a sample letter and how to send it. Below is the status of bills passing through the legislature as of July 2:
Bills that Have Moved or Will Move to the Second Chamber
ENROLLED: AB 255 (Haney) – Resurrects NARR standards and allows facilities with NARR standards to receive state funding with a gesture toward minimal state oversight.
(Sponsors: Mayor Lurie's Office, Bay Area Council, Salvation Army, industry)
ENROLLED: AB 424 (Davies) - DHCS must give status of investigations to complainants
(Sponsor: Cal Cities)
ENROLLED: AB 492 (Valencia)- DHCS must notify local jurisdictions when licensing a facility in their jurisdiction
(Sponsor: Cal Cities)
ENROLLED: AB 1037 (Elhawary) – Presently allows application for Incidental Medical Services with main license application.“ Also,
“(2) The department shall not require a licensee to prohibit the admission of an individual for having consumed, used, or otherwise been under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, as these circumstances represent symptoms of the condition of substance use disorders.”
ENROLLED: AB 1356 (Dixon) - Requires follow up report after a death at a facility 60 days after first report
In Senate Appropriations Committee
HOLD: AB 1267 (Pellerin) - Makes it easier for operators to take out licenses for multiple houses within clusters of fewer than 1000 feet. This bill was amended to no longer address residential settings.
(Sponsor: CAADPE)
To be heard in Senate Health on 7/2/25
SUPPORT: SB 35 (Umberg) - DHCS investigations of unlicensed Recovery Residences must be started and completed by certain timeframes.
Requires inspections during investigation and following up. If state does not complete timely investigations, county beahavioral health agency will conduct a visit if requested by the department
(Sponsor: Cal Cities)
In Assembly Health Committee to be heard on 7/15/25
SUPPORT: SB 329 (Blakespear) - DHCS investigations of licensed houses must be started and completed by certain timeframes
(Sponsor: Cal Cities)
To be heard in Assembly Health Committee on 7/2/25
(Sponsors: Mayor Lurie's Office, Bay Area Council, Salvation Army, industry)
ENROLLED: AB 424 (Davies) - DHCS must give status of investigations to complainants
(Sponsor: Cal Cities)
ENROLLED: AB 492 (Valencia)- DHCS must notify local jurisdictions when licensing a facility in their jurisdiction
(Sponsor: Cal Cities)
ENROLLED: AB 1037 (Elhawary) – Presently allows application for Incidental Medical Services with main license application.“ Also,
“(2) The department shall not require a licensee to prohibit the admission of an individual for having consumed, used, or otherwise been under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, as these circumstances represent symptoms of the condition of substance use disorders.”
ENROLLED: AB 1356 (Dixon) - Requires follow up report after a death at a facility 60 days after first report
In Senate Appropriations Committee
HOLD: AB 1267 (Pellerin) - Makes it easier for operators to take out licenses for multiple houses within clusters of fewer than 1000 feet. This bill was amended to no longer address residential settings.
(Sponsor: CAADPE)
To be heard in Senate Health on 7/2/25
SUPPORT: SB 35 (Umberg) - DHCS investigations of unlicensed Recovery Residences must be started and completed by certain timeframes.
Requires inspections during investigation and following up. If state does not complete timely investigations, county beahavioral health agency will conduct a visit if requested by the department
(Sponsor: Cal Cities)
In Assembly Health Committee to be heard on 7/15/25
SUPPORT: SB 329 (Blakespear) - DHCS investigations of licensed houses must be started and completed by certain timeframes
(Sponsor: Cal Cities)
To be heard in Assembly Health Committee on 7/2/25
Bills that Have Been Paused Or Made into Two Year Bills
A two year bill may or may not be re-introduced.
SUPPORT: AB 423 (Davies) - Will finally define unlicensed sober living homes as "business-operated" if operated by a business
(Sponsor: ART)
Deferred as a two year bill
SUPPORT: AB 877 (Dixon) - Notifies health insurance companies that residential treatment is mostly non-medical and should be billed that way
(Sponsor: ART)
Deferred as a two year bill
SUPPORT: AB 3 (Dixon) - Denies "residential use" privileges to operators clustering additional houses
Deferred as a two year bill
SUPPORT: AB 1090 (Davies) - Would establish a single investigator dedicated to Orange County
Paused
SUPPORT: AB 423 (Davies) - Will finally define unlicensed sober living homes as "business-operated" if operated by a business
(Sponsor: ART)
Deferred as a two year bill
SUPPORT: AB 877 (Dixon) - Notifies health insurance companies that residential treatment is mostly non-medical and should be billed that way
(Sponsor: ART)
Deferred as a two year bill
SUPPORT: AB 3 (Dixon) - Denies "residential use" privileges to operators clustering additional houses
Deferred as a two year bill
SUPPORT: AB 1090 (Davies) - Would establish a single investigator dedicated to Orange County
Paused
Dead Bills
SUPPORT: AB 425 (Davies) - Increase standards in certified treatment to ASAM or evidence based practices
(Sponsor: ART)
DHCS did not file financial analysis.
SUPPORT: AB 448 (Patel) - Parental Proximity to Youth in Treatment
(Sponsor: ART)
Cannibalized by the author.
OPPOSE: AB 43 (Umberg) - Creates a licensing scheme to legitimize illegal patient brokering.
(Sponsor: CCAPP)
SUPPORT: AB 1090 (Davies) - An extra investigator in Orange County.
(Sponsor: ART)
DHCS did not file financial analysis.
SUPPORT: AB 448 (Patel) - Parental Proximity to Youth in Treatment
(Sponsor: ART)
Cannibalized by the author.
OPPOSE: AB 43 (Umberg) - Creates a licensing scheme to legitimize illegal patient brokering.
(Sponsor: CCAPP)
SUPPORT: AB 1090 (Davies) - An extra investigator in Orange County.