California SB626: Perinatal health screenings and treatment.

What the bill says

An act to amend Sections 1367.625 and 123640 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 10123.867 of the Insurance Code, relating to perinatal health. perinatal health Perinatal health screenings and treatment. Existing law requires a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal, postpartum, or interpregnancy care for a patient to offer to screen or appropriately screen a mother for maternal mental health conditions…

From the chaptered text, September 30, 2026:

An act to amend Sections 1367.625 and 123640 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 10123.867 of the Insurance Code, relating to perinatal health. perinatal health Perinatal health screenings and treatment. Existing law requires a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal, postpartum, or interpregnancy care for a patient to offer to screen or appropriately screen a mother for maternal mental health conditions. For purposes of that requirement, existing law defines “maternal mental health condition” to mean a mental health condition that occurs during pregnancy, the postpartum period, or interpregnancy, as specified. This bill would limit the definition of “maternal mental health condition” to a mental health condition that occurs during the pregnancy or the postpartum period, as specified. The bill would authorize a licensed health care practitioner to satisfy the above-described requirement for maternal mental health screening by referring the patient or client to another licensed health care practitioner who is authorized to screen, evaluate, diagnose, and treat the patient or client for a maternal mental health condition. The bill would require a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal, postpartum, or perinatal care for a patient or client who screens positive for a maternal mental health condition to ensure that the patient or client receives appropriate clinical evaluation, and, if the practitioner diagnoses a patient …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D, SD28) · primary sponsor
• Sabrina Cervantes (D, SD31) · primary sponsor
• Suzette Martinez Valladares (R, SD23)

Latest actions

1. September 30, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 973, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. September 4, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
4. August 28, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 6077.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 28, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
6. August 27, 2026: Ordered to special consent calendar.
7. August 25, 2026: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
8. August 25, 2026: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6514.) Ordered to the Senate.
9. August 25, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
10. August 20, 2026: Ordered to third reading.

Votes

• Special Consent SB626 Smallwood-Cuevas (August 28, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
• SB 626 Smallwood-Cuevas Senate Third Reading By Patel (August 25, 2026): 77 yea, 0 nay, passed
• SB 626 Smallwood-Cuevas Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session (August 28, 2025): 74 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (August 20, 2025): 15 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar (July 15, 2025): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate 3rd Reading SB626 Smallwood-Cuevas (June 2, 2025): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB626?

SB626 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Perinatal health screenings and treatment.

What does SB626 do?

In its own words: An act to amend Sections 1367.625 and 123640 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 10123.867 of the Insurance Code, relating to perinatal health. perinatal health Perinatal health screenings and treatment. Existing law requires a licensed health care practitioner who provides prenatal, postpartum, or interpregnancy care for a patient to offer to screen or appropriately screen a mother for maternal mental health conditions…

What is the status of SB626?

Chaptered as of September 30, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 973, Statutes of 2026. (September 30, 2026).

Who sponsored SB626?

Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D, SD28), with 2 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB626?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB626