California AB1798: Genetic testing for life and disability insurance.

What the bill says

An act to amend Sections 791.06, 791.07, 791.11, 791.12, 10146, 10147, 10148, 10149, and 10149.1 of the Insurance Code, relating to insurance. insurance Genetic testing for life and disability insurance. Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including life and disability insurance. Existing law prohibits an insurer from requiring a test for the presence of a genetic characteristic for the purpose of determining insurability, except as specified…

From the chaptered text, September 30, 2026:

An act to amend Sections 791.06, 791.07, 791.11, 791.12, 10146, 10147, 10148, 10149, and 10149.1 of the Insurance Code, relating to insurance. insurance Genetic testing for life and disability insurance. Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including life and disability insurance. Existing law prohibits an insurer from requiring a test for the presence of a genetic characteristic for the purpose of determining insurability, except as specified. If an insurer requests an applicant to take a genetic characteristic test, existing law requires the insurer to obtain the applicant’s written informed consent and to notify the applicant of the test result. Existing law prohibits a life or disability income insurer from requiring a genetic characteristic test if the results of the test would be used to determine eligibility for specified health care coverage. Existing law prescribes civil penalties for an insurer who discloses the results of a test for a genetic characteristic requested by the insurer. This bill would repeal those provisions and would instead prohibit a life or disability insurer from canceling, limiting, or denying coverage, among other actions, based on a test for the presence or absence of a genetic characteristic. The bill would authorize a life or disability insurer to base an underwriting decision on a test for the presence or absence of a genetic characteristic if specified …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Lori Wilson (D, AD11) · primary sponsor
• Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D, AD16)
• Tina McKinnor (D, AD61)

Latest actions

1. September 30, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 897, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. September 8, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
4. August 28, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 55. Noes 12. Page 6798.).
5. August 28, 2026: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 55. Noes 12.).
6. August 27, 2026: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
7. August 27, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 0.).
8. August 27, 2026: Reconsideration granted. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.)
9. August 27, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 32. Noes 0.).
10. August 24, 2026: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Votes

• AB 1798 Wilson Concurrence in Senate Amendments (August 28, 2026): 55 yea, 12 nay, passed
• Assembly 3rd Reading AB1798 Wilson et al. By Padilla Reconsider (August 27, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Assembly 3rd Reading AB1798 Wilson et al. By Padilla (August 27, 2026): 33 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Assembly 3rd Reading AB1798 Wilson et al. By Padilla (August 27, 2026): 30 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended (August 13, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Placed on suspense file (August 3, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is AB1798?

AB1798 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Genetic testing for life and disability insurance.

What does AB1798 do?

In its own words: An act to amend Sections 791.06, 791.07, 791.11, 791.12, 10146, 10147, 10148, 10149, and 10149.1 of the Insurance Code, relating to insurance. insurance Genetic testing for life and disability insurance. Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including life and disability insurance. Existing law prohibits an insurer from requiring a test for the presence of a genetic characteristic for the purpose of determining insurability, except as specified…

What is the status of AB1798?

Chaptered as of September 30, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 897, Statutes of 2026. (September 30, 2026).

Who sponsored AB1798?

Lori Wilson (D, AD11), with 2 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for AB1798?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1798