AB-1048 • 2026

Workers’ compensation.

Healthcare Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Chen
Last action: 2026-06-11
Official status: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 10).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Workers’ compensation.

AB 1048, as amended, Chen.

What This Bill Does

AB 1048, as amended, Chen.
Workers’ compensation.
Existing law establishes a workers’ compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of employment.
Existing law requires an employer to provide medical, surgical, chiropractic, acupuncture, and hospital treatment that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the injury.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-06-11 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 10).
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Withdrawn from committee.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
(Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 2570.)
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(b).
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(b).
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-19 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
2025-07-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 2057.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (May 23).
2025-05-21 California Legislative Information
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)
2025-05-21 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, second hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on INS.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1048, as amended, Chen.
Workers’ compensation.
Existing law establishes a workers’ compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of employment. Existing law requires an employer to provide medical, surgical, chiropractic, acupuncture, and hospital treatment that is reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the injury. Upon payment, adjustment, or denial of a complete or incomplete itemization of medical services, existing law requires an employer to provide an explanation of review that includes, among other information, the amount paid and the basis for any adjustment, change, or denial of the item or procedure billed.
This bill would, when the basis for any adjustment, change, or denial of an item or procedure is a contract,
require the explanation of review to include information on that underlying contract, including whom the
rendering
medical provider may contact to seek a copy of the
relevant, applicable
underlying
contract. The bill would state that disclosure of a medical provider network does not satisfy this requirement and would state that if the contract is not
received
sent to the rendering provider or their agent
within 30 business days of the provider’s request, the bill shall be reprocessed and paid, as specified.
Existing law requires each employer to establish a utilization review process to review and approve, modify, or deny treatment recommendations and establishes an independent medical review process to resolve disputes over a utilization review decision. Existing law requires various requirements to be met in determining whether to approve, modify, or deny requests by a physician for medical services.
This bill would require a request for authorization of medical services by a physician to be signed by that physician, and would authorize a request to be sent via mail, fax, or electronic methods, as specified. The bill would make other conforming changes.

Current Bill Text

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