AB-1587 • 2026

Prescription drug refills: prescriber notifications.

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Ta
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how pharmacists determine a life-threatening condition or what happens in cases where no prescriber is identified.

Prescription Drug Refills: Prescriber Notifications

AB-1587 allows pharmacists to refill prescriptions for life-threatening conditions without a new prescription if the patient is unable to get one, and it removes liability for the pharmacist or pharmacy.

What This Bill Does

Allows pharmacists to provide up to a 30-day supply of medicine for patients with life-threatening conditions if they cannot obtain a new prescription before running out.
Eliminates legal responsibility from pharmacists or pharmacies when providing these medicines without a new prescription.

Who It Names or Affects

Patients with life-threatening conditions who need urgent refills of their prescriptions.
Pharmacists who refill prescriptions for patients in emergencies.
Doctors whose patients are getting emergency refills from pharmacists if the doctor is identified and reachable.

Terms To Know

Life-threatening condition: A serious health problem that could cause death if not treated with medicine.
Prescriber: The doctor or healthcare provider who writes the prescription for a patient.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if a prescriber cannot be reached.
Does not explain how pharmacists will know if a condition is life-threatening.
Does not cover situations where patients do not have a known prescriber.

Bill History

2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.)
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15).
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-01-16 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 15.
2026-01-15 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1587, as amended, Ta.
Prescription
drugs for life-threatening conditions.
drug refills: prescriber notifications.
Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to, among other things, perform certain procedures or functions and furnish specified drugs.
Existing law authorizes the refilling of a prescription for a dangerous drug without the authorization of the prescriber if the prescriber is unavailable to authorize the refill and, in the pharmacist’s professional judgment, failure to refill the prescription might interrupt the patient’s ongoing care and have a significant adverse effect on the patient’s well-being. Existing law requires a pharmacist to notify the prescriber, as specified, of any prescription refilled without their authorization.
This bill would authorize a pharmacist to furnish up to a 30-day supply of a prescription drug for a life-threatening condition if the pharmacy, or another pharmacy under common control with the pharmacy, has previously furnished that drug to the patient and the patient is unable to secure a new prescription for the drug before their supply is exhausted. The bill would eliminate liability for the pharmacist or pharmacy as a result of furnishing a prescription drug for a life-threatening condition.
This bill would only require a pharmacist to provide that notification if a prescriber is identified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF