AB-1591 • 2026

California Podiatric Pipeline Program.

Budget Education Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Michelle Rodriguez
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact details of how many students will benefit from this program are not specified in the official source material.

California Podiatric Pipeline Program

This law establishes a program within the Department of Health Care Access and Information to promote careers in podiatric medicine by supporting California residents pursuing doctor of podiatric medicine degrees.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the California Podiatric Pipeline Program within the Department of Health Care Access and Information.
Requires the department to use funds from existing health education programs for this new program.
Authorizes the department to award grants to universities and colleges to support podiatry programs.
Requires annual reporting by the department on student participation, matriculation into podiatric medicine programs, and recommendations for residency opportunities.

Who It Names or Affects

California residents studying podiatric medicine
Universities and colleges with podiatry programs

Terms To Know

Health Professions Education Fund: A fund that provides money for scholarships and loans to students in health professions.
Podiatric Medicine: The branch of medicine focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of foot and ankle disorders.

Limits and Unknowns

Implementation is contingent upon annual appropriation by the Legislature.
It is not clear how many students will benefit from this program.
The program ends in 01/01/2032.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-26 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.)
2026-05-19 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2026-02-17 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and HIGHER ED.
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 1591, as amended, Michelle Rodriguez.
California Podiatric Pipeline Program.
Existing law establishes the Department of Health Care Access and Information under the control of the Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information, to administer various health professions development programs. Existing law requires the department to maintain a Health Professions Career Opportunity Program to, among other things, implement programs at colleges and universities selected by the department and include in those programs pipeline programs that provide comprehensive academic enrichment, career development, mentorship, and advising in order to support students from underrepresented regions and backgrounds to pursue health careers.
Existing law creates within the department the Health Professions Education Fund, for the primary purpose of providing scholarships and loans to students from underrepresented groups
who are accepted to or enrolled in schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, or other health professions. Existing law authorizes the department to receive private donations to be deposited into the fund and continuously appropriates all moneys in the fund to the department for those purposes.
This bill would enact the California Podiatric Pipeline Program Act, to require the department to establish and administer the California Podiatric Pipeline Program to promote careers in podiatric medicine and support the educational advancement of California residents pursuing the doctor of podiatric medicine degree, as specified. The bill would specify that the department may use funds from the Health Professions Education Fund
or Health Professions Pathways Program
for the purposes of this bill, subject to the requirements of the fund.
This bill would authorize the department to award planning or coordination grants to participating universities or colleges to support implementation of the program as funding is made available. The bill would also require the department, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, to annually report to the Legislature regarding the number of students participating, the number matriculating into doctor of podiatric medicine programs, and recommendations for expanding residency opportunities for podiatric graduates.
The bill would make implementation of these provisions contingent upon appropriation by the Legislature.
The bill would repeal these
provisions on January 1, 2032.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF