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AB-1591 • 2026

California Podiatric Pipeline Program.

California Podiatric Pipeline Program.

Budget Education Energy Healthcare
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
2026-04-08
Official status
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.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact details of how funds will be used beyond mentioning scholarships, loans, and grants.

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 providing educational support for California residents pursuing a doctor of podiatric medicine degree.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes the California Podiatric Pipeline Program within the Department of Health Care Access and Information.
  • Uses funds from the Health Professions Education Fund to provide scholarships, loans, and grants to students and institutions involved in podiatry education.
  • Requires annual reports on program progress, including student participation numbers and recommendations for expanding residency opportunities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • California residents pursuing a doctor of podiatric medicine degree.
  • Colleges and universities offering or planning to offer programs for future podiatrists.
  • The Department of Health Care Access and Information, which will administer the program.

Terms To Know

podiatric medicine
Medical care focused on feet and ankles
Health Professions Education Fund
A fund that provides money for scholarships, loans, and grants to students in health professions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The program's effectiveness depends on annual appropriations by the Legislature.
  • It is not clear how many people will participate or benefit from this program.

Bill History

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 2026-02-17 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and HIGHER ED.

  4. 2026-01-16 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 15.

  5. 2026-01-15 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1591, as introduced, 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 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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF