AB-1811 • 2026

Health professional shortage areas.

Children Healthcare Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Rogers
Last action: 2026-05-27
Official status: Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact nature of the technical changes made to the California Physician Corps Program is not detailed in the provided source material.

Health Professional Shortage Areas

AB-1811 defines health professional shortage areas and makes minor updates to the California Physician Corps Program.

What This Bill Does

Defines a 'health professional shortage area' as an area with a lack of healthcare professionals, based on criteria set by federal or state agencies.
Includes areas designated or recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as health professional shortage areas.
Allows for certain areas designated as health professional shortage areas on January 1, 2025 to be included until January 1, 2035.
Makes minor technical changes to the California Physician Corps Program.

Who It Names or Affects

People living in areas with a lack of healthcare professionals
Healthcare workers and organizations

Terms To Know

health professional shortage area: An area where there are not enough doctors, nurses, or other health care providers to meet the needs of people living there.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how areas will be determined to have a healthcare shortage.
It is unclear what specific changes will be made to the California Physician Corps Program.
The definition applies only until January 1, 2035.

Bill History

2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)
2026-05-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
2026-02-10 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1811, as amended, Rogers.
California Physician Corps Program.
Health professional shortage areas.
Existing federal law requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate health professional shortage areas, and requires the secretary, in establishing criteria for the designation of those areas, to consider, among other things, the ratio of available health manpower to the number of individuals in an area or population group and indicators of a need for health services, as specified. Existing state law makes references to federally recognized or designated health professional shortage areas in various contexts, including, among others, the California Physician Corps Program, the California Reproductive Health Services Corps, the Oral Health Program, the Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program, and health professions planning grants.
This bill, until January 1, 2035, would define the term “health professional shortage area” to mean (1) an area determined by the Department of Health Care Access and Information to have a shortage of health professionals, (2) a health professional shortage area designated or recognized by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or (3) an area designated or recognized as a health professional shortage area by the United States Department of Health and Human Services on January 1, 2025, regardless of whether that area remains designated or recognized by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a health professional shortage area.
Existing law establishes the California Physician Corps Program within the Department of Health Care Access and Information. Existing law defines various terms for purposes of the program.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF