AB-1868 • 2026

Health facilities: cardiac surgery.

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Gallagher
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about how the updates will aim to improve patient safety or what the exact updated standards will be.

Health Facilities: Cardiac Surgery Standards

This law requires the State Department of Public Health to update its rules about cardiac surgery teams using extracorporeal bypass machines by January 1, 2030.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Department of Public Health to review and update its rules for cardiac surgery teams that use extracorporeal bypass machines.

Who It Names or Affects

General acute care hospitals offering special services like cardiac surgery
The State Department of Public Health

Terms To Know

extracorporeal bypass: A machine used during heart surgeries to take over the function of the heart and lungs.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what the updated standards will be.
It is unclear how long it will take for hospitals to adapt to new rules after they are set.

Bill History

2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1868, as introduced, Gallagher.
Health facilities: cardiac surgery.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities, including general acute care hospitals, by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law authorizes a general acute care hospital to be approved to offer special services, including, among others, cardiac surgery. Existing regulation requires, when a general acute care hospital is providing cardiovascular operative service, that a minimum of 3 surgeons constitute a surgical team if the procedure requires extracorporeal bypass.
This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2030, to update that regulation to reflect current professional standards of care relating to extracorporeal bypass surgery.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF