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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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AB-2066 • 2026

Triggering event: pregnancy.

Triggering event: pregnancy.

Crime Education Healthcare
Passed Legislature

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

Official source material does not specify penalties for non-compliance by health care service plans and disability insurers.

Making Pregnancy a Reason to Change Health Plans

AB-2066 makes pregnancy a valid reason for individuals to enroll in or change their health benefit plans.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds pregnancy as a triggering event that allows someone to join or switch health benefit plans.
  • Requires health care service plans and disability insurers to allow changes due to pregnancy.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are pregnant
  • Health care service plans and disability insurers

Terms To Know

Triggering event
An event that allows someone to join or change their health insurance plan.
Health benefit plan
A type of health insurance that covers medical expenses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact penalties for companies that do not follow this rule.
  • The bill has passed both chambers but does not have an effective date yet.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  2. 2026-03-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  3. 2026-03-25 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  4. 2026-03-02 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  5. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

  6. 2026-02-18 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2066, as introduced, Celeste Rodriguez.
Triggering event: pregnancy.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of disability insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan or disability insurer to allow an individual to enroll in or change their health benefit plan as a result of a specified triggering event.
This bill would make pregnancy a triggering event for purposes of enrollment or changing a health benefit plan. Because a willful violation of this provision by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution
requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF