KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

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-278 • 2026

Health care affordability.

Health care affordability.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Ransom
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific information about the composition or membership criteria of the committee, nor does it specify what kind of data must be included in the annual report to the board.

Health Care Affordability

This law requires the Health Care Affordability Board to establish a Patient Advocate Advisory Standing Committee that must hold public meetings and gather public comments at least four times each year, starting by June 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Health Care Affordability Board to create a new committee called the Patient Advocate Advisory Standing Committee.
  • The committee is required to meet publicly and receive public comments at least four times annually.
  • The committee must include data from its meetings in an annual report submitted to the board.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Health Care Affordability Board
  • Patient Advocate Advisory Standing Committee

Terms To Know

Patient Advocate Advisory Standing Committee
A committee established by the Health Care Affordability Board to gather public input and provide advice on health care affordability.
Health Care Affordability Board
An organization that sets goals and standards for controlling health care costs in the state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify who can join the Patient Advocate Advisory Standing Committee.
  • It is unclear what specific data must be included in the committee's annual report to the board.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-02-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  4. 2025-01-22 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 21.

  5. 2025-01-21 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 278, as introduced, Ransom.
Health care affordability.
Existing law establishes the Office of Health Care Affordability within the Department of Health Care Access and Information to analyze the health care market for cost trends and drivers of spending, develop data-informed policies for lowering health care costs for consumers and purchasers, and create a state strategy for controlling the cost of health care. Existing law establishes the Health Care Affordability Board to establish, among other things, a statewide health care cost target and the standards necessary to meet exemptions from health care cost targets or submitting data to the office. Existing law authorizes the office to establish advisory or technical committees, as necessary, in order to support the board’s decisionmaking.
This bill would require the board, on or before June 1, 2026, to establish a Patient Advocate Advisory Standing
Committee, as specified, that is required to publicly meet, and receive public comments, at least 4 times annually. The bill would require the committee to include specified data from the meetings to the board as part of its annual report.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF