What’s happening on health care in California in 2025?
Several health issues will gain attention in 2025 including continued work on the state’s fentanyl crisis and a renewed focus on mental health since voters approved Proposition 1 last March, providing more than $6 billion to expand services and facilities. In January, Gov. Gavin Newsom, legislators, health care leaders and advocates will outline their plans for the state’s 2025 agenda on health care. This page will be updated as new proposals are introduced.
CalMatters health team:
- Editor: Adam Ashton, adam@calmatters.org
- Health Reporter Kristen Hwang, kristen@calmatters.org
- Health Reporter Ana Ibarra, ana@calmatters.org
- Mental Health Reporter Jocelyn Wiener, jocelyn@calmatters.org
Quick Facts
- Budget: Typically, about a third of the state’s budget is spent on health care
- Medi-Cal: More than a third of the population — about 15 million residents — are on Medi-Cal, the insurance program for low income people.
- Mental Health: $28 billion has been proposed due to provider shortages and increased demand.
- Insurance: California is 1 of 5 states that penalizes residents for not having health insurance.
Health Care Bills
In Focus
Here is a list of all of the health care bills considered this session with the top bills of 2024 selected by CalMatters.
Key Players
Legislative Leaders
These are the key legislative leaders on health care as selected by CalMatters.
Scott Wiener
District 11, San Francisco
Akilah Weber Pierson
District 39, San Diego
Joaquin Arambula
District 31, Fresno
Mia Bonta
District 18, Oakland
Non-Legislator leaders
These are the most active players on health care issues based on their testimony in hearings or recorded positions on bills.
Jedd Hampton, Ca. Assn. of Health Plans
Brandon Marchy, Ca. Medical Assn.
Michele Perrault, Ca. Dept of Finance
Alex Hamilton, League of Cities, Fire Chiefs
Steffanie Watkins, Assn. of California Life and Health Insurance Cos.
National Assn. of Social Workers
