2025 Year End Political Update Summary
House of Delegates Political Update
September 2025

By Public Policy Advocates, LLC 

​

LEGISLATURE

The California State Legislature has now adjourned the first year of the 2025-2026 legislative session. The California State Budget and its staggering deficit has had a detrimental effect on legislation being realized, with a great deal of measures failing to clear the Appropriations committees in the Senate and Assembly. While 2025 was considerably lighter than past years, Public Policy Advocates heavily engaged on two legislative matters of importance.

 

Public Policy Advocates (PPA,) as directed by the CAMLT Legislative Committee, continued to actively pursue the long-term objective of providing state funding incentives for credentialed hospitals to offer increased training positions for qualified students seeking internships to address the reduction in the number of available training positions and counteract shortages in CLS and MLTs in California.  As such, PPA once again secured Assembly Member Phillip Chen to introduce legislation for funding in AB 304. Assembly Member Chen authored AB 2702 during the 2023-2024 legislative session on behalf of CAMLT. 

​

THE FUTURE OF CAMLT

Public Policy Advocates, as in past years of representation, continue to stress the importance of having a strong legislative program in place. The probability of legislative measures adversely affecting the laboratory profession continuing to be introduced in future legislative sessions remains consistently high. CAMLT has continued to defend laboratory standards to protect patients as others continue to try and convince legislators to dilute licensing and personnel standards. CAMLT continues to focus on securing funding for training positions. As your legislative advocacy team in Sacramento, we continue to emphasize that growth of CAMLT membership is of paramount importance. A financially strong association coupled with sustainable membership growth is vital to effectively execute a comprehensive legislative program in California. Education of key legislators and government officials is of critical importance. To date, CAMLT continues to be at the forefront exclusively protecting the legislative interests of CLS’s, MLT’s and other laboratory personnel. CAMLT continues to be the only professional association solely representing clinical laboratory science personnel that retains a lobbying firm in Sacramento. CAMLT is typically the last Association holding the line against onerous legislative and regulatory changes. 

 

As in each past legislative session, PPA has been honored to work to protect CAMLTs interests. When health threats emerge – stress on the laboratory workforce will continue as will encroachments on the standards and integrity of the profession. The California Legislature continues to count medical professionals among its elected members and some hold membership on key committees that push through legislation that often times has adverse effects on the laboratory profession.  As long as those individuals hold office, we must anticipate that they will continue to introduce legislation that at times conflicts with what is in the best interests of the laboratory professional. Building CAMLT membership as well as a strong grass-roots program is vital to the health of your Association.

​

LEGISLATION

At the direction of the CAMLT Legislative Board, we actively engaged on two pieces of legislation. The following is a report on legislation that PPA lobbied on behalf of CAMLT during the first year of the 2025-2026 legislative session. The Governor’s deadline to sign or veto legislation was October 12, 2025.

 

LEGISLATION PPA ACTIVELY LOBBIED DURING THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

 

CAMLT SPONSOR BILL

AB 304 (Chen) Training programs: clinical laboratories and personnel: grants. As introduced 1/23/25 – SPONSOR/SUPPORT

This measure would authorize the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) in coordination with the State Department of Public Health, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish a grant program to provide funding for clinical training programs that both offer training programs for clinical laboratory scientists or medical laboratory technicians and are approved by the department or accredited by a recognized accrediting program approved by the department. AB 304 would also require a grantee to expend funds within 3 years of receiving a grant. AB 304 passed out of its policy committee hearings – Assembly Health, but due to the State Budget shortfall, failed to clear the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Of note: The Assembly Appropriations fiscal threshold is low – below $200,000, so the measure was sent to the Suspense File.

Location: Failed to advance from the Assembly Appropriations Suspense File, rendered dead for the year, and was made a 2-year bill.

 

AB 481 (Rubio) Healing arts: clinical laboratories: personnel.  As introduced 2/10/25 and amended 4/2/25 – OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED

AB 481 is Co-sponsored by the California Clinical Laboratory Association and Quest. If passed, AB 481 would have authorized federally qualified lab personnel to assist licensed lab personnel with specified tasks to complete medium and high complexity testing. This measure would have eliminated the requirement for laboratory personnel to possess CLS or MLT licensure to perform such tests. PPA on behalf of CAMLT vigorously opposed AB 481 on the basis that if passed, the measure would significantly lower California’s rigorous standards for laboratory personnel and would allow unlicensed individuals to perform moderate or high complexity testing under CLIA (federal standards) instead of California standards if they are supervised by a licensed person. Additionally, PPA argued on behalf of CAMLT, that expansion of activities for unlicensed personnel would directly compromise the accuracy of test results and potentially jeopardize the health and safety of patients in California,

Location: Failed to advance from the Assembly Appropriations Suspense File, rendered dead for the year, and was made a 2-year bill.

 

TWO YEAR BILLS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE TAKEN UP AGAIN IN JANUARY OF 2026.

 

REACH OUT TO YOUR DISTRICT LEGISLATORS

It is a critical priority that CAMLT build its membership and engage with and educate California's elected officials. Legislators are allowed to serve up to twelve years under term limit law – the opportunity for a long-lasting working relationship is present - make the connection. This past November, the 2024 General Election, had 34 open seats. Those elected individuals will need to be educated on the important work that the Association puts forth.

 

Make it a priority to meet with your Legislators. After legislative session, each Legislator returns to their districts until January. This is the time to reach out and educate elected officials about clinical laboratory issues and the labs that serve their districts. Meet with your legislators in your district, send letters/educational materials explaining CAMLT's philosophy, invite legislators and their staff to tour your laboratories, and introduce yourself as a constituent. These steps help CAMLT to be in a position of offense rather than defense when it comes time to support or oppose legislative measures. Remember, these interactions are crucial components of your grassroots program. For tips, please refer to the CAMLT Grassroots Guide on the website.

 

• Which Legislator represents your home or laboratory? Visit the CAMLT website for a current roster of Legislators and the cities they represent. 

• Visit their offices. Make an appointment with your Legislators’ District offices. 

• EDUCATE! Explain to Legislators and their consultants what it takes to be a CLS; what you do; why it is important to maintain the integrity of the Laboratory Director when other personnel are doing laboratory tests, even if they are waived; why other allied health providers shouldn't be Laboratory Directors; the CLS shortage and what it takes to eliminate it.  

 

CONTRIBUTE TO LAB-PAC – STRENGHTHEN YOUR ORGANIZATION

Donating to the CAMLT Lab-PAC fund is a critical means of supporting and electing Legislators to the California Legislature who share a like-minded philosophy with CAMLT and who are open-minded to learning the issues and challenges facing your profession. Your voice in the political process is much louder as CAMLT than as an individual. Visit the Lab-PAC Page for a donation form. 

​