CAMLT POLITICAL UPDATE
By Public Policy Advocates, LLC
GOVERNOR/LEGISLATURE
The Legislature has returned from winter recess and has begun what will be an interesting calendar for this legislative year. California are facing budget deficit issues. We will be on the lookout for bills that need to be supported, opposed, or be neutral.
LEGISLATION
We are currently in the 2nd year of a 2-year legislative session. Public Policy Advocates in conjunction with CAMLT continues to confront legislation to expand scope of practice and efforts to dilute standards. At the direction of CAMLT, PPA secured an Author and had legislation introduced to secure grants for training programs. Please check the website for ongoing updates on bill status.
Click on each bill number for access to full text of each measure
AB 1811 (Rogers, D) Health professional shortage areas.
Current Text: 03/19/2026 - Amended HTML PDF
Introduced: 02/10/2026
Last Amended: 03/19/2026 - WATCH - NEUTRAL
Status: 03/19/2026 - Referred to Com. on HEALTH. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
Location: 03/19/2026 - Assembly Health
Summary: Existing state law makes references to federally recognized or designated health professional shortage areas in various contexts, including, among others, the California Physician Corps Program, the California Reproductive Health Services Corps, the Oral Health Program, the Virtual Health Hub for Rural Communities Pilot Program, and health professions planning grants. This bill, until January 1, 2035, would define the term “health professional shortage area” to mean (1) an area determined by the Department of Health Care Access and Information to have a shortage of health professionals, (2) a health professional shortage area designated or recognized by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or (3) an area designated or recognized as a health professional shortage area by the United States Department of Health and Human Services on January 1, 2025, regardless of whether that area remains designated or recognized by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a health professional shortage area. (Based on 03/19/2026 text)
REGULATIONS
Please click this link to see the January 1, 2025 update on California Code Regulation Title 17, § 1030.8 - Licensure and Work Scope of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist Who Meets Requirements for Medical Laboratory Technician Licensure. This new regulation allows for a bridge for MLT to advance into being a Clinical Laboratory Scientist.
Please click this link to see the January 1, 2025 update on California Code Regulation Title 17, § 1030.5 - Licensure and Work Scope of a Clinical Laboratory Trainee.
CAMLT is poised to review any regulatory packages that affect clinical laboratories.