Senator Weber Pierson, M.D.’s Health and Equity Bills Clear Senate, Head to Assembly
MEDIA ALERT
Senator Weber Pierson, M.D.’s Health and Equity Bills Clear Senate, Head to Assembly
SACRAMENTO — Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D., (D-San Diego) announced today that her key priority bills focused on health, equity, and social justice have passed the Senate and are now advancing to the State Assembly.
These bills aim to close long-standing gaps in care, expand access to essential services, and support communities most impacted by inequity.
The measures include:
SB 32 - Labor and Delivery Time and Distance Standards: This bill mandates that the Department of Health Care Services, Department of Managed Health Care, and Department of Insurance develop and adopt, by July 1, 2027, time or distance accessibility standards for hospitals with perinatal units. These standards aim to ensure timely access to labor and delivery services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
SB 236 – CURL Act: Prohibits the use of toxic chemicals in hair relaxer products that have been linked to cancer and reproductive harm.
SB 437 - California State University: Claim Eligibility – Genealogy and Descendancy: Tasks the California State University system to establish a process for verifying genealogical eligibility for reparative claims, facilitating access to potential reparations for descendants of enslaved individuals.
SB 439 - California Health Benefit Review Program: Extends the California Health Benefit Review Program, which assesses the medical, financial, and public health impacts of proposed health insurance benefit mandates and repeals.
SB 452 - Child Welfare Services: Prevention Legal Services: Establishes the Family Advocacy Pilot Program to provide grants to qualified organizations offering preventive legal services aimed at reducing the need for child welfare interventions.
SB 503 - Health Care Services: Artificial Intelligence: Requires developers of AI models or systems used in healthcare settings to test for biased impacts in outputs, ensuring equitable treatment across diverse patient populations.
SB 518 –Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery: Establishes the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery, a state agency dedicated to implementing policies that address the historical injustices faced by Californians who are descendants of enslaved people. The Bureau will oversee reparative justice efforts, facilitate restitution programs, and ensure the state follows through on key recommendations from the California Reparations Task Force.
SB 646 - Prenatal Vitamins: Heavy Metals Testing: Mandates that manufacturers of prenatal vitamins test for and publicly disclose levels of potentially harmful heavy metals in their products, ensuring safer prenatal care.
SB 764 - Chain Restaurants: Children’s Meals: Requires chain restaurants to offer at least one children’s meal that meets specified nutritional standards, promoting healthier options for children.
“As a practicing OB/GYN, the Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus and a lifelong advocate for equitable health care, I remain focused on legislation that uplifts families, addresses the root causes of health disparities, and ensures that the state’s policies reflect its values of inclusion and opportunity,” said Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. “These bills reflect our values and our vision for a California that works for everyone.”
Senator Weber Pierson, M.D. will continue working with community leaders, advocates, and colleagues in the Assembly to ensure these bills become law and deliver real change for Californians across the state.
For more information about these bills or to request an interview, please contact Albert Parnell at Albert.Parnell@sen.ca.gov or 916-651-4039.
###
Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. represents California's 39th Senate District, which includes portions of San Diego County, the cities of Coronado, El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove, as well as portions of the City of San Diego.