Medi-Cal managed care plans: enrollees with other health care coverage.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Patterson

Establishes a CalHHS workgroup to study functional, hormonal, integrative, and metabolic health and medicine, with regular reporting to Legislature.

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 3). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

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Summary

AB 1126 has two primary components: (1) directs the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) to convene a workgroup to study functional, hormonal, integrative, and metabolic health and medicine; and (2) amends the California Retail Food Code to allow pet dog owners to use reusable containers for a pet’s food and water in outdoor dining areas under specified conditions.

Main purpose and intent

Establish a state-convened workgroup to explore the use and effectiveness of functional, hormonal, integrative, and metabolic health and medicine and regularly report findings to the Legislature.

Update health code language governing live animals in retail food facilities to permit the use of reusable containers for pet food/water in outdoor dining areas while preserving sanitation safeguards.

Key provisions

Workgroup (Division 110.5 / Section 130350)

CalHHS must convene a workgroup focused on functional, hormonal, integrative, and metabolic health and medicine.
The workgroup must meet at least four times per year.
Any findings must be reported to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the Assembly Health Committee.

Retail Food Code amendment (amends Section 114259.5)

Retains existing rule that live animals generally are prohibited in food facilities, with listed exceptions.
For pet dogs in outdoor dining areas, preserves prior conditions (e.g., owner control, no access to food prep areas, sanitation requirements, leash/carrier, owner/facility compliance with local ordinances).
New change: allows a pet owner to bring a reusable container for the pet’s food and water.
- The owner must transfer food/water from the single-use disposable container provided by the outdoor dining area into their reusable container (owner is responsible for the transfer).
Other existing requirements remain (e.g., food employees prohibited from direct contact with dogs; areas contaminated by bodily fluids must be cleaned and sanitized).

Who is affected

State: CalHHS and legislative health committees (will receive reports).

Health agencies and enforcement authorities: may interact with or oversee the workgroup and enforcement of retail food code.

Food facilities and outdoor-dining restaurants: operational practices and signage/policies concerning pets.

Pet owners: allowed to use reusable bowls but bear responsibility for transferring food/water from provided single-use containers.

Food employees and patrons: impacted by sanitation and safety requirements.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced Feb 20, 2025. Key actions:

2025-02-21: From printer.
2025-03-10: Referred to Committee on Health.
2025-03-20: Amended and re-referred to Health Committee.
2025-03-24: Re-referred to Health Committee.
2025-04-10: Hearing postponed by committee.

Digest notes: Majority vote required; bill states no appropriation.

Potential considerations

Administrative: CalHHS will need to staff and support the workgroup; reporting will create a legislative record on integrative/metabolic health approaches.

Operational/public health: Restaurants must maintain sanitation protocols; allowing reusable containers shifts transfer responsibility to pet owners but leaves enforcement and contamination prevention requirements in place.

Bill