Legislative Proposals
California is taking essential steps to improve oversight, accountability, and patient protections in alcohol and drug treatment programs. Your support is vital in advocating for these reforms—help strengthen recovery services and protect those in need by backing these crucial legislative efforts.
AB 3
Alcohol and drug treatment facilities: local regulation
Assembly Member Diane Dixon
72nd Assembly District
Current law classifies recovery facilities serving six or fewer people as residential for local regulation. Beginning January 1, 2026, this bill would exclude licensed facilities from that classification if they are within 300 feet of another commonly owned or operated facility, share programs or amenities, and have more than six total residents between them. (Based on 12/02/2024 text)
AB 425
Certification of alcohol and other drug programs.
Assembly Member Laurie Davies
74th Assembly District
Current law requires licensed recovery facilities to meet ASAM or equivalent standards. This bill extends that requirement to all alcohol and drug programs certified by the Department of Health Care Services. (02/05/2025 text)
AB 877
Health care coverage: substance use disorder: residential facilities.
Assembly Member Diane Dixon
72nd Assembly District
Current law requires coverage of medically necessary mental health and substance use disorder treatments. AB 877 directs state health agencies to jointly notify health plan and insurer CFOs that treatment in licensed and certified residential SUD facilities is primarily nonmedical, with rare exceptions, and should be billed accordingly.
AB 423
Alcohol and drug recovery or treatment facilities: discharge and continuing care planning
Assembly Member Laurie Davies
74th Assembly District
Current law allows the Department of Health Care Services to set regulations for records and procedures, including discharge and continuing care planning, in licensed recovery facilities. This bill would require such regulations, mandating that licensees create plans to help patients return to their home community and schedule a follow-up with a mental health or substance use professional within 7 days of discharge. (Based on 02/05/2025 text)
AB 492
Alcohol and drug programs: licensing.
Assembly Member Avelino Valencia
68th Assembly District
Current law allows the Department of Health Care Services to issue a license for a recovery or treatment facility upon meeting specified requirements. This bill requires the department, when issuing a license, to also notify the city or county where the facility is located, providing the licensee’s name, mailing address, and facility location.
AB 1356
Alcohol and other drug programs.
Assembly Member Diane Dixon
72nd Assembly District
Current law requires facilities to promptly report resident deaths to the Department of Health Care Services. AB 1356 adds that a follow-up report must be submitted within 60 days, detailing the action plan and any new or previously unreported information.
AB 424
Alcohol and other drug programs: complaints
Assembly Member Laurie Davies
74th Assembly District
Current law requires recovery facilities to be licensed to operate in California. This bill would require the Department of Health Care Services, when receiving a public complaint about a licensed or unlicensed facility, to notify the complainant within 30 days that the complaint was received and, upon closure, inform them whether the facility was found in violation of licensing laws.
SB 329
Alcohol and drug recovery or treatment facilities: investigations.
Senator Catherine Blakespear
38th Senate District
Current law requires the Department of Health Care Services to investigate allegations of unlicensed recovery or treatment facilities and allows compliance visits to licensed facilities. This bill requires the department to assign complaints for investigation within 10 days and complete investigations within 60 days of receiving them.
SB 35
Alcohol and Drug Programs
Senator Tom Umberg
34th Senate District
SB 35 strengthens oversight of unlicensed recovery and treatment facilities by requiring the Department of Public Health to begin investigations within 10 days, complete them within 60 days, and issue violation notices within 10 days. Local authorities may enforce the law if the state fails to act on time.