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California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Assembly Bill

AB 1637: Physicians and surgeons: medical records.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

AB 1637 is a assembly bill introduced in the California Assembly on January 26, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Physicians and surgeons: medical records. Primary sponsor: Jessica Caloza (D). Most recent recorded action (September 27, 2026): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 536, Statutes of 2026.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California to license and regulate the practice of medicine. A violation of the act is a crime, unless otherwise specified. Existing law makes it unprofessional conduct for a failure of a physician and surgeon to maintain adequate and accurate records relating to the provision of services to their patients for at least 7 years after the last date of service to a patient.

This bill would state that a physician and surgeon’s patient notes, as defined, shall be the responsibility of that physician and surgeon. The bill would prohibit a physician and surgeon’s patient notes from being altered, modified, or edited in any fashion by anyone other than the authoring physician and surgeon, except as specified. By expanding the scope of a crime under the act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Jessica CalozaPrimary sponsorDemocraticAssembly52

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 536, Statutes of 2026.
  2. Approved by the Governor.
  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
  4. In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
  5. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5491.).
  6. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
  7. From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
  8. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
  9. Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
  10. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
  11. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 4962.)
  12. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Sources

  1. California Legislative Information — pubinfo database export
  2. Official bill page