SB 1303: Naturopathic Doctors Act.

Official summary

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

Existing law, the Naturopathic Doctors Act, which is repealed on January 1, 2027, establishes the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine within the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate naturopathic doctors. The act requires the board to consist of 9 members, appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, or the Senate Committee on Rules, as specified, and requires each member of the board be appointed to a 4-year term.

This bill would instead repeal those provisions on January 1, 2031. The bill would specify that the 4-year term expires 4 years after the date of the appointment. To ensure staggered terms, the bill would require that specified members appointed by the Governor after the effective date of this bill be appointed for prescribed term lengths and thereafter would require all appointments be for four-year terms. The bill would also make nonsubstantive changes to the provisions specifying the appointment authorities for the board members.

Existing law sets forth fees associated with the application and renewal of a license, including a renewal fee of $1,000 and authorizing an increase to not more than $1,200.

This bill would, instead, specify that this fee range applies to the renewal of an active license and would require the renewal fee for an inactive license to be one-half of the current renewal fee for an active license. The bill would authorize the board to accept the voluntary cancellation of a naturopathic doctor’s license, as prescribed, upon the written request of the licensee, provided that the cancellation is not in lieu of an administrative enforcement action.

Existing law requires an applicant to have received a degree in naturopathic medicine from an approved naturopathic medical school, as specified. Existing law requires the board to approve a naturopathic medical school program that is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) or another federally recognized accrediting body if the program meets specified admission and program requirements.

This bill would, instead, require the board to approve a program that is accredited by either the CNME or a substantially equivalent accreditor, or that is housed in an accredited institution and meets standards substantially equivalent to those required by CNME, if the program meets the above-described admission and program requirements and other specified requirements.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“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. September 20, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 430, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 20, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
4. August 30, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 30, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. August 30, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6858.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. August 27, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 26, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 25, 2026From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (August 25).
10. August 24, 2026Joint Rule 62(a) suspended.
11. August 24, 2026Re-referred to Com. on B. & P. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.
12. August 20, 2026Ordered to third reading.