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WHAT'S NEW IN AUGUST

CEO MESSAGE

On August 3, California legislators returned to Sacramento for the final weeks of session. This is the second year of a two-year session; therefore, lawmakers must wrap up business by August 31, with the Governor’s deadline to sign, veto, or allow bills to become law without his signature being September 30.

ACHD’s sponsored bill, AB 2311 (Schiavo), which would authorize district hospitals to directly employ physicians, was placed on suspense in the Senate Appropriations committee on Monday. The Suspense File, as it is referred to, is where bills that have fiscal impact on the state will wait to be taken up later in August. Bills that make it out of suspense will then move to the Senate floor. AB 1811 (Rogers), co-sponsored by ACHD, advanced to the Senate Floor. This bill would, until January 2035, protect health professional shortage area (HPSA) designations for state program and funding purposes. See more details on all of ACHD's priority bills in Sarah Bridge's Legislative Update below.

ACHD's 74th Annual Meeting is rapidly approaching. Join us in Monterey, October 7–9 for Navigating the Changing Tides: Leading Healthcare Districts Forward. We will be hosting our annual ACHD Awards Reception on October 8, where we will honor all the deserving nominees for CEO, Trustee and District of the Year. This is always a festive time and this year we will be bringing back our Awards BINGO with a nautical twist. Be sure to submit your favorite “Yacht Rock” hit to be included in ACHD’s Annual Meeting Playlist! If you hear your submission anytime throughout the conference you will receive additional chances to win raffle prizes.

Before you close this email message today, be sure to see Best Best & Krieger's important message to the field. As healthcare districts prepare for the remainder of 2026, our Bronze Sponsor, Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK), has compiled a helpful guide outlining important governance deadlines, compliance reminders, and key public agency requirements.

Enjoy the remaining days of Summer 2026. We look forward to seeing you in coastal weather this October. As always, feel free to reach out directly if we can be of assistance on any issue.

With gratitude,

The California Legislature returned from Summer Recess on August 3, kicking off the final month of the 2025-26 legislative session. With the policy committee process now complete, the remaining weeks are dedicated to fiscal committee review and floor votes ahead of the August 31 constitutional deadline for each house to pass bills. ACHD is now gearing up for the August 13 Appropriations Suspense File, where the fate of hundreds of bills will be determined.

As a reminder, 2026 is the second year of the two-year session. Any bill not passed and signed by the end of this session dies and would need to be reintroduced in 2027. The Governor has until September 30 to sign or veto bills sent to him. ACHD’s advocacy team will be at the Capitol throughout this final stretch, tracking priority legislation on members’ behalf.

Bill Update:

Many of ACHD’s priority support and opposition bills saw no committee action this week and will remain parked in the Senate and Assembly Appropriations awaiting their Suspense File hearing, which is expected in the coming days ahead of the August 14 deadline. 

AB 2311 (Schiavo) – District Hospital Physician Employment Act. Still pending in Senate Appropriations. – ACHD SPONSORED

AB 2311 was heard on August 3 in the Senate Appropriations Committee and moved to the Appropriations Suspense file to be dispensed with at the suspense hearing. 

AB 1811 (Rogers) – Health Professional Shortage Areas. Still pending in the Senate. – ACHD CO-SPONSOR

AB 1811 would safeguard Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) for state purposes until 2035 and makes necessary updates to the provider surveys that inform these designations, was 28.8’d out of Appropriations and will head directly to the Senate floor. ACHD, in collaboration with our Co-Sponsor’s continue to finalize final amendments on the measure which will then be heard on the Senate floor. 

AB 1923 (Soria) – Distressed Hospital Loan Program. – ACHD NEUTRAL

AB 1923, which would have provided loan forgiveness to the original set of distressed hospital loan recipients was gutted and amended into a Fresno County elections bill on Monday, August 3, 2026. ACHD has removed its support and gone neutral on the measure, as it no longer pertains to healthcare districts. ACHD, alongside our hospital counterparts and other stakeholders are working diligently to identify another legislative or budget solution to address this pressing priority issue. 

Resource from ACHD Bronze Sponsor

Best Best & Krieger

As healthcare districts prepare for the remainder of 2026, our Bronze Sponsor, Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK), has compiled a helpful guide outlining important governance deadlines, compliance reminders, and key public agency requirements. Click below to download the Healthcare District Reminders for 2026.