September 29, 2026 - OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday celebrated three bills he sponsored — Assembly Bills (AB) 1854 (Krell), 1930 (Zbur), and 2448 (Berman and Bauer-Kahan) — being signed into law over the weekend by Governor Gavin Newsom. The new laws strengthen protections for patients and providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care in California — a direct response to ongoing attacks on these essential services by the Trump Administration and Republican officials nationwide. All three measures take effect on January 1, 2027.

“Patients and providers should not be punished for accessing or providing healthcare that is legal in our state,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “These new laws give California stronger tools to protect sensitive health information and defend reproductive and gender-affirming services against out-of-state interference. I thank Governor Newsom and the Legislature for ensuring California remains a national leader in this fight and for making clear that we will not be intimidated into abandoning our values.”

Clarifying California Shield Laws 

AB 1854, authored by Assemblymember Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento), expands California’s reproductive shield laws and prohibits California businesses and individuals that provide financial services from complying with out-of-state legal demands for protected information. It also clarifies that law enforcement cannot arrest someone if the Governor denies an extradition request — relevant in light of Louisiana’s attempt earlier this year to extradite a California abortion provider, which Governor Gavin Newsom rejected.

“I wrote AB 1854 to protect California doctors and patients from out-of-state efforts to reach across our borders and punish people for accessing or providing reproductive healthcare that is legal here,” said Assemblymember Maggy Krell. “California has enshrined the right to abortion in our Constitution — we’re not going back.”

Defending Protected Healthcare in California 

AB 1930, authored by Democratic Caucus Chair and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) and co-sponsored by Equality California, requires business entities in California to notify the Attorney General if they intend to respond to a subpoena or inquiry regarding abortion or gender-affirming care and would authorize the Attorney General to intervene to prevent disclosure of protected abortion or gender-affirming care information.

“California will not allow our institutions to be used to target patients and providers for accessing or providing abortion or gender-affirming care that is legal in our state,” said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur. “AB 1930 strengthens California’s shield laws by giving California’s Attorney General the opportunity to step in before California entities produce information in response to subpoenas or other demands involving legally protected care — helping protect the privacy and safety of patients and providers. I’m grateful to Attorney General Bonta and Equality California for sponsoring this legislation, and to Governor Newsom for signing it into law and standing with us to strengthen these critical protections.”

"The Trump Administration is weaponizing the legal system to target gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare and attempting to access information on TGI youth. California has a responsibility to protect people seeking healthcare that is legal in our state from politically motivated attacks and invasions of privacy,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. “AB 1930 strengthens California’s ability to serve as a firewall for privacy, safety and medical freedom. We are grateful to Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur for his leadership, to the Legislature for passing this critical legislation and to Governor Newsom for signing it into law. Because of their actions, people can access care without fear that their personal information will be weaponized against them.” 

Protecting Privacy of Patient Data

AB 2448, authored by Assemblymembers Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) and co-sponsored by Planned Parenthood of California, ensures that healthcare providers have enabled the technological safeguards to segregate sensitive health data in electronic medical records. It advances California’s commitment to protecting the confidentiality of medical information by requiring entities that maintain electronic health records for sensitive services to implement meaningful, operational protections to secure that data.

“In the years since Roe was overturned, attacks on reproductive and gender-affirming care have steadily intensified, threatening access to healthcare services for millions of Californians," said Assemblymember Marc Berman. “In these dangerous times, it is critical that medical providers have access to technology to protect sensitive medical information so that patients who have received reproductive and gender-affirming care cannot be identified and targeted. I am proud to have partnered with Attorney General Bonta, Planned Parenthood, and Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan on AB 2448, and thank Governor Newsom for signing this medical privacy bill that requires the implementation of this technology. All Californians deserve access to critical healthcare services without fear.” 

“Thank you to Attorney General Bonta, Assemblymember Berman, and Planned Parenthood for being such strong partners in getting this done,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. “Patients deserve to know that when they walk into a doctor’s office, their most personal information will be treated with the care and confidentiality it deserves. I’m proud that California continues to lead in protecting patient privacy.”

“Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is proud to co-sponsor AB 2448 alongside Attorney General Bonta to ensure healthcare entities have access to the technology they need to fulfill California’s commitment to protecting patient privacy,” said President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Jodi Hicks. “We are grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this critical bill into law and affirming what we know to be true: all patients deserve access to the healthcare they need without fear of legal or criminal consequences.”

Source: CA. DOJ