Assembly BillIntroducedHealth and Safety
AB 1648: Public health: California Epilepsy Program
What AB 1648 does, verified May 18, 2026
This bill establishes a California epilepsy program to conduct epidemiological assessments of the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and seizures. The program will be implemented with the support of an advisory panel consisting of experts in the field, advocates, and individuals with relevant expertise. The program will collect and analyze data, prepare and publish reports, and provide a listing of agencies offering services to individuals affected by epilepsy on the department's website. The department is authorized to seek private or public funding and contract with various entities to support the program's goals.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Coauthors revised. (2026-05-14)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions7 total · showing 5
| May. 14, 2026 | Coauthors revised. |
| May. 14, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 08, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Mar. 25, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Feb. 17, 2026 | Referred to Com. on HEALTH. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, January 28, 2026 · 598 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1648
| Introduced by Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez |
January 28, 2026 |
An act to add Chapter 1.8 (commencing with Section 103872) to Part 2 of Division 102 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1648, as introduced, Michelle Rodriguez. Public health: California Epilepsy Program
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to conduct a program of epidemiological assessments of the incidence of Parkinson’s disease and establish a system for the collection of information determining the incidence of Parkinson’s disease. Existing law encourages the department to convene a task force comprised of researchers with expertise in Parkinson’s disease, advocates for patients with Parkinson’s disease, and other individuals with relevant expertise to provide support and advice for the implementation and funding of the program. Existing law requires the director to establish a statewide system for the collection of information determining the incidence of Parkinson’s disease.
This bill would require the department to establish the California Epilepsy Program for the purposes of epidemiological assessments of the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and seizures. The bill would require the department to convene an advisory panel comprised of specified individuals to provide support and advice for the implementation of the program. The bill would authorize the department to seek private or public funding and to spend those funds for the purposes of the program, and would authorize the department to contract with various entities for the purposes of collecting and collating data. The bill would require the department to analyze available data, to prepare and publish reports on its internet website as necessary, and to publish on its internet website a listing of agencies that offer services to individuals affected by epilepsy, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 1.8 (commencing with Section 103872) is added to Part 2 of Division 102 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:CHAPTER 1.8. California Epilepsy Program
103872.
For the purposes of this chapter, “epilepsy” means a disorder of the brain characterized by one or more unprovoked seizures or the diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome.103872.1
(a) The department shall establish the California Epilepsy Program for the purposes of conducting epidemiological assessments of the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and seizures. The program shall encompass any area of the state for which epilepsy and seizure incidence or prevalence data are available.(b) The department may seek, receive, and spend any funds received through appropriations, grants, or donations from public or private sources for the purposes of the program.
(c) The department shall convene an advisory panel comprised of medical professionals with expertise in epilepsy and seizures, scientific researchers, advocates for individuals with epilepsy, and other individuals with relevant expertise to provide support and advice for the implementation of the program.
(d) The department may contract with an entity, including, but not limited to, a health systems agency, single-county health department, multicounty health department grouping, or nonprofit professional association for the purposes of collecting and collating epilepsy and seizure incidence and prevalence data.
(e) The department shall analyze available epilepsy and seizure incidence and prevalence data and prepare and publish reports on its internet website as necessary.
(f) The department shall publish on its internet website a listing of public agencies that offer services to individuals affected by epilepsy, including, but not limited to, Medi-Cal, regional centers, and the Department of Education. This list may also include private entities that offer services to individuals affected by epilepsy.
Text of AB 1648 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions