Assembly BillChaptered/SignedHealth and Safety
AB 1956: Suicide prevention.
What AB 1956 does, verified August 30, 2026
The bill aims to improve suicide prevention efforts in California by expanding the focus of the Office of Suicide Prevention. The office will prioritize youth, particularly boys and young men, who are at higher risk of suicide. The office will also pay special attention to specific groups, including Native American youth, older adults, veterans, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The bill requires the office to report to the legislature on strategies to implement these efforts by July 1, 2028.
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6ChapteredCurrent
Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 163, Statutes of 2026. (2026-08-28)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Aug. 28, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 163, Statutes of 2026. |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 18, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 11, 2026 | In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Aug. 10, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.). |
Latest bill textChaptered version, August 28, 2026 · 454 words
Assembly Bill No. 1956
CHAPTER 163
An act to amend Section 131300 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.
[ Approved by Governor August 28, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State August 28, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1956, Valencia. Suicide prevention.
Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention within the department. Existing law authorizes the office, if established, to perform certain functions, including, among others, conducting state-level assessment of regional and statewide suicide prevention policies and practices and reporting on progress to reduce rates of suicide. Existing law authorizes the office, if established, to focus activities on groups with the highest risk, including youth, Native American youth, older adults, veterans, and LGBTQ people.
This bill would authorize the office’s activities focused on youth to pay special attention to boys. The bill would additionally authorize the office to focus activities on young men. The bill would require the office, if established, to report to the Legislature, on or before July 1, 2028, on strategies to implement the activities focused on boys and young men.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 131300 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:131300.
(a) The State Department of Public Health may establish the Office of Suicide Prevention in the department pursuant to this chapter. The responsibilities of the office, if established, may include all of the following:(1) Providing information and technical assistance to statewide and regional partners regarding best practices on suicide prevention policies and programs.
(2) Conducting state-level assessment of regional and statewide suicide prevention policies and practices, including other states’ suicide prevention policies and specific metrics and domains, as appropriate.
(3) Monitoring and disseminating data to inform prevention efforts at the state and local levels.
(4) Convening experts and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, stakeholders representing populations with high rates of suicide, to encourage collaboration and coordination of resources for suicide prevention.
(5) Reporting on progress to reduce rates of suicide.
(b) If established, the office may focus activities on groups with the highest risk, including youth, with special attention on boys, Native American youth, older adults, veterans, LGBTQ people, and young men.
(c) (1) On or before July 1, 2028, the office, if established, shall provide a report to the Legislature on strategies to implement the activities focused on boys and young men described in subdivision (b).
(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(3) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the reporting requirement imposed by paragraph (1) is inoperative on July 1, 2032.
Text of AB 1956 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions