California · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB2531 Public health: abortion services.

Direction

Abortion funding insuranceAI label

Expands abortion access model confidence 90%

Expands state grant funding for uncompensated abortion and contraception services to low-income and veteran patients who lack coverage, increasing affordability and access to abortion care.

the services shall be provided at no cost or a reduced cost to an individual who is a veteran who meets both of the following criteria: (A) Has health care coverage that does not include abortion or is unable to access abortion or contraception care through the Department of Veterans Affairs health system.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Abortion otherAI label

Expands abortion access model confidence 80%

Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to publish a link to the state’s abortion information website on its women veterans resources page, facilitating greater awareness and access to abortion services for veterans.

The department shall publish a link to the abortion.ca.gov internet website on the women veterans resources page of the department’s internet website.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Filed (completed)
Committee (completed)
Passed one chamber (completed)
Passed both (completed)
Governor (completed)
Law

Stage: Law · step 6 of 6

Last action: 2026-09-27: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 489, Statutes of 2026.
Filed: 2026-02-20
Sponsor: Jacqui Irwin D + 4 cosponsors (4 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill expands the California Reproductive and TGI Health Equity Program by authorizing grants to providers for no-cost or reduced-cost abortion and contraception services to qualifying veterans (in addition to existing low-income patients), adds related findings declaring intent to ensure veterans have access to abortion care at no or reduced cost, and requires a state veterans department to link to the official abortion information site; these provisions substantively address abortion funding/insurance and other abortion access measures with an expanding effect on legal access to abortion.

Related bills

AB2066 Triggering event: pregnancy.Expands abortion access Expands abortion access Vetoed
AB2540 Public health: public postsecondary education: student health centers: abortion by medication techniques.Expands abortion access No change to abortion access Law
AB2735 Reproductive health care.Expands abortion access Filed
AB50 Pharmacists: furnishing contraceptives.Expands abortion access No change to abortion access Law

Hearings and calendar

2026-04-07 13:30 · Hearing · Assembly Health Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100
2026-04-14 16:00 · Hearing · Assembly Military And Veterans Affairs Hearing State Capitol, Room 126
2026-05-06 09:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100
2026-05-14 00:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100
2026-06-17 13:30 · Hearing · Senate Health Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1200
2026-06-22 15:00 · Hearing · Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2026-08-03 10:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2026-08-13 00:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-04-07	A	Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Military and Veterans Affairs]	12-3	Passed
2026-04-14	A	Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]	6-2	Passed
2026-05-14	A	Do pass	11-4	Passed
2026-05-26	A	AB 2531 Irwin Assembly Third Reading	59-19	Passed
2026-06-17	S	Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Military and Veterans Affairs]	9-1	Passed
2026-06-22	S	Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]	4-0	Passed
2026-08-03	S	Placed on suspense file	7-0	Passed
2026-08-13	S	Do pass as amended	5-2	Passed
2026-08-25	S	Assembly 3rd Reading AB2531 Irwin et al. By Menjivar	30-10	Passed
2026-08-26	A	AB 2531 Irwin Concurrence in Senate Amendments	60-18	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-02-20
Amended 2026-03-16
Amended 2026-08-13
Enrolled 2026-08-30
Chaptered 2026-09-27

History (27 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-09-27		Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 489, Statutes of 2026.
2026-09-27		Approved by the Governor.
2026-09-03		Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2026-08-26	A	Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 60. Noes 18. Page 6587.).
2026-08-25	A	In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2026-08-25	S	Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 5768.).
2026-08-25	S	Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 9.).
2026-08-17	S	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-08-13	S	Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2026-08-13	S	From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).
2026-08-03	S	In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-06-23	S	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-06-18	S	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
2026-06-10	S	Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and M. & V.A.
2026-05-27	S	In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-26	A	Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 59. Noes 19. Page 5330.)
2026-05-18	A	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14	A	From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 14).
2026-05-06	A	In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-15	A	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-08	A	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. (Ayes 12. Noes 3.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
2026-04-08	A	Coauthors revised.
2026-03-17	A	Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-03-16	A	From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16	A	Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and M. & V.A.
2026-02-21	A	From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20	A	Read first time. To print.