CalCare legislation reintroduced

Bill would establish single-payer, guaranteed health care system for the Golden State

Staff report

National Nurse magazine - Jan | Feb | March 2026 Issue

On Feb. 12, California Assemblymember Ash Kalra, with the sponsorship of California Nurses Association (CNA), reintroduced A.B. 1900, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act. A.B. 1900, also known as CalCare, would enact a comprehensive framework for a single-payer health care coverage system in California at a time when California voters are ready to champion transformational changes in health care. 

A new poll conducted by David Binder Research found that nearly two-thirds of California voters want to see transformational changes, not minor reforms, to California’s failed health care system. Uncertainty and anxiety about health care costs have been rising – exacerbated by unprecedented trillion-dollar cuts at the federal level – with more than 40 percent of voters saying it’s become harder to afford health care in the past several years.

“We are proud to work with Assemblymember Kalra and the statewide grassroots movement behind this campaign to make CalCare a reality in 2026,” said Sandy Reding, RN and a president of California Nurses Association. “CalCare is a winning issue for California Democrats. Elected representatives in Sacramento have a clear public mandate to pass CalCare.” 

An overwhelming majority of Democrats – 86 percent – support single-payer health care, according to data released this week. The poll also shows that more than three-quarters of Democrats are more likely to support a candidate for governor if they were to run on creating a single-payer system. There are 20 state elected representatives, including Asm. Kalra, who are joint authors or coauthors of CalCare.

California’s union nurses, represented by CNA, are committed to continuing to lead the organizing to build the grassroots movement necessary to win support for and pass CalCare. More than 270 organizations have endorsed CalCare. Hundreds of patients and community activists have already filled town halls this year to learn about this year’s CalCare push and get prepared to build support for the bill. 

A.B. 1900 establishes the policy framework for a single-payer health care system in California, and intends to be considered separate from a financing proposal. Until a financing proposal is passed, the costs incurred would be for convening the CalCare Board and Public Advisory Commission to develop a transition plan to CalCare, minimizing the impact on the budget this year. Once fully financed, California would start implementing CalCare. CalCare will ensure that all Californians, regardless of employment, income, immigration status, race, gender, or any other considerations, can get the health care they need, free at the point of service.