A new bill in the California Legislature aims to restore Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented adults, allowing those ages 19 and older to access the state’s health insurance program starting Jan. 1, 2027.
The bill, co-written by Asm. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) is arguably the termed-out lawmaker’s biggest splash of 2026, arrived after the Fresno lawmaker’s nearly six-week absence from the Legislature.
Driving the news: Arambula and State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D–Los Angeles) introduced the measure, Senate Bill 1422, which would end California’s freeze on Medi-Cal benefits for illegal immigrant adults.
The Golden State ended its expansion of Medi-Cal for illegal immigrant adults after its budget deficit ballooned to $10 billion.
This year, California is projected to face another $3 billion deficit.
A splashy return: Arambula has had a surprisingly quiet kickoff to 2026. Facing an exit from Sacramento due to term limits and seeking a seat on the Fresno City Council, Arambula missed five weeks of legislative action in the Capitol, according to Legislative records.
He would return to the floor on Feb. 11.
What they’re saying: “The cost of that healthcare is much more expensive than what we’re proposing through SB 1422,” Arambula said in a statement to McClatchy. “Freezing enrollment may look like a budget solution, but it only shifts costs and escalates the financial problem.”