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.
- According to the Assembly Daily Journals, Arambula was granted leave for illness.
- 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.”
