20250ACR_009497CHP INTRODUCED 2025-06-02 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2025-07-14 PASSED_SENATE 2026-06-11 ENROLLED 2026-06-15 CHAPTERED 2026-06-18 FILED 2026-06-18 2025 ACR CHP CHR 0 Introduced by Assembly Member Patel (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lowenthal, Macedo, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Rivas, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wilson, and Zbur) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Aguiar-Curry COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ahrens COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alanis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alvarez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Arambula COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ávila Farías COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bains COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bauer-Kahan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bennett COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Berman COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Boerner COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bonta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bryan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Calderon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Caloza COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Carrillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Castillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Chen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Connolly COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Davies COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY DeMaio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Dixon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Elhawary COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ellis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Flora COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Fong COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gabriel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gallagher COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Garcia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gipson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jeff Gonzalez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Mark González COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hadwick COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Haney COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Harabedian COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hoover COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Irwin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jackson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Kalra COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Krell COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lackey COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lowenthal COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Macedo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Muratsuchi COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Nguyen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ortega COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pacheco COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Papan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patterson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pellerin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Petrie-Norris COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Quirk-Silva COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ramos COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ransom COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rivas COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Celeste Rodriguez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Michelle Rodriguez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rogers COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sanchez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schiavo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sharp-Collins COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Solache COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Soria COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Stefani COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Tangipa COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Valencia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wallis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ward COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wilson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Zbur Relative to antimicrobial resistance. antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance.

This measure would, among other things, recognize antimicrobial resistance as a public health crisis requiring urgent and sustained action and urge specified state agencies to explore available funding mechanisms to support research and development initiatives addressing antimicrobial resistance, particularly in underserved and high-risk communities. NO

WHEREAS, Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat that undermines the effectiveness of life-saving medications, leading to an estimated 35,000 deaths annually in the United States, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and

WHEREAS, AMR poses a significant public health challenge in California as, annually, the state experiences approximately 360,000 illnesses and nearly 4,500 deaths due to infections from antimicrobial-resistant pathogens; and

WHEREAS, Sixty percent of intensive care unit infections in the state demonstrate resistance to key antibiotics, particularly in urban areas and among vulnerable populations; and

WHEREAS, The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human medicine, veterinary practices, and agriculture significantly contribute to the development of resistant microorganisms, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of the spread of disease, severe illness, and death; and

WHEREAS, A global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015, with a key objective being to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education, and training; and

WHEREAS, November to of each year, inclusive, is World AMR Awareness Week, a global campaign that is recognized annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, stakeholders, and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR; and

WHEREAS, California is a leader in adopting policies to address AMR, including the enactment of Senate Bill 1311 (Chapter of the Statutes of 2014) and Senate Bill 27 (Chapter of the Statutes of 2015), which restricted the use of medically important antibiotics in livestock and was associated with a measurable 7.1 percent reduction in extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance in human E. coli infections; and

WHEREAS, California state policy already mandates antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, and supports surveillance, prevention, and education efforts to contain AMR, but further action is needed to close gaps in rural and underserved communities and to strengthen statewide coordination; and

WHEREAS, Rapid and accurate diagnostic testing is essential to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, ensuring that patients receive effective treatment while limiting the spread of resistant bacteria and supporting California’s antimicrobial stewardship programs that have been recognized for improving patient outcomes and reducing resistance; and

WHEREAS, Medicaid programs provide health care coverage to millions of low-income Californians, making them critical stakeholders in addressing AMR through coverage policies and education initiatives that can reduce disparities in health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Public and private stakeholders must collaborate to implement policies that encourage the development and use of innovative diagnostic tools and stewardship programs; and

WHEREAS, Effective action to combat AMR requires a multipronged approach that includes surveillance, prevention, education, research, and equitable access to health care;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, recognizes antimicrobial resistance as a public health crisis requiring urgent and sustained action; and be it further Resolved, That the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, encourages integration of antimicrobial stewardship programs into state Medicaid (Medi-Cal) policies, including incentives for providers to utilize rapid diagnostic testing and adhere to evidence-based prescribing guidelines; and be it further Resolved, That the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, urges state health care agencies to collaborate with federal entities, health care providers, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to enhance the development, accessibility, and affordability of advanced diagnostic tools to combat AMR; and be it further Resolved, That the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, supports the implementation of public education campaigns to raise awareness about AMR, the importance of appropriate antibiotic use, and the role of diagnostics in improving health outcomes; and be it further Resolved, That the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, urges the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the California Health and Human Services Agency to explore available funding mechanisms to support research and development initiatives addressing AMR, particularly in underserved and high-risk communities; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, the Director of the State Department of Public Health, the Director of the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Medicaid Director, other relevant stakeholders to promote awareness and collaboration in combating antimicrobial resistance, and to the author for appropriate distribution.