The California Medical Association (CMA) has released its 2025 Legislative Wrap-Up – Navigating Change, authored by Senior Vice President and Chief Lobbyist Stuart Thompson. The report provides an inside look at this year’s legislative session, major health policy developments, and CMA’s advocacy efforts to protect physicians and patients across the state.

In a year marked by devastating wildfires, a growing state budget deficit, and sweeping federal policy changes, CMA remained at the forefront of key legislative battles. The association advanced landmark reforms to streamline prior authorization, strengthen protections against private equity interference in medical decision-making, and safeguard patients from deceptive uses of artificial intelligence.

CMA also helped stop several bills that would have harmed patient care and physician practice, including proposals to expand non-physician scope of practice, impose onerous AI compliance mandates, and reopen settled issues around medical malpractice reform.

Despite an unpredictable political landscape and fiscal constraints, CMA continues to ensure that California remains a leader in protecting patient safety, physician autonomy, and access to high-quality care.

To read the full report and explore CMA’s full list of supported, opposed and negotiated bills, downlod the 2025 Legislative Wrap-Up (members only).