Bill Text: CA AB1637 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Physicians and surgeons: medical records.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2026-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 536, Statutes of 2026. [AB1637 Detail]
Download: California-2025-AB1637-Chaptered.html
Assembly Bill
No. 1637
CHAPTER 536
An act to add Section 2266.1 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 27, 2026.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 27, 2026.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1637, Caloza.
Physicians and surgeons: medical records.
Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California to license and regulate the practice of medicine. A violation of the act is a crime, unless otherwise specified. Existing law makes it unprofessional conduct for a failure of a physician and surgeon to maintain adequate and accurate records relating to the provision of services to their patients for at least 7 years after the last date of service to a patient.
This bill would state that a physician and surgeon’s patient notes, as defined, shall be the responsibility of that physician and surgeon. The bill would prohibit a physician and surgeon’s
patient notes from being altered, modified, or edited in any fashion by anyone other than the authoring physician and
surgeon, except as specified. By expanding the scope of a crime under the act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 2266.1 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:2266.1.
(a) For purposes of this section, “patient notes” means notes, after-visit summaries, and diagnosis and treatment plans.(b) A physician and surgeon’s patient notes shall be the responsibility of that
physician and surgeon, regardless of the clinical setting.
(c) A physician and surgeon’s patient notes shall not be altered, modified, or edited in any fashion by anyone other than the authoring physician and
surgeon or any of the following:
(1) A scribe, medical assistant, or other authorized individual acting under the authority delegated by the authoring physician and surgeon.
(2) A physician and surgeon who is adding to an authoring physician and surgeon’s patient notes if patient care has been transferred from the authoring physician and surgeon to the physician and surgeon who is making the additions.
(3) A physician and surgeon altering, modifying, or editing the patient notes of a physician and surgeon postgraduate training licensee, intern, resident, or postdoctoral fellow who the physician and surgeon is supervising.
