AB 1587 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Prescription drug refills: prescriber notifications.

Summary

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to, among other things, perform certain procedures or functions and furnish specified drugs. Existing law authorizes the refilling of a prescription for a dangerous drug without the authorization of the prescriber if the prescriber is unavailable to authorize the refill and, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, failure to refill the prescription might interrupt the patient's ongoing care and have a significant adverse effect on the patient's well-being. Existing law requires a pharmacist to notify the prescriber, as specified, of any prescription refilled without their authorization. This bill would only require a pharmacist to provide that notification if a prescriber is identified.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Assembly Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed Jul 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

03/18/26 - Amended Assembly → 06/29/26 - Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 29, 2026

MODERATE

The enrolled version of AB 1587 removed the entire second section that would have authorized pharmacists to furnish up to a 30-day supply of a prescription drug for a life-threatening condition without a new prescription, including liability protection and a definition of 'life-threatening.' The bill was narrowed to only modify Section 4064, which requires pharmacists to notify prescribers about unauthorized refills only when a prescriber is actually identified. This represents a major reduction in the bill's scope from a two-part pharmacy expansion to a single procedural clarification.

Scope change

The bill was dramatically narrowed. The Amended Assembly version contained two substantive provisions: (1) a modification to prescriber notification requirements for drug refills, and (2) a new authority for pharmacists to dispense 30-day supplies of drugs for life-threatening conditions without a new prescription. The Enrolled version retains only the first provision, removing the more significant pharmacy practice expansion entirely.

SCOPE

The entire amendment to Section 4052 of the Business and Professions Code was removed. This had authorized pharmacists to furnish up to a 30-day supply of a prescription drug for a life-threatening condition when the pharmacy had previously furnished that drug and the patient could not secure a new prescription before running out.

ENFORCEMENT

Liability protection for pharmacists and pharmacies who furnished drugs for life-threatening conditions under the removed Section 4052 provision was eliminated along with the rest of that section.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'life-threatening' (referencing Section 1367.21 of the Health and Safety Code) that supported the removed drug-furnishing authority was eliminated.

REQUIREMENT

The remaining change to Section 4064(c) clarifies that pharmacists are only required to notify a prescriber about unauthorized refills if a prescriber is actually identified, rather than requiring notification in all cases.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 25, 2026 · Assembly Apr 23, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

Jun 25, 2026

D Democratic30

29 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican10

7 Yea 3

70% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor.

legislature

Jun 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

lower

Jun 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 5015.).

upper

Jun 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.

upper

Jun 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

May 6, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

upper

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 4794.)

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15).

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on B. & P.

lower

Jan 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee February 15.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors