California bills aim to reduce cancer rates and make treatment affordable

(The Center Square) – Amid expectations that billions of dollars a year will be cut from taxpayer-funded health care programs in California, a package of three new bills aims to reduce cancer rates and make treatment more accessible. Senate Bill 1309, authored by Sen. Susan Rubio, D-West Covina; Assembly Bill 957, authored by Assemblymember Liz Ortega, D-Hayward, and Assembly Bill 2161, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, were all introduced during the 2025-26 legislative session. None of the three lawmakers responded to The Center Square's requests for comment. All three bills were advocated for in Sacramento recently by the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. Each of the bills aims to help cancer patients as the state grapples with federal budget cuts to Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California. In addition to the federal cuts, the state’s projected multi-year budget deficit is expected to total $35 billion a ye