Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes a physician or pharmacist to, without a prescription or permit, furnish hypodermic needles and syringes for human use to a person 18 years of age or older, and authorizes a person 18 years of age or older to, without a prescription or license, obtain hypodermic needles and syringes solely for personal use from a physician or pharmacist, as a public health measure, as specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, requires a pharmacy that furnishes nonprescription syringes to provide written information or verbal counseling to consumers, as specified, at the time of furnishing or sale of nonprescription hypodermic needles or syringes. Existing law, when no other penalty is provided, makes a knowing violation of the Pharmacy Law a misdemeanor and, in all other instances, makes a violation punishable as an infraction.
California AB 309 (20252026) — Hypodermic needles and syringes.
Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes a physician or pharmacist to, without a prescription or permit, furnish hypodermic needles and syringes for human use to a person 18 years of age or older, and authorizes a person 18 years of age or older to, without a prescription or license, obtain hypodermic needles and syringes solely for personal use from a physician or pharmacist, as a public health measure, as specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, requires a pharmacy that furnishes nonprescription syringes to provide written information or verbal counseling to consumers, as specified, at the time of furnishing or sale of nonprescription hypodermic needles or syringes. Existing law, when no other penalty is provided, makes a knowing violation of the Pharmacy Law a misdemeanor and, in all other instances, makes a violation punishable as an infraction.
Version chain
The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] — 8–3 (pass) · upper
3rd Reading AB309 Zbur et al. By Padilla Final Vote — 28–11 (pass) · upper
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Business, Professions and Economic Development] — 8–1 (pass) · upper
AB 309 Zbur Assembly Third Reading — 54–15 (pass) · lower
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] — 12–1 (pass) · lower
Sponsors
Zbur — primary (person)
Elhawary — principal coauthor (person)
Jackson — coauthor (person)
Laird — coauthor (person)
Mark González — coauthor (person)
Padilla — coauthor (person)
Pérez — coauthor (person)
Wiener — coauthor (person)
Timeline
The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.
2025-01-23 Read first time. To print. reading-1
2025-01-24 From printer. May be heard in committee February 23.
2025-02-10 Referred to Com. on HEALTH. referral-committee
2025-04-09 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable, referral-committee
2025-04-23 Coauthors revised.
2025-04-23 From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (April 23). committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable
2025-04-24 Read second time. Ordered to third reading. reading-1, reading-2
2025-05-15 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 54. Noes 15. Page 1555.) passage, reading-1, reading-3
2025-05-15 In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. reading-1
2025-05-28 Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and B. P. & E.D. referral-committee
2025-06-19 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. P. & E.D. (Ayes 8. Noes 1.) (June 18). Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D. committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable, referral-committee
2025-07-14 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 3.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable, referral-committee
2025-08-19 From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8. committee-passage, reading-2
2025-08-20 Read second time. Ordered to third reading. reading-1, reading-2
2025-09-03 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 28. Noes 11. Page 2459.). passage, reading-1, reading-3
2025-09-03 In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. committee-passage
2025-09-09 Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-10-13 Approved by the Governor. executive-signature
2025-10-13 Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 685, Statutes of 2025. became-law
Source
OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot 2026-07-01; origin ocd-bill/4b66e928-9921-4fec-b00c-f5666f7cf895. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official California legislature records).
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