California updates restrictions involving conversion therapy
Sep 27, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0126 · Published 2026-09-27 · Version 2 · Final
SB 934 defines prohibited efforts toward a predetermined sexual orientation or gender identity and retains nondirective and supportive-care exclusions.
What happened
The Governor signed SB 934 on September 26. Effective January 1, 2027, the amended Business and Professions Code prohibits covered mental-health providers from sexual-orientation or gender-identity change efforts with patients under 18 and makes attempted efforts unprofessional conduct subject to licensing discipline. The definition addresses practices during mental-health services that direct a patient toward a predetermined orientation or identity outcome, regardless of the direction of intended change. It includes efforts to increase or reduce specified attractions or to suppress or constrain gender identity or expression.
The enacted definition expressly excludes nondirective psychotherapy supporting coping, exploration and self-understanding without a predetermined outcome; age-appropriate intervention for unlawful conduct or unsafe practices that does not direct orientation or identity; and supportive care consistent with applicable standards that respects the patient’s experienced and defined gender identity. The provider definition names multiple licensed, associate, trainee and other legally designated mental-health roles. Those scope and care distinctions should guide policy and supervision rather than treating every discussion of identity as prohibited or extending the specific under 18 disciplinary provision to every adult service.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Final
- Applicability
- Directly applicable
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- California
- Recorded date
- 2027-01-01
- Date type
- effective
Why it matters
Clinical policies must distinguish coercive predetermined outcomes from the expressly preserved nondirective and supportive services.
Recommended action
Review the January 1, 2027 text with Behavioral Health and Legal, align supervision and referral policies with the covered roles and patient ages, and preserve the stated care exclusions in training.
Sources
- SB 934, bill historyOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-09-26 · Source review 2026-09-27
- Official retained source documentOfficial · Official issuing agency · Source review 2026-10-16
- Official retained source documentOfficial · Official issuing agency · Source review 2026-10-16
- Official retained source documentOfficial · Official issuing agency · Source review 2026-10-16
Complete edition and supplemental material
This finding in the complete approved report →Regulatory horizons, CIA trends and implementation trackers remain in the full report.
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