Senate approves rideshare safety and medical‑lien reforms in SB 623

The California State Senate on June 26 adopted SB 623, a negotiated bill combining rideshare safety changes and reforms to lien‑based medical billing in certain accident cases.

Sen. Umberg described the bipartisan compromise as protecting passengers and limiting overcharging by some lien‑based medical providers. "For accidents occurring on or after 01/01/2027, if a plaintiff receives treatment from a lien‑based medical provider, the plaintiff generally cannot recover more than the 70th percentile shown in the Fair Health database for that particular service in that geographic area," the sponsor said on the floor. The bill also requires standardized itemization of lien bills and restricts sales/assignments and third‑party recoveries to the consideration paid to the original provider.

SB 623 also tightens background checks for rideshare drivers — adding an initial background check before activation and annual checks afterward — expands disqualifying offenses and explicitly allows women drivers and passengers to request women‑only matches.

The chamber recorded unanimous support on the measure’s roll call and the bill passed without recorded opposition.