AB 918 has passed the Senate and Assembly floors and is now on the desk of Governor Gavin Newsome.

The bill, pushed by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, would consolidate the Heffernan Memorial Hospital and Pioneers Memorial Healthcare Districts and open the door for the new district to acquire the assets of city-owned El Centro Regional Medical Center. The bill, championed by the City of El Centro and opposed by the Pioneers district, passed unanimously during the final day of the legislative session Thursday. The Governor has until October 14, 2023 to veto the bill. If not signed, the bill will automatically become law.