California Senate Advances SB 915 + SB 1323 — ICE Restrictions in Hospital and FQHC Patient Rooms; Bills Clear Health and Judiciary Committees

SB 915 (Menjivar) prohibits 'blackout policies,' bars ICE agents from patient rooms without legal authorization, requires staff to document refusals, and bans agents from making medical or interpretation decisions. Companion bill SB 1323 (Rubio) requires staff to help detained patients notify families.

Both passed Senate Health and Judiciary along party lines and head to Senate Appropriations. ER physician SatKartar Khalsa testified ICE has 'instilled fear in our hospitals and has kept us from doing our job.'

Direct operational impact: every California FQHC needs new protocols for ICE encounters, staff training, and documentation procedures. Combine with existing immigration-status protections under HIPAA and CA Civil Code §1798.99.10.