CA SB497

Prohibits California health care providers, health plans, and contractors from releasing medical information related to individuals seeking gender-affirming health care in response to civil or criminal actions, subpoenas, or investigations based on other states' laws that criminalize such care

Bars California entities from cooperating with out-of-state agencies or federal law enforcement seeking to identify individuals who obtained gender-affirming care that is legal in California

Restricts access to California's Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) database, prohibiting state/local agencies from sharing CURES data to support interstate investigations targeting legally protected health care activity

Creates new misdemeanor offenses for unauthorized access to the CURES database or for authorized users who knowingly provide CURES information to unauthorized persons

Takes effect immediately as an urgency statute to address efforts to reduce legal protections for transgender individuals, with provisions declared severable if any part is held invalid