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Assembly subcommittee hears CDPH state of public health; director flags H5N1, behavioral health and equity gaps
Summary
California's new State Public Health Officer told the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health that investments made during COVID improved capacity but that new and returning threats — including H5N1 infections, climate-driven disasters, and rising behavioral-health related deaths — require sustained funding and attention.
Dr. Bridal Pahn, the newly appointed State Public Health Officer and director of the California Department of Public Health, told the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health that California has made measurable gains in population health but faces mounting, complex threats that require continued investment.
"Public health aims to promote health and well-being and to prevent illness and death before they occur," Pahn said in opening testimony. She said pandemic-era investments improved data and workforce capacity but warned that a large portion of one-time federal COVID funding will expire in 2026.
Why it matters: Pahn framed public health spending as preventive investment that saves lives and stabilizes health systems. She highlighted several immediate and medium-term risks — infectious disease (including H5N1 bird flu and other…
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