Legislative Action Center

The CNDA advocates for policies that support naturopathic doctors and expand access to naturopathic care across California.

We work to modernize scope of practice, build relationships with legislators, and support efforts that reflect ND training and patient needs.

Recent Activity

  • August 2026: Last-minute scope amendments were made to the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine (CBNM) sunset bill (SB 1303) following discussions that stemmed from the loss of our scope bill SB 1333. These changes were too contentious for many stakeholders and ultimately removed from SB 1303 language before it even reached the Assembly floor for vote.

  • Lobby Day 2026 was a success with over 30 attendees and meetings with over 70 legislators and their offices. Our messaging on the importance of naturopathic medicine and how the passing of SB1333 would benefit Californians was well-received.

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2026-2027 Advocacy

In addition to working towards full independent prescribing rights, we monitor for and advocate against other issues that arise that have implications for our profession. In the last year these issues have included:

  • SB 1333: 2026 saw the introduction of our scope modernization bill, SB 1333, and its unfortunate dismissal before reaching the Senate floor for a vote — a situation out of our control and detailed during the Legislative Update at the April CNDA conference. This has only strengthened our resolve to pass legislation allowing us to practice to the full extent of our training, and we look forward to introducing a new bill in 2027.

  • PAC Formation: At the direction of many legislative consultants, the CNDA formed a PAC in 2026. A Political Action Committee, or PAC, is an organization that pools contributions and donates those funds to support candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. When legislators see an organized PAC behind a profession, it signals an engaged, organized group invested for the long term. Our PAC has already allowed us to attend events that provide invaluable 1:1 time with legislators, helping to build strong relationships.

  • Inaugural Fundraising Soiree: The CNDA hosted its first fundraising soiree open to licensed NDs and ND advocates, helping to seed our newly established PAC. It was a tremendous success and night of good food, wine, and dancing!

  • Lobby Day: We had a great turnout for lobby day this year, helping us educate legislators about our profession, our needs, and how we better California. This face-face time is integral to passing future legislation.

Current issues include:

  • Growing activity from “unlicensable naturopaths” and ongoing title protection concerns

  • Overreach by the California Board of Pharmacy in procuring sterile injectables and attempting regulation of IV hydration clinics

  • Bills that would limit our ability to call ourselves doctors or infringe upon aspects of our scope

  • Changes in the regulatory landscape around tools such as peptides and thyroid glandulars

  • Supporting California Board of Naturopathic Medicine’s sunset review process

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Ways to Support CNDA Advocacy

1. DONATE TIME

  • Legislative movement is built on relationships.

    👉 Find your local legislator: sign up for their email list, attend events and introduce yourself/what you do.

    👉 Recruit monetary support: do you have patients, neighbors, or acquaintances that are proponents of naturopathic medicine and can offer monetary support?

    👉 Consider: do you know anyone that may have a connection or personal relationship to your legislator or a relevant professional organization? E.g. California Medical Association, California Board of Pharmacy, other allied professional medical groups, etc.

  • Tell your non-member colleagues about the work the CNDA is doing and why membership is valuable and helpful toward our efforts.

    Robust membership numbers show legislators a strong presence, and dues help to fund advocacy efforts.

  • Lobby day is an opportunity to educate legislators about what naturopathic medicine is and why what we do matters.

    When running legislation, this is an important time to introduce our bill and why passing it is meaningful to Californians. It’s also a wonderful way to connect with your colleagues!

    👉 More information about Lobby Day here!

  • The CNDA is only as strong as those that represent it; the more hands on deck, the more we can get done. It also helps you understand the scope of work that goes into maintaining a professional organization.

  • This is an easy way to keep informed of the status of current advocacy efforts and ask questions.

2. DONATE MONEY

Passing legislation costs money. A lot of money. We are anticipating our current legislative initiative may cost up to $250,000. What factors go into this number?

  • California has a two-year legislative process, thus passing new legislation may occur over a two-year period. If legislation does not pass within a current legislative term, we’re subject to another two-year process.

  • A lobbyist is essential to passing legislation. They help bridge relationships and make things happen. Our Lobbyist, Monica, has numerous well-built relationships with legislators, their staff, and other professional organizations and helps liaise between everyone. She also keeps us abreast of what is happening legislatively, including tracking bill introduction or changes in political appointments that may have implications for our profession.

  • While our executive legislative team donates their time (and through lost clinic time, an indirect loss of money), it would not be fair to also ask them to cover travel expenses as it relates to advocacy needs. Travel comes up when we need to attend in-person meetings at our State capitol in Sacramento (sometimes at the drop of a hat as we did for the Board of Pharmacy’s sunset review process Spring 2025) or elsewhere to meet legislators locally.

  • At the advice of many, we established a PAC to cement a bigger political voice when it comes to our advocacy efforts.

  • We’ve engaged a political PR team to help us create a broader reach in our advocacy efforts.

  • We have a small number of paid employees that are integral to keeping CNDA operations running smoothly. Town Halls, submitting legislative questions, and organizing legislative campaigns and events all engage their paid time.

How to Donate?

  • Donate to our Political Action Committee. We would first and foremost like to build our PAC. Our goal is to reach a minimum of $100k to make our voices heard in the state capital.

  • Donate directly to the CNDA. The more resources we have, the more action we can fund. A large portion of CNDA funds goes to legislative efforts, including paying our lobbyist(s) and covering travel expenses as outlined above. Our goal is to reach a minimum of $150k to get our scope bill passed.

A Long History of Advocacy

CNDA has decades of dedicated advocacy supporting the Naturopathic Doctors and patients of California. We are committed. We are hard at work for you behind the scenes protecting of our profession. This page details our current advocacy efforts and how you can help. Click here to see past legislative successes from our work.

Discussion on CNDA Advocacy

Dr. Meredith Bull, ND, legislative committee co-chair, shares her experience. Click the image to play the video.

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Town Hall with the Legislative Committee

Legislative Updates from March 2026

Watch the Replay
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Lobby Day

Join us for our annual Lobby Day every spring as we engage with legislators and advocate for the advancement of naturopathic medicine in Sacramento.

Learn More

Why support CNDA Advocacy?

  • O.L

    The California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA) has been an instrumental part of my educational journey and professional development. It has provided me with invaluable resources, networking opportunities, and a strong sense of community among peers and mentors who are equally passionate about holistic healthcare. The advancement of naturopathic medicine in California lies in the hands of the CNDA as they play a pivotal role in advocating for the rights and recognition of naturopathic doctors, striving to enhance our scope and ensuring our voices are heard in legislative matters. This advocacy is vital for the integration of naturopathic medicine into the broader healthcare system, promoting a more diverse, inclusive and holistic approach to health and wellness. I’m so grateful I was able to participate in Lobby Day this year in Sacramento, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to modernize our scope of practice in California.

  • K.T.

    “CNDA is the voice of all naturopathic doctors in California. Their advocacy for our rights and protecting our title in the state is extremely important for our profession. For example, they worked hard to pass SB 944, which was an instrumental win for NDs in California. Unfortunately, there are limitations to the scope of practice in California. As a prospective ND, I genuinely appreciate CNDA's fight to expand our scope of practice in the state so we can provide better care for our patients.”

  • J.O.

    The CNDA is important to our profession as naturopathic doctors because it plays a crucial role in advancing naturopathic medicine in California. It advocates for our professional rights and takes action to expand our scope of practice in this state so that we can effectively serve patients. California is where I plan to practice so I deeply appreciate the CNDA and their efforts in championing our profession. I also believe in the power of community and being involved in organizations that inspire and uplift members of our profession. I plan to always be a part of CNDA throughout my career and am hoping to start now by attending conferences as a student where I can meet the doctors that I look up to, and learn how I can become more involved in the field of naturopathic medicine as a student.

  • J.U.

    As a graduating Naturopathic Doctor student, I can't stress enough how vital the California Naturopathic Doctor Association is to me. From connecting me with experienced mentors to providing webinars and resources. Their advocacy efforts are also impressive. Through legislative work, they're fighting to ensure that naturopathic medicine maintains and modernizes our scope of practice. Thanks to the CNDA, I feel confident and empowered as I prepare to start my career. They've shown me that I'm not just joining a profession, I'm becoming part of a community dedicated to making a real difference in people's lives. They're not just an organization, they're the backbone of our profession.