California Makes History: Free Asthma Inhalers for All Public & Charter Schools
California becomes the first state to make emergency asthma medication free at every public and charter school through the CalRx® program.
By PolicyPantry Team · August 25, 2026
California is the first state in the nation to make emergency asthma medication free and available at every public and charter school. Under the new CalRx® program, the state will supply rescue albuterol inhalers and spacers to schools at no cost for three years — so staff can act the moment a student has trouble breathing.
What the initiative does
The program stocks rescue inhalers in every public and charter school, removes cost barriers for low-income families, and requires staff training on recognizing and responding to respiratory emergencies. It builds on California's existing stock albuterol policy framework by making the medication universally available at no cost to districts.
Why it matters
Asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism and pediatric emergency visits, and the burden falls hardest on Black and Latino children in underserved communities. By guaranteeing access in every school, California closes a long-standing equity gap that left many children relying on a single personal inhaler — or none at all.
What's next
Implementation rolls out across the 2026–2027 school year, with the California Department of Public Health coordinating distribution and training. PolicyPantry will continue tracking this program and similar stock-inhaler legislation in other states.