AB 2330
Public health: cold spas and cold plunge tubs.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Appropriations
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Bill overview
This bill expands the definition of a ‘public swimming pool’ in California law to include ‘cold spas’ and ‘cold plunge tubs.’ It establishes specific requirements for cold spas, including temperature ranges and disinfection systems, while explicitly excluding cold plunge tubs from standard swimming pool regulations. The bill also mandates signage for cold plunge tubs to warn users of the lack of health regulation.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘cold spa’ as an in-ground pool maintained between 35°F and 60°F.
- Defines ‘cold plunge tub’ as an aboveground, individual therapeutic tub maintained between 35°F and 60°F.
- Requires cold plunge tubs to be placed separately from public pools and spas.
- Specifies signage requirements for cold plunge tubs.
- Cold spas are subject to existing spa and pool construction and operation regulations.
- Cold plunge tubs are exempt from swimming pool construction and sanitation standards.
- The bill creates a new crime or infraction related to cold plunge tubs.
- No state reimbursement is required for local agencies due to the creation of a new crime.
Who is affected
- Public pool operators
- Spa operators
- Individuals seeking cold spa or plunge tub therapy
- Local government agencies responsible for health and safety regulations
- School districts
Notable changes
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AB2330:v97#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
| Amended IN Assembly April 16, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 06, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2330
| Introduced by Assembly Member Boerner |
| February 19, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 116025 of, and to add Sections 116026 and 116027 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2330, as amended, Boerner. Public health: cold spas and cold plunge tubs.
Existing law requires that every person, including both public and private entities, operating or maintaining a public swimming pool do so in a sanitary, healthful, and safe manner, and authorizes the State Department of Public Health to supervise the sanitation, healthfulness, and safety of public swimming pools. Existing law requires the department to make and enforce regulations pertaining to public swimming pools as it deems proper and to enforce specified building standards relating to public swimming pools. Existing law also requires every health officer to enforce the specified building standards relating to swimming pools and other regulations adopted by the department. Existing law defines public swimming pool for these purposes. Existing law makes a person who violates these provisions guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a specified fine or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
This bill would expand the definition of a public swimming pool to include a cold spa. The bill would define a cold spa for these purposes, and would require cold spas to be subject to specified requirements related to the construction and operation of a spa or spa pool, except as specified. Because this bill would expand the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would also establish requirements for a cold plunge tub, including, among other things, that the cold plunge tub is prohibited from being placed or used within the same enclosure as a public pool or spa. The bill would define a cold plunge tub to mean an aboveground, individual use therapeutic tub that is maintained at temperatures between 35 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 degrees Fahrenheit by use of a mechanical chiller, among other things. The bill would specify that a cold plunge tub is not considered a public swimming pool and is not subject to any of the construction or sanitation standards mentioned above.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 116025 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
116025.
“Public swimming pool,” as used in this article, means any public swimming pool, bathhouse, public swimming and bathing place, cold spa, and all related appurtenances.
SEC. 2.
Section 116026 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
116026.
(a) “Cold plunge tub” means any aboveground, individual use therapeutic tub that meets all of the following:
(1) Designed and used solely for brief therapeutic or recovery immersion in water.
(2) Maintained at temperatures between 35 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 degrees Fahrenheit by use of a mechanical chiller.
(3) Has mechanical recirculation.
(4) Has an automatic disinfecting system dispensing chlorine or bromine, which could also include the use of ozone or ultraviolet (UV) as a secondary disinfection option.
(5) Is not used for swimming or general recreational bathing.
(6) Is drained at the end of each operating day and filled at the start of the next operating day.
(b) Cold plunge tubs shall not be placed or used within the same enclosure as a public pool or spa.
(c) Cold plunge tubs shall have signage posted in a visible area on the tub with a minimum of one-inch letters in contrasting colors indicating the following: “This Cold Plunge Tub is not under health regulation as a public swimming pool, use at your own risk”.
(d) Cold plunge tubs are not considered public swimming pools and are not subject to any construction or sanitation standards as set forth in this article and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
SEC. 3.
Section 116027 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
116027.
(a) “Cold Spa” means any in-ground public swimming pool that is designed and used for brief therapeutic or recovery immersion in water that is maintained at temperatures between 35 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 degrees Fahrenheit by use of a mechanical chiller, or other approved method to chill the water, and can support multiple users at one time.
(b) Cold Spas are subject to all applicable requirements related to the construction and operation of a spa or spa pool as prescribed in Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 115950), this chapter, Title 22 (commencing with Section 65501) of the California Code of Regulations, and Title 24 (commencing with Section 3101B) of the California Building Standards Code, except for the requirement that the spa or spa pool must incorporate a water jet system, an aeration system, or a combination of the two systems used in conjunction with heated water, and instead must operate with the use of a chiller, or other approved method, to maintain proper water temperature.
SEC. 4.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.