No. 19-840October Term 2019Decided Jul 8, 2021Updated May 26, 2026
California v. Texas
This case asked whether challengers to the Affordable Care Act could attack the law’s individual mandate after Congress reduced the penalty for not having insurance to $0, and if so, whether that made the mandate unconstitutional and required the rest of the ACA to fall with it.
Case status
Decided 7-2 · July 8, 2021 · Opinion by Justice Breyer
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jul 8, 2021
- What it's about
This case asked whether challengers to the Affordable Care Act could attack the law’s individual mandate after Congress reduced the penalty for not having insurance to $0, and if so, whether that made the mandate unconstitutional and required the rest of the ACA to fall with it. The Supreme Court ultimately held that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the case.
Question presented
1. Whether the individual and state plaintiffs in this case have established Article III standing to challenge the minimum coverage provision in Section 5000A(a). 2. Whether reducing the amount specified in Section 5000A(c) to zero rendered the minimum coverage provision unconstitutional. 3. If so, whether the minimum coverage provision is severable from the rest of the ACA.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Jul 8, 2021
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided July 8, 2021
The Court released its decision on July 8, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
Brief added: Questions Presented
May 26, 2026 | Court records
Opinion added: opinion
Jun 17, 2021 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Jan 3, 2020 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology