HIV: California’s 2018 criminalization reform and testing among those reporting risk behavior

HIV criminalization laws may discourage HIV testing. We tested whether California’s 2018 HIV criminalization law reform increased the likelihood of past-year HIV testing compared to Nevada, which did not reform its HIV criminalization law. We fitted two difference-in-differences logistic regression models: one for all respondents reporting behaviors that increase the chances of getting or transmitting HIV, and one for male respondents reporting these behaviors. All analyses accounted for the complex survey design of BRFSS. HIV criminalization reform was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of past-year HIV testing. After reform, the predicted marginal probability of past-year HIV testing increased by six percentage points. By comparison, probabilities of a past-year HIV test decreased in Nevada. HIV criminalization law reform may increase the likelihood of getting tested by individuals who engage in behaviors that increase the chances of getting or transmitting HIV.