2026 Legislation

SB 909 – Public Works Enforcement

Strengthens enforcement of public works labor laws by directing the Department of Industrial Relations penalties toward enforcement and tying contractor registration fees to inflation.

 

SB 964 – Continuity of Care

Ensure patients with chronic, complex conditions receive timely, medically necessary dose adjustments for medications already approved for adjustments.

 

SB 1012 Incarcerated Firefighter Reentry

Creates a direct pathway for people leaving prison with wildfire or conservation camp experience to enter apprenticeship programs in vegetation-management and wildfire mitigation, improving reentry outcomes, and expanding access to union-affiliated trade careers.

 

SB 1030 – End the CalWORKs “Man in the House” Rule

Eliminates the outdated “man-in-the-house” statue in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program, which originated in the 1950s/60s, and currently disqualifies households if any unrelated male is present, disproportionately impacting Black families.

 

SB 1073 – Cultural Districts Voluntary Tax Fund

Creates a voluntary tax contribution fund on California personal income tax returns, allowing residents to support cultural preservation without creating a new tax increase. Enables taxpayers across the state to donate any amount they desire, and authorizes the California Arts Council to administer and allocate the funds that are placed in the state treasury.

 

SB 1100 – Civil Grand Jury Reports

Requires annual civil grand jury reporting, establishing a six-month submission timeline to improve transparency, efficiency and public access to oversight records.

 

SB 1132 – Labor Workforce Board—Know Your Rights

Requires the California Workforce Development Board to partner with the Department on Industrial Relations, Civil Rights Department, and other experts to develop a workplace rights and immigrant know-your-rights curriculum to be taught through the state’s workforce system to individuals receiving individual career, training, and supportive services. Requires local workforce boards to explain how the curriculum would be implemented in their four-year plans.

 

SB 1203 – Security Officers

Requires security officer training to occur during paid, protected time rather than through unpaid “on-the-job training.” Eliminates employer-provided training authority, requires training through approved third-party training providers, and directs the Department of Industrial Relations to establish a prevailing wage for security officers.

 

SB 1155 – Federal Employee Tenant Protections

Prohibits landlords from evicting or collecting late fees to federal employees and contractors impacted by a government shutdown, and allows 30 days to repay rent after back pay is received, following shutdowns like the one in late 2025 that left LAX airport workers without pay for over a month.

 

SB 1241 – Skilled & Trained Compliance

Closes gaps in existing law to create a more consistent and fair process, clarifies rules, and ensures that Skilled and Trained Workforce requirements are applied evenly across projects, supporting contractors already complying with the law, and helping ensure public projects are built by properly trained workers.

 

SB 1284 – Protecting Medi-Cal

Ensures public programs function as a true safety net rather than a subsidy for employers that rely on the state to provide health coverage for their workers.

 

SB 1316 – Labor and Workforce Development

Updates state law on lien renewal and investigations by the Labor Commissioner.

 

SB 1355 – Community Spacing

Explores standards related to security officers operating in residential areas.

 

SB 1405 – Retirement Protections

Reconnects seniors with millions of dollars in missing retirement funds, by updating California's unclaimed property law and ensuring unclaimed retirement distribution funds are managed and returned to owners through the state’s unclaimed property program.

 

Continuing Legislation

SB 238 – Workplace Surveillance

Requires employers to annually report workplace surveillance tools to the Department of Industrial Relations, increasing transparency around employee monitoring as surveillance technology becomes more widespread.

 

SB 247 – Bid Preference

Requires state agencies to offer up to a 10% bid preference on large federally funded infrastructure projects over $35 million when contractors hire workers from disadvantaged communities.

 

SB 626 – Perinatal Health

Strengthens maternal mental health protections by requiring coverage for treatment, training providers, and ensuring long-term accountability, consistent with expert guidelines.

 

SCR 89 – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Affirms the Legislature’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion principles.