California - General

What SB 399 Does SB 399, codified in California Labor Code section 1137, took effect January 1, 2025. It prohibits employers from threatening or taking adverse action against employees who refuse to attend employer-sponsored meetings or

Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed SB 446 into law, introducing significant changes to California’s data breach notification requirements. The bill establishes deadlines for notifying consumers and the state’s Attorney General when personal information of California residents has been involved in

Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed SB 446 into law, introducing significant changes to California’s data breach notification requirements. The bill

California’s Governor signed Senate Bill (SB) 53, which creates a comprehensive regulatory framework for advanced AI. The law takes effect January 1, 2026. SB 53 is designed to govern what it calls “frontier” AI models, which are large, cutting-edge systems built by major developers with substantial

Governor Newsom has signed Assembly Bill (AB) 858, which extends the sunset date of the recall and reinstatement rights of employees laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic until January 1, 2027. In 2021, Senate Bill (SB) 93 was passed, which required certain employers in the hospitality and s

For the Second Consecutive Year, California Expands Reasons Employees Can Use Job-Protected Paid Sick and Safe Time, Unpaid Leave On October 1, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 406 to expand the reasons employees can take leave under California’s Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act (HWHFA),

A good development for employers from the district court. At the beginning of the year, Senate Bill (SB) 399 became effective, restricting employers from requiring participation in mandatory meetings addressing religious or political topics, including those concerning labor organizations. Shortly th

On October 1, 2025, California’s Governor signed Senate Bill (SB) 303, which states that an employee’s assessment, testing, admission, or acknowledgment of their own personal bias, when made in good faith and solicited or required as part of a bias mitigation training, does not, by itself, constitut

On September 11, 2025, the California Legislature passed a bill that would ban “stay or pay” terms in employment contracts, which require employees to pay their employer back for certain costs if they leave the job. Governor Gavin Newsom has not signed it yet.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA Standards Board) authorized a limited advisory committee to consider clarifications and training requirements for interior framing work, opening the door to further dialogue and clarification of the new fall protection rules. At

The California Legislature recently sent to the governor Senate Bill (SB) 294 , which aims to ensure that employers consistently inform employees about key labor protections, immigration-related rights, and constitutional protections in the workplace. The bill, titled “The Workplace Know Your Rights

California’s Long-Awaited Final Regulations on Automated Decisionmaking Create New Compliance Challenges for Employers After a lengthy rulemaking process, the California Privacy Protection Agency (the “Agency”) has finalized regulations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) governing the

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On August 21, 2025, the mayor of the City of Long Beach approved an ordinance ( Ordinance No. ORD-25-0010 ) requiring food and drug retail establishments to employ at least one human cashier at all times and to assign at least one employee to supervise every three self-checkout lanes. The ordinance

In Kruitbosch v. Bakersfield Recovery Services, Inc. , the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, held that an employee had stated a cognizable claim for sexual harassment hostile work environment based on the employer’s response to a nonsupervisory coworker’s offsite, nonwork-related

The California Legislature recently sent a bill ( Senate Bill (SB) 261 ) to the governor’s desk that, if signed, would be a significant update in the state’s enforcement of wage laws. Employers and HR professionals may want to review the bill’s requirements to avoid penalties and ensure compliance.

Employers across California are receiving alerts about “new” Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) notice letters that appear to restart old claims—sometimes years after those matters were filed or even settled. The surprise often comes from the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) web

California lawmakers passed several bills during the 2025 legislative session that would impose new compliance obligations on employers. Here is an overview of employment bills the California State Legislature has sent to the governor for approval.

California has always been at the forefront of cannabis regulation. Medical marijuana was legalized nearly three decades ago, and Proposition 64 made recreational use lawful in 2016. But legalization for personal use has never meant

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