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CaliforniaAB 10022025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Contractors: failure to pay wages: discipline.

Sponsored By: Jesse Gabriel (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Contractors face license penalties for unpaid wages

The Attorney General can sue when a contractor fails to pay all wages due, ignores a wage judgment, or violates a court order about wages. If the case is proven, the court orders the Registrar of Contractors to suspend, revoke, or deny the contractor’s license and sets the terms. These court orders count as formal discipline. Unless the court says otherwise, the registrar decides how long before a license can be reinstated. Denied licenses follow existing waiting periods.

Honest wage-rate mistakes not violations

A genuine, good-faith mistake about which wage rate applies, including prevailing wage rates, is not a violation under this law. This protection covers honest errors about the correct rate. Other failures to pay still face discipline.

Attorney General notice and board role

The Attorney General must notify the Registrar of Contractors at least 30 days before filing these wage cases. Not giving that notice is not a legal defense. The Contractors State License Board can join the case within 60 days; after that it needs the court’s permission. If the board does not join, it agrees to follow any court order. The registrar can still run separate investigations and actions, and this law does not change the board’s usual hearing rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jesse Gabriel

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Patrick Ahrens

    Democratic • House

  • Isaac Bryan

    Democratic • House

  • John Harabedian

    Democratic • House

  • Ash Kalra

    Democratic • House

  • Liz Ortega

    Democratic • House

  • Rick Chavez Zbur

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 256 • No: 8

House vote • 9/8/2025

Item 36 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 73 • No: 2

Senate vote • 9/4/2025

Item 239 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 34 • No: 2

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/18/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/15/2025

Vote in CS53

Yes: 11 • No: 2

legislature vote • 7/7/2025

Vote in CS42

Yes: 10 • No: 1

House vote • 6/2/2025

Item 210 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 74 • No: 1

legislature vote • 5/23/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 13 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/29/2025

Vote in CX13

Yes: 10 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/22/2025

Vote in CX33

Yes: 17 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 567, Statutes of 2025.

    10/10/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/10/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.

    9/15/2025legislature

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 2. Page 3035.).

    9/8/2025House

  5. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

    9/4/2025House

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 34. Noes 2. Page 2503.).

    9/4/2025Senate

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    8/29/2025Senate

  8. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

    8/29/2025Senate

  9. In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    8/18/2025Senate

  10. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/16/2025Senate

  11. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

    7/7/2025Senate

  12. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

    6/26/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and JUD.

    6/11/2025Senate

  14. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    6/3/2025Senate

  15. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 1. Page 1911.)

    6/2/2025House

  16. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    5/27/2025House

  17. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    5/23/2025House

  18. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    5/7/2025House

  19. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/30/2025House

  20. Coauthors revised.

    4/30/2025House

  21. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

    4/22/2025House

  22. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

    4/1/2025House

  23. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

    3/28/2025House

  24. Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and JUD.

    3/28/2025House

  25. From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

    2/21/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/10/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    9/10/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    6/26/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    3/28/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    2/20/2025

    HTML

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