All Roll Calls
Yes: 128 • No: 14
CaliforniaAB 5382025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Public works: payroll records.
Sponsored By: Marc Berman (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Stricter payroll rules and steep penalties for contractors
Contractors on public works must use the Labor Commissioner’s form or a verified printout with the same information. They must tell the awarding body where payroll records are kept and report any new location within five working days. If they miss the 10‑day deadline after written notice, they forfeit $100 per worker for each calendar day until they comply. The Labor Commissioner can ask to withhold these penalties from progress payments. A contractor is not penalized for a subcontractor’s failure. Awarding bodies must put these duties into contracts.
Faster payroll access for public works workers
The law requires contractors on public works to keep detailed payrolls for each worker. Records include name, address, Social Security number, job classification, daily and weekly hours, and per diem wages. Each payroll is certified under penalty of perjury and states the employer followed prevailing wage and overtime rules. You or your authorized representative can get a certified copy on request. The awarding body and the Labor Commissioner can also get all payrolls. Employers must provide requested copies within 10 days of a written request.
Public access with privacy for payroll records
The public can get certified payroll copies only by asking the awarding body or the Labor Commissioner. If the agency does not have them, it must get them from the contractor. Requesters reimburse reasonable preparation costs when records were not already on file, and may pay copy fees. Public and agency copies hide a person’s name, address, and full Social Security number. Taft‑Hartley funds may get the last four digits, and joint labor‑management committees get records with only SSNs redacted; electronic payrolls do not satisfy those requests. Law‑enforcement investigators can receive nonredacted copies, but any public copies they share must be redacted.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Marc Berman
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 9/10/2025
Item 135 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 30 • No: 9
legislature vote • 8/29/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 6 • No: 1
legislature vote • 7/7/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 6 • No: 0
legislature vote • 6/25/2025
Vote in CS56
Yes: 4 • No: 1
House vote • 6/3/2025
Item 161 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 65 • No: 3
legislature vote • 5/23/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 11 • No: 0
legislature vote • 3/19/2025
Vote in CX14
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 616, Statutes of 2025.
10/11/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/11/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
9/22/2025legislatureIn Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
9/10/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 9. Page 2807.).
9/10/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
8/29/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (August 29).
8/29/2025SenateIn committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
7/7/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
6/25/2025SenateReferred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
6/18/2025SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
6/4/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 3. Page 2006.)
6/3/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
5/27/2025HouseRead second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
5/23/2025HouseFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).
5/23/2025HouseAssembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
5/23/2025HouseIn committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
4/23/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 19). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
3/19/2025HouseReferred to Com. on L. & E.
2/24/2025HouseFrom printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2/12/2025HouseRead first time. To print.
2/11/2025House
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/11/2025
Enrolled
9/12/2025
Amended Assembly
5/23/2025
Introduced
2/11/2025