All Roll Calls
Yes: 167 • No: 63
CaliforniaAB 6922025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Employment.
Sponsored By: Ash Kalra (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Workers can sue for at least $5,000
If someone uses a banned term, you or a worker representative can sue on your own or for a group. The liable party must pay your actual damages or $5,000 per worker, whichever is more. Courts can also order the practice to stop and award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. For contracts signed on or after January 1, 2026, illegal terms are void and unenforceable. These remedies add to, not replace, other rights under California labor and consumer laws.
No quit fees when you leave a job
Beginning January 1, 2026, contracts signed on or after that date cannot make you repay money when you leave a specific employer. Employers, training providers, and debt collectors cannot restart collections or end a forbearance because you left. They cannot charge quit fees, training or retraining costs, visa costs, liquidated damages, or lost profits or goodwill tied to your separation. This applies to employees, job applicants, and freelance workers.
Narrow exceptions for tuition and sign-on bonuses
A few narrow exceptions apply to contracts entered on or after January 1, 2026. Government loan repayment or forgiveness programs are allowed. A separate tuition repayment deal for a transferable credential is allowed only if it is not a job condition, repayment is capped at the employer’s actual cost, it is prorated, does not accelerate, and you do not repay if you are let go, unless for misconduct. Approved apprenticeship enrollment agreements are allowed. Separate sign‑on or other unearned pay deals are allowed only if they are in writing, give you at least five business days to consult a lawyer, are interest‑free, prorated, last no more than two years, let you take the money at the end, and require repayment only if you quit early or are fired for misconduct. Housing leases, financing, and home purchases are also outside this ban.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Ash Kalra
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Dave Cortese
Democratic • Senate
Alex Lee
Democratic • House
Sasha Renée Pérez
Democratic • Senate
Chris Rogers
Democratic • House
LaShae Sharp-Collins
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 9/11/2025
Item 37 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 46 • No: 20
Senate vote • 9/10/2025
Item 220 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 25 • No: 11
legislature vote • 8/29/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 5 • No: 2
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 • 6/25/2025
Vote in CS56
Yes: 4 • No: 1
House vote • 6/5/2025
Item 26 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 47 • No: 21
legislature vote • 5/23/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 10 • No: 3
legislature vote • 4/22/2025
Vote in CX13
Yes: 7 • No: 3
legislature vote • 4/2/2025
Vote in CX14
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 703, Statutes of 2025.
10/13/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/13/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
9/23/2025legislatureSenate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 46. Noes 20. Page 3340.).
9/11/2025HouseIn Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9/10/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 25. Noes 11. Page 2815.).
9/10/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/8/2025SenateRead third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9/5/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/2/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
8/29/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
8/29/2025SenateIn committee: Referred to suspense file.
8/18/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/17/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (July 15).
7/16/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
6/26/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 25).
6/25/2025SenateReferred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and JUD.
6/18/2025SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
6/9/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 47. Noes 21. Page 2112.)
6/5/2025HouseRead third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 1788.)
5/29/2025HouseRead 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 10. Noes 3.) (May 23).
5/23/2025HouseAssembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)
5/23/2025HouseIn committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
5/7/2025House
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/13/2025
Enrolled
9/15/2025
Amended Senate
9/5/2025
Amended Senate
8/29/2025
Amended Senate
7/17/2025
Amended Senate
6/26/2025
Amended Assembly
5/29/2025
Amended Assembly
5/23/2025
Amended Assembly
3/10/2025
Introduced
2/14/2025