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    SB-261
    Labor & Employment

    Division of Labor Standards Enforcement: orders, decisions, and awards.

    Engrossed
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires public posting of employers who fail to pay wage-related judgments on the state labor agency website.
    • Imposes penalties up to triple the judgment amount if employers fail to pay wages within 180 days.
    • Mandates employers post a bond equal to the disputed amount when appealing wage violation decisions.
    • Awards attorney fees to workers who prevail in wage collection cases against employers.

    Summary

    Senators Wahab and Wiener propose comprehensive changes to California's wage enforcement system through legislation requiring public disclosure of employers with unpaid wage judgments and establishing new financial penalties for non-compliance. The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement would maintain an online database of employers with unsatisfied wage-related orders or judgments, with listings removed once violations are remedied and payments completed.

    The measure introduces civil penalties of up to three times the judgment amount for employers who fail to pay wage-related judgments within 180 days. These penalties would be split equally between affected employees and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement's enforcement and education programs. The bill also mandates courts to award attorney's fees and costs to prevailing parties in wage judgment enforcement actions.

    For employers appealing wage-related decisions, the legislation requires posting an appeal bond or cash deposit equal to the disputed amount. The Division gains authority to place liens on employer property and pursue additional enforcement mechanisms to ensure judgment satisfaction. Successor businesses would inherit liability for any outstanding penalties, maintaining accountability through ownership changes.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Labor and Employment
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Labor and Employment
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate Floor
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate 3rd Reading SB261 Wahab et al
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass as amended
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Placed on suspense file
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
    Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Judiciary]
    Introduced
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Alex LeeD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 10 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Alex LeeD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Chris WardD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Sade ElhawaryD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Aisha Wahab
    Aisha WahabD
    California State Senator
    Scott Wiener
    Scott WienerD
    California State Senator
    Co-Author
    Dave Cortese
    Dave CorteseD
    California State Senator
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/4/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 9, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    7007PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires public posting of employers who fail to pay wage-related judgments on the state labor agency website.
    • Imposes penalties up to triple the judgment amount if employers fail to pay wages within 180 days.
    • Mandates employers post a bond equal to the disputed amount when appealing wage violation decisions.
    • Awards attorney fees to workers who prevail in wage collection cases against employers.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Aisha Wahab
    Aisha WahabD
    California State Senator
    Scott Wiener
    Scott WienerD
    California State Senator
    Co-Author
    Dave Cortese
    Dave CorteseD
    California State Senator

    Summary

    Senators Wahab and Wiener propose comprehensive changes to California's wage enforcement system through legislation requiring public disclosure of employers with unpaid wage judgments and establishing new financial penalties for non-compliance. The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement would maintain an online database of employers with unsatisfied wage-related orders or judgments, with listings removed once violations are remedied and payments completed.

    The measure introduces civil penalties of up to three times the judgment amount for employers who fail to pay wage-related judgments within 180 days. These penalties would be split equally between affected employees and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement's enforcement and education programs. The bill also mandates courts to award attorney's fees and costs to prevailing parties in wage judgment enforcement actions.

    For employers appealing wage-related decisions, the legislation requires posting an appeal bond or cash deposit equal to the disputed amount. The Division gains authority to place liens on employer property and pursue additional enforcement mechanisms to ensure judgment satisfaction. Successor businesses would inherit liability for any outstanding penalties, maintaining accountability through ownership changes.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/4/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Labor and Employment
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Labor and Employment
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate Floor
    Vote on Senate Floor
    Senate 3rd Reading SB261 Wahab et al
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass as amended
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Placed on suspense file
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
    Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Judiciary]
    Introduced
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 9, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    7007PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Alex LeeD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 10 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Scott WienerD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Alex LeeD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Chris WardD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Sade ElhawaryD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member