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    AB-485
    Labor & Employment

    Labor Commissioner: unsatisfied judgments: nonpayment of wages.

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

    Key Takeaways

    • Expands wage theft enforcement by denying business licenses to employers who fail to pay court-ordered wages.
    • Requires the Labor Commissioner to notify licensing agencies when employers violate wage payment laws.
    • Allows exemptions for hospitals if license denial would threaten public health and safety.
    • Broadens enforcement from long-term care facilities to all state-licensed businesses.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Ortega's wage enforcement legislation expands California's approach to addressing unpaid wage judgments by requiring state agencies to deny or withhold licenses and permits from employers who fail to satisfy court-ordered wage payments. The measure replaces existing provisions that applied only to long-term care facilities with broader requirements covering all employers who need state licenses or permits to operate.

    Under the new framework, the Labor Commissioner must notify relevant state licensing agencies when employers are found conducting business despite having unsatisfied wage judgments. Those agencies must then deny new licenses or permits and refuse to renew existing ones for non-compliant employers. The bill creates an exception for hospitals, allowing the State Public Health Officer to exempt them if license denial or revocation would pose risks to public health and safety or raise constitutional concerns.

    This licensing enforcement mechanism adds to existing requirements that employers with unpaid wage judgments obtain surety bonds before continuing operations in California. The measure establishes formal channels for communication between the Labor Commissioner and state licensing bodies to coordinate enforcement actions when employers fail to meet wage payment obligations.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 485 Ortega Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 7 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Robert GarciaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

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

    Introduced By

    Liz Ortega
    Liz OrtegaD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Ash Kalra
    Ash KalraD
    California State Assembly Member
    Robert Garcia
    Robert GarciaD
    California State Assembly Member
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 3, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    5671679PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Expands wage theft enforcement by denying business licenses to employers who fail to pay court-ordered wages.
    • Requires the Labor Commissioner to notify licensing agencies when employers violate wage payment laws.
    • Allows exemptions for hospitals if license denial would threaten public health and safety.
    • Broadens enforcement from long-term care facilities to all state-licensed businesses.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

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

    Introduced By

    Liz Ortega
    Liz OrtegaD
    California State Assembly Member
    Co-Authors
    Ash Kalra
    Ash KalraD
    California State Assembly Member
    Robert Garcia
    Robert GarciaD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Ortega's wage enforcement legislation expands California's approach to addressing unpaid wage judgments by requiring state agencies to deny or withhold licenses and permits from employers who fail to satisfy court-ordered wage payments. The measure replaces existing provisions that applied only to long-term care facilities with broader requirements covering all employers who need state licenses or permits to operate.

    Under the new framework, the Labor Commissioner must notify relevant state licensing agencies when employers are found conducting business despite having unsatisfied wage judgments. Those agencies must then deny new licenses or permits and refuse to renew existing ones for non-compliant employers. The bill creates an exception for hospitals, allowing the State Public Health Officer to exempt them if license denial or revocation would pose risks to public health and safety or raise constitutional concerns.

    This licensing enforcement mechanism adds to existing requirements that employers with unpaid wage judgments obtain surety bonds before continuing operations in California. The measure establishes formal channels for communication between the Labor Commissioner and state licensing bodies to coordinate enforcement actions when employers fail to meet wage payment obligations.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/3/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement
    Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AB 485 Ortega Assembly Third Reading
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Appropriations Hearing
    Do pass
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    June 3, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Floor
    Vote on Assembly Floor
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    5671679PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 7 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    John LairdD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Lola Smallwood-CuevasD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Robert GarciaD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author