AB-596
Labor & Employment

Occupational safety: face coverings.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Prohibits employers from banning workers from wearing face masks or respirators unless they create safety hazards.
  • Allows employers to require brief removal of face coverings for identification purposes.
  • Defines approved face coverings as surgical masks, N95 respirators, or multi-layer fabric masks with secure fit.
  • Preserves the authority of local health departments to enforce stricter face covering requirements.

Summary

Assembly Member McKinnor's workplace safety legislation codifies permanent protections for California employees who choose to wear face coverings on the job. The measure prohibits employers from preventing workers from wearing surgical masks, medical procedure masks, respirators, or multi-layer fabric face coverings unless their use creates a specific safety hazard.

The bill establishes clear parameters around acceptable face coverings, requiring them to completely cover the nose and mouth while fitting snugly against the face without gaps. Qualifying face coverings include clear masks or those with transparent panels to facilitate communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The measure explicitly excludes single-layer items like scarves, bandanas, and balaclavas from its protections. Under the legislation, employers retain the ability to briefly require face covering removal for identification purposes when doing so poses no safety risk.

The provisions supplement existing occupational safety regulations while preserving the authority of local health departments to implement more stringent requirements. Violations of the face covering protections constitute a criminal offense under California's workplace safety enforcement framework. The measure specifies that local agencies will not receive state reimbursement for any costs associated with the new requirements, as they stem from modifications to existing criminal statutes.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
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 [Appropriations]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 596 McKinnor 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
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tina McKinnorD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tina McKinnorD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Tina McKinnor
Tina McKinnorD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (4/28/2025)

Latest Voting History

June 11, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5005PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Prohibits employers from banning workers from wearing face masks or respirators unless they create safety hazards.
  • Allows employers to require brief removal of face coverings for identification purposes.
  • Defines approved face coverings as surgical masks, N95 respirators, or multi-layer fabric masks with secure fit.
  • Preserves the authority of local health departments to enforce stricter face covering requirements.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Tina McKinnor
Tina McKinnorD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member McKinnor's workplace safety legislation codifies permanent protections for California employees who choose to wear face coverings on the job. The measure prohibits employers from preventing workers from wearing surgical masks, medical procedure masks, respirators, or multi-layer fabric face coverings unless their use creates a specific safety hazard.

The bill establishes clear parameters around acceptable face coverings, requiring them to completely cover the nose and mouth while fitting snugly against the face without gaps. Qualifying face coverings include clear masks or those with transparent panels to facilitate communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The measure explicitly excludes single-layer items like scarves, bandanas, and balaclavas from its protections. Under the legislation, employers retain the ability to briefly require face covering removal for identification purposes when doing so poses no safety risk.

The provisions supplement existing occupational safety regulations while preserving the authority of local health departments to implement more stringent requirements. Violations of the face covering protections constitute a criminal offense under California's workplace safety enforcement framework. The measure specifies that local agencies will not receive state reimbursement for any costs associated with the new requirements, as they stem from modifications to existing criminal statutes.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (4/28/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
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 [Appropriations]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 596 McKinnor 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

June 11, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5005PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tina McKinnorD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tina McKinnorD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member