Employee housing: H-2A agricultural workers: inspections.

Senator Cervantes' proposal to modify California's Employee Housing Act establishes new inspection requirements for housing that accommodates H-2A agricultural workers. The legislation mandates in-person inspections of these facilities and requires enforcement agencies to publish inspection results online.

Under the proposed changes, housing operators must pass an annual physical inspection to receive or maintain their operating permit. The bill explicitly prohibits virtual inspections conducted via video calls, requiring enforcement agency staff to evaluate facilities in person. These inspection results would then be posted on the enforcement agency's website, making compliance information publicly accessible.

The measure maintains existing inspection exemptions for certain categories of employee housing, including permanent single-family residences that have received prior exemptions and facilities with multi-year operating permits. Local agencies and jurisdictions retain authority to levy fees and charges to cover costs associated with implementing the new requirements, with no state reimbursement required under California's constitution.