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    SB-605
    Labor & Employment

    State attorneys and administrative law judges: compensation.

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

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes minimum salaries for state attorneys and judges to match average public sector attorney pay.
    • Requires annual salary surveys by March 1 to determine competitive pay rates across public agencies.
    • Implements salary increases in three phases from 2026 to 2028, subject to budget approval.
    • Prohibits any reduction in current salaries for state attorneys and administrative law judges.

    Summary

    Senator Cortese's proposal to establish salary parity between state attorneys, administrative law judges, and their public sector counterparts would create a new framework for determining compensation across California's legal workforce. The legislation mandates that state attorney salaries match or exceed regional averages from comparable public agencies, while administrative law judges would receive compensation no less than the maximum salary of State Attorney IV positions in their regions.

    The Department of Human Resources would conduct annual salary surveys by March 1, examining compensation structures across three geographic regions encompassing California's 58 counties. The surveys would analyze entry-level and senior nonmanagerial attorney salaries at specified agencies, including district attorneys' offices, county counsels' offices, and courts of appeal. These findings would establish minimum salary thresholds for state positions, with intermediate classifications scaled proportionally between entry-level and senior nonmanagerial ranges.

    Implementation would occur in three phases beginning July 1, 2026, with one-third of calculated increases taking effect the first year, two-thirds the second year, and full implementation by July 1, 2028. While the annual salary survey requirement takes effect immediately, all other provisions depend on funding through the annual Budget Act. The Superior Court would have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising from the law's provisions, which would supersede existing memoranda of understanding regarding compensation.

    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 has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Placed on suspense file
    Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Al MuratsuchiD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    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
    0 of 11 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 3
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Al MuratsuchiD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Maggy KrellD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Nick SchultzD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    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

    Dave Cortese
    Dave CorteseD
    California State Senator
    Co-Authors
    Nick Schultz
    Nick SchultzD
    California State Assembly Member
    Maggy Krell
    Maggy KrellD
    California State Assembly Member
    Al Muratsuchi
    Al MuratsuchiD
    California State Assembly Member
    10% progression
    Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/20/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    April 7, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    7007PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes minimum salaries for state attorneys and judges to match average public sector attorney pay.
    • Requires annual salary surveys by March 1 to determine competitive pay rates across public agencies.
    • Implements salary increases in three phases from 2026 to 2028, subject to budget approval.
    • Prohibits any reduction in current salaries for state attorneys and administrative law judges.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

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

    Introduced By

    Dave Cortese
    Dave CorteseD
    California State Senator
    Co-Authors
    Nick Schultz
    Nick SchultzD
    California State Assembly Member
    Maggy Krell
    Maggy KrellD
    California State Assembly Member
    Al Muratsuchi
    Al MuratsuchiD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Senator Cortese's proposal to establish salary parity between state attorneys, administrative law judges, and their public sector counterparts would create a new framework for determining compensation across California's legal workforce. The legislation mandates that state attorney salaries match or exceed regional averages from comparable public agencies, while administrative law judges would receive compensation no less than the maximum salary of State Attorney IV positions in their regions.

    The Department of Human Resources would conduct annual salary surveys by March 1, examining compensation structures across three geographic regions encompassing California's 58 counties. The surveys would analyze entry-level and senior nonmanagerial attorney salaries at specified agencies, including district attorneys' offices, county counsels' offices, and courts of appeal. These findings would establish minimum salary thresholds for state positions, with intermediate classifications scaled proportionally between entry-level and senior nonmanagerial ranges.

    Implementation would occur in three phases beginning July 1, 2026, with one-third of calculated increases taking effect the first year, two-thirds the second year, and full implementation by July 1, 2028. While the annual salary survey requirement takes effect immediately, all other provisions depend on funding through the annual Budget Act. The Superior Court would have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising from the law's provisions, which would supersede existing memoranda of understanding regarding compensation.

    10% progression
    Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/20/2025)

    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 has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Placed on suspense file
    Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
    Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    April 7, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    7007PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Al MuratsuchiD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    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
    0 of 11 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 3
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Al MuratsuchiD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Dave CorteseD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Maggy KrellD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Nick SchultzD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member