veeto
Home
Bills
Influence
Feedback
hamburger
    Privacy PolicyResources
    © 2025 Veeto.
    SB-809
    Labor & Employment

    Employees and independent contractors: construction trucking.

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

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes an amnesty program for construction contractors who misclassified truck drivers as independent contractors.
    • Requires contractors to reclassify drivers as employees and pay back wages by January 1, 2029 to avoid penalties.
    • Mandates reimbursement for drivers who use their own vehicles for work-related duties.
    • Clarifies that vehicle ownership alone does not make a driver an independent contractor.

    Summary

    Senator Durazo's construction trucking legislation establishes an amnesty program for contractors who misclassified drivers as independent contractors while clarifying that vehicle ownership alone does not determine employment status. The bill creates a pathway for eligible construction contractors to resolve past misclassification issues by entering settlement agreements with the Labor Commissioner before January 1, 2029.

    Under the program, contractors who properly reclassify their drivers as employees and meet settlement terms would receive relief from certain civil and statutory penalties. Settlement agreements must include payment of back wages and benefits, maintenance of employee positions, and proof of workers' compensation coverage. The Labor Commissioner may also approve agreements negotiated between contractors and labor unions or city attorneys.

    The legislation specifies that merely owning a vehicle used for work does not automatically make someone an independent contractor. For construction trucking specifically, employee drivers who own their commercial vehicles must be reimbursed for vehicle use, upkeep and depreciation. Reimbursement rates, negotiated between drivers and employers or through union representation, cannot fall below IRS standard mileage rates or actual expenses.

    To participate, contractors must demonstrate eligibility, conduct self-audits, and file required tax returns. The Labor Commissioner and Employment Development Department will jointly administer the program, with authority to share necessary information and pursue civil enforcement of settlement terms. While the program offers penalty relief, it maintains exceptions for fraud, criminal investigations, and certain tax assessments predating agreements.

    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 SB809 Durazo
    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, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
    Introduced
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. 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
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Alex LeeD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 8 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Alex LeeD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Chris WardD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    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

    Maria Durazo
    Maria DurazoD
    California State Senator
    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    July 9, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    6017PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Establishes an amnesty program for construction contractors who misclassified truck drivers as independent contractors.
    • Requires contractors to reclassify drivers as employees and pay back wages by January 1, 2029 to avoid penalties.
    • Mandates reimbursement for drivers who use their own vehicles for work-related duties.
    • Clarifies that vehicle ownership alone does not make a driver an independent contractor.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

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

    Introduced By

    Maria Durazo
    Maria DurazoD
    California State Senator

    Summary

    Senator Durazo's construction trucking legislation establishes an amnesty program for contractors who misclassified drivers as independent contractors while clarifying that vehicle ownership alone does not determine employment status. The bill creates a pathway for eligible construction contractors to resolve past misclassification issues by entering settlement agreements with the Labor Commissioner before January 1, 2029.

    Under the program, contractors who properly reclassify their drivers as employees and meet settlement terms would receive relief from certain civil and statutory penalties. Settlement agreements must include payment of back wages and benefits, maintenance of employee positions, and proof of workers' compensation coverage. The Labor Commissioner may also approve agreements negotiated between contractors and labor unions or city attorneys.

    The legislation specifies that merely owning a vehicle used for work does not automatically make someone an independent contractor. For construction trucking specifically, employee drivers who own their commercial vehicles must be reimbursed for vehicle use, upkeep and depreciation. Reimbursement rates, negotiated between drivers and employers or through union representation, cannot fall below IRS standard mileage rates or actual expenses.

    To participate, contractors must demonstrate eligibility, conduct self-audits, and file required tax returns. The Labor Commissioner and Employment Development Department will jointly administer the program, with authority to share necessary information and pursue civil enforcement of settlement terms. While the program offers penalty relief, it maintains exceptions for fraud, criminal investigations, and certain tax assessments predating agreements.

    40% progression
    Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

    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 SB809 Durazo
    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, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
    Introduced
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    Introduced. 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
    6017PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Alex LeeD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 8 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Maria DurazoD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Alex LeeD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Chris WardD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Liz OrtegaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sade ElhawaryD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member