The deadline for the California Legislature to pass bills expired on August 31, 2022, and as expected, a number of employment-related bills were forwarded to Governor Gavin Newsom to sign or veto. 

Notably, Governor Newsom has already signed into law several bills, including a first in the nation-type law creating a fast food industry council with the ability to set “minimum standards,” including a minimum wage up to $22 per hour and additional standards for safety, hours, and working conditions (AB 257).

Additional bills that have been passed by the legislature but not yet acted on by the Governor include those that would:

• Extend California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave benefits until December 31, 2022 (AB 152).

• Preclude discrimination against employees or applicants for cannabis usage away from the workplace and limit the drug screening employers can consider (AB 2188).

• Revive previously time-barred sexual harassment and wrongful termination claims related to sexual assaults under certain circumstances (AB 2777).

• Entitle employees to up to five days of bereavement leave (AB 1949).

• Amend the California Family Rights Act and Paid Sick Leave Law to allow time off to care for a “designated person” (AB 1041).

• Extend until January 1, 2024, the period under which employers must provide written notices of COVID-19 exposure (AB 2693).

• Implement new requirements regarding pay scale disclosures and amend the recently enacted Pay Data Reporting requirements (SB 1162).



• Require employers to allow the public to access employee restrooms under certain circumstances (AB 1632).

Notably, the California Legislature failed to extend the so-called “employment” and “business to business” records exemptions from the California Consumer Privacy Act, meaning these exemptions remain scheduled to expire on December 31, 2022.

Looking ahead, Governor Newsom has until September 30, 2022, to sign or veto any of the bills passed by the California legislature. Accordingly, below is an overview of the employment bills already enacted followed by those currently on Governor Newsom’s desk.