In This Edition:
· Election 26: Close Races
· Multiemployer Pension Withdrawals
· Workplace Violence Prevention
· Energy Storage in AZ
· Bills!
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June Election
· 36 days until the Secretary of State certifies election results
· 23,155,447 registered voters in California
· 33.2% voter turnout in the last gubernatorial primary election in 2022
· 152 days until the general election
The June election is over, except for the counting (by hand in Shasta), and there are a few close races.
HR 6 (Sacramento): One of the new Prop 50 districts drawn to give Democrats a new seat. Kevin Kiley (R I) is ahead with 28,000 votes. In second is Republican Michael Stansfield. If this ½ stands, it will deny the Democrats a pickup. This is because FIVE Democrats ran in the primary (cue the circular firing squad emoji).
HR 7 (Sacramento): This could turn out to be a Dem-on-Dem runoff in November. Incumbent Doris Matsui is clearly ahead, but second-place Dem Mai Vang leads the Republican Zach Wooden by less than 1,000 votes. Matsui will win in November, but if Vang ends up in the runoff, it will be expensive.
HR 14 (East Bay): This is Eric Swalwell’s old seat. State Senator Aisha Wahab leads with 34%, but one Dem and two Republicans are within 900 votes of each other. Wahab will win, but if Melissa Hernandez, the D right now in second, prevails, this could be $$.
HR 16 (South Bay): Former San Jose Mayor (no, not Mahan) incumbent Sam Liccardo will win in November, but two Republicans are within 500 votes of each other.
SD 24 (Los Angeles): This open D+29 seat has three Dems within 5,000 votes
AD 9 (Ripon): Assembly minority leader Heath Flora, who has been MIA from his district longer than Tom Kean Jr., is leading, but with two candidates for second within 500 votes of each other; one D, one R. This is a +10 R district, so Flora should win, but we can hope, right?
SD 4: But in one of the more interesting races, an incumbent will probably not make the runoff.
State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, a Republican from Jackson, is in third place in the race for Senate District 4, which puts her at risk of not making it to the November general election. The race for the red-leaning district includes Democrat Jaron Brandon, a Tuolumne County supervisor.
Early results show Brandon leading, with Republican candidate Alexandra Duarte trailing by more than six percentage points and Alvarado-Gil trailing Duarte by nearly five percentage points. This is the first time Alvarado-Gil has faced an election since switching parties from the Democratic Party to the GOP in 2024. This is an R+7 district, so Duarte will probably win in November.
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SCOTUS Addresses Rules for Withdrawals from MEPPs
The US Supreme Court recently unanimously held that the actuarial assumptions underlying the calculation of an employer’s withdrawal liability from an underfunded multiemployer pension plan can be selected after the date the employer left the plan.
Story
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California Releases Further Revisions to Draft General Industry Workplace Violence Prevention Standard
California recently released the latest iteration of its proposed regulatory standard to implement the state’s law imposing workplace violence prevention safety requirements on nearly every employer in California. A period of public comment on the proposal and the new revisions is open through June 1, 2026. Employers with any employees in California may consider whether to comment. A final version, accompanied by formal rulemaking support documents, is expected to emerge in the coming months, likely with little variation from the recently released proposal. Employers can prepare for compliance by reviewing how the recent version differs from the requirements already in effect under Labor Code § 6401.9.
More
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Arizona Ranks No. 2 in US for New Storage Capacity Added This Year
The state installed 940 megawatt-hours in the first quarter, trailing only Texas. Arizona now has more than 20 gigawatt-hours of utility-scale storage installed.
Story
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Bills
Here’s a look at bills WECA is supporting and opposing that had votes in the last two weeks.
AB 1235 (Rogers, D) Prohibits a contractor from being prequalified for, shortlisted for, or awarded a design-build contract with the Trustees of the California State University unless the contractor provides an enforceable commitment to the trustees that the contractor and its subcontractors at every tier will use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all work on the project or contract. (Based on 01/22/2026 text) WECA Position: Oppose
06/03/26 - SEN. ED. (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)
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AB 1707 (Davies, R) Introduces provisions for electricians to apply for certification and exams electronically, and also renew certifications online. Additionally, it allows individuals who fail the certification exam to promptly re-register and retake it at the next available slot. (Based on 02/04/2026 text) WECA Position: Support
05/28/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:77 N:0 A:3) (P)
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AB 1813 (Ward, D) Existing law requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to evaluate existing customer community renewable energy programs to modify and/or terminate them. It also requires the CPUC to determine, based on specified criteria, whether it is beneficial to ratepayers for an electrical corporation to develop a new tariff or modify an existing one for community renewable energy, including ensuring that at least 51% of the energy capacity serves low-income customers. This bill extends the operation until 2027 (Based on 04/27/2026 text) WECA Position: SIA (support if amended)
05/22/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:51 N:8 A:21) (P)
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AB 1859 (Ortega, D) This bill requires that awarding bodies or owners grant access to joint labor-management committees (JLMCs) to "investigate" prevailing wage and apprenticeship violations. These committees can take legal action if access is denied. Additionally, the bill specifies that courts may impose civil penalties for violations. (Based on 05/18/2026 text) WECA Position: OUA (oppose unless amended)
05/27/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:60 N:14 A:6) (P)
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AB 1860 (McKinnor, D) Authorizes a county office of education (COE) to use the design-build and progressive design-build method for facilities projects in excess of $1 million and $5 million, respectively, subject to approval of the county superintendent of schools, and provides the county superintendent of schools with exclusive authority to award design-build contracts. Projects include all construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, and maintenance work that is subject to a skilled and trained workforce (including subcontractors, unless the school district has entered into a project labor agreement) for public works projects over $5 million. (Based on 04/13/2026 text) WECA Position: Oppose
06/03/26 - SEN. ED. (Y:5 N:1 A:1) (P)
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AB 1976 (Wicks, D) Bill repeals and replaces the Pedestrian Mall Law of 1960 with the Pedestrian Mall Law of 2026. The bill exempts the establishment or expansion of pedestrian malls from CEQA while requiring that such projects meet the same local-agency and labor-related conditions that apply to other transportation exemptions, like STW, which is waived with a PLA. (Based on 05/21/2026 text) WECA Position: SIA (support if amended)
05/28/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:49 N:19 A:12) (P)
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AB 2033 (Papan, D) This bill would allow city councils to award yearly job-order contracts, each capped at $500,000, for repair, remodeling, or repetitive work based on unit prices. These contracts cannot be used for new construction projects. They must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder and be based on standard plans and specifications. Requires City JOCs to use a STW unless there is a PLA. (Based on 05/22/2026 text) WECA Position: OUA (oppose unless amended)
05/27/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:69 N:1 A:10) (P)
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AB 2139 (Garcia, D) This bill would expand the definition of “exempt surplus land” to include land owned by the City of Ontario that is located within the sports and entertainment district commonly known as Ontario Sports Empire, subject to a land use plan formally adopted by the City of Ontario for the coordinated development of the district. (Based on 04/16/2026 text) WECA Position: SIA (support if amended)
05/28/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:70 N:1 A:9) (P)
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AB 2152 (González, Mark, D) This bill makes “essential local fire station projects” eligible for judicial streamlining under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) only if they have a PLA with a $50,000 threshold for any construction. (Based on 05/18/2026 text) WECA Position: Oppose
05/27/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:74 N:1 A:5) (P)
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AB 2329 (Fong, D) Existing law sets forth requirements for the disposal of specified surplus residential property in the City of South Pasadena. This bill would require the fair market value offered to present tenants to be based on an appraisal of the property. Support if author deletes CPR waiver on PLA projects. (Based on 04/13/2026 text) WECA Position: SIA (support if amended)
05/27/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:79 N:0 A:1) (P)
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AB 2390 (Schiavo, D) Modifies provisions of the streamlined, ministerial review process established by SB 423 (Wiener), Chapter 778, Statutes of 2023, related to environmental eligibility, project modifications, and approval tolling timelines. (Based on 04/22/2026 text) WECA Position: SIA (support if amended)
05/21/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:69 N:0 A:11) (P)
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AB 2484 (Alvarez, D) This bill would authorize those taxes to be imposed by a qualified voter initiative in the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). Existing law requires MTS work to be performed with STW unless under a PLA (Based on 05/18/2026 text) WECA Position: Oppose
05/26/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:46 N:21 A:13) (P)
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AB 2748 (Quirk-Silva, D) Exempts new or existing affordable housing projects for which a permit application is submitted between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2035, from specified electric vehicle (EV) charging receptacle installation requirements in the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, including any subsequent editions, and instead requires the affordable housing project to comply with the EV charging receptacle installation requirements in the 2022 edition of the California Green Building Standards Code. (Based on 05/18/2026 text) WECA Position: Support
05/26/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:58 N:4 A:18) (P)
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SB 909 (Smallwood-Cuevas, D) This bill would exempt contractor DIR registration fee adjustments from the APA, remove the $800 cap, and eliminate the publishing requirement. It also mandates that contractors who violate prevailing wage laws face increased penalties, with 50% of the penalties directed to the State Public Works Enforcement Fund. SB 909 would increase daily civil penalties for prevailing wage, certified payroll, and related violations. This increases further potential financial exposure for contractors, even for clerical or unintentional errors. Prime contractors remain liable for subcontractor compliance, compounding the risk. (Based on 05/14/2026 text) WECA Position: Oppose
05/26/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:29 N:7 A:4) (P)
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SB 952 (Laird, D) This bill would require the Department of Water Resources, in conducting procurement, to consider portfolio diversity, resource type, location, and hours of typical peak operation. The bill would authorize, on and after January 1, 2036, excess procurement, as defined, of eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources in one year to be applied to any subsequent year’s obligation (Based on 05/18/2026 text) WECA Position: SIA (support if amended)
05/26/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:36 N:0 A:4) (P)
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SB 954 (Blakespear, D) Bill narrows eligibility and imposes a series of new requirements to use a CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing projects. These include additional setback standards, community benefit agreements, zero-emission backup generation mandates, stringent air limits, LEED Gold certification, and even a requirement for gubernatorial certification. (Based on 05/14/2026 text) WECA Position: OUA (oppose unless amended)
05/27/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:23 N:9 A:8) (P)
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SB 983 (Weber Pierson, D) This bill would establish a pilot program to authorize the San Diego Unified Port District to use job order contracting as a procurement method but subject to the ports PLA (Based on 04/22/2026 text) WECA Position: OUA (oppose unless amended)
05/26/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:29 N:8 A:3) (P)
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SB 1145 (Grayson, D) Excludes from the Surplus Land Act dispositions for military base reuse projects and streamlines environmental review for the Concord Community Reuse Project. (Based on 04/28/2026 text) WECA Position: OUA (oppose unless amended)
05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:39 N:0 A:1) (P)
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SB 1154 (Reyes, D) This bill gives "best value" contracting option to community college districts for projects over $1,000,000. It includes bad safety language and STW mandates unless covered by a PLA. It mandates a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030, on its utilization. These provisions will expire on January 1, 2031. (Based on 02/18/2026 text) WECA Position: Oppose
05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:29 N:9 A:2) (P)
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SB 1185 (Cortese, D) The bill extends the skilled and trained workforce (STW) requirement to facilities related to pharmaceutical research, development, and production. It mandates monthly compliance reports to the Labor Commissioner. If contractors or subcontractors violate this workforce requirement, they face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per month for a first violation and up to $10,000 per month for subsequent violations. (Based on 05/14/2026 text) WECA Position: OUA (oppose unless amended)
05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:29 N:7 A:4) (P)
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SB 1256 (Jones, R) Provides that an action to enforce the Subdivision Map Act cannot be commenced or sustained if it raises substantially similar issues or claims to an action related to the California Environmental Quality Act. Requires a PLA to be eligible. (Based on 04/30/2026 text) WECA Position: Oppose
05/27/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:33 N:0 A:7) (P)
In This Edition:
· Rapid Safety Progress
· Ballot Initiative Proposed for 2028
· Nuclear Apprenticeship Push
· End to EEO-1 Reporting?
· PLAs for California Sporting Venues
· Updated Cal/OSHA Workplace Posting
· Bills!
Small Construction Firms Drive Rapid Safety Progress But Still Lag Larger Peers
- A Dodge Construction Network report reveals that small construction companies with 20 or fewer employees are rapidly adopting workplace safety practices.
- These small firms increased their use of online safety training, employee assistance programs, and heat exposure tracking methods faster than their larger industry peers.
- Despite making significant progress, smaller contractors still utilize formal health and safety management practices less frequently than mid-sized and large enterprises.
- Industry researchers note that these smaller organizations require additional worker engagement, free tools, and data analysis to sustain long-term workplace protections.
READ MORE
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California Ballot Initiative Proposed for 2028 to Repeal the Top-Two Primary System
On May 8, Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant and strategist known for his work on California ballot measure campaigns, filed an initiative for the 2028 ballot proposing to repeal the state’s top-two primary system. California adopted the system when voters approved Proposition 14, 53.7% to 46.3% in June 2010.
The top-two system requires all candidates to be listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election. This makes it possible for two candidates of the same political party to win a top-two primary and face off in the general election. California is one of three states, including Alaska and Washington, that use a top-two style primary, or a variation of one, for all congressional and statewide elections.
Maviglio’s proposed constitutional amendment would authorize partisan primaries for congressional and state offices and allow any political party that holds a partisan primary to advance the top vote-getters from that primary to the general election.
To qualify for the ballot, the initiative campaign needs to collect signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast at the 2026 gubernatorial election. State law currently requires ballot initiatives to appear on general election ballots. If adopted in 2028, it would be used in the 2030 primaries.
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Bechtel, NABTU Launch Nuclear Apprenticeship Push as Power Demand Rises
Bechtel and North America’s Building Trades Unions have signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize apprenticeship programs for nuclear construction projects, including both traditional reactors and small modular reactors. The initiative comes as nuclear construction accelerates alongside rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, and electrification. Bechtel said the partnership is designed to align training programs with evolving nuclear construction methods while maintaining strict safety and quality standards required on nuclear projects.
Story
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EEOC Filing Signals Likely End to EEO-1 Reporting
Since 1966, employers with 100 or more employees have been required to file the Standard Form 100, popularly known as the EEO-1 Report, annually. This form collects information on all of an employer’s work locations and the number of employees at each location by job category, sex, and race or ethnicity. Similar reports must also be filed periodically by labor unions (the EEO-3), state and local governments (the EEO-4), and public and secondary school systems (the EEO-5). On May 14, 2026, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) received from the EEOC a proposed rule titled: Rescission of EEO-1, EEO-2, EEO-3, EEO-4. EEO-5, and Reporting Requirement Under Title VII, the ADA, GINA, and the PWFA. Read More
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PLAs for California Sporting Venues
At a recent hearing of the Senate Special Committee on International Sporting Events on the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Cup Soccer, the State Building and Construction Trades Council revealed that they are well on their way to securing PLAs for all venue construction.
Jeremy Smith, on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, reported that:
“The LA/OC Building Trades Council looks forward to entering into negotiations with the general manager and board of Expo Park about community benefit tools such as project labor agreements or community benefits agreements, to ensure the workers creating all these needed improvements and upgrades at the Rose Bowl and Expo Park are locally based, properly skilled and trained, and that these games provide the jolt to the local economy that workers in the pavilion wage can provide.”
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Updated Cal/OSHA Workplace Posting
California employers should take note that the Cal/OSHA workplace posting titled “Safety and Health Protection on the Job” was updated in April 2026. The poster summarizes key workplace safety and health obligations under California law and must be displayed in a conspicuous location where employee notices are customarily posted. Failure to display the notice may result in penalties.
The posting reminds employers of their obligation to provide safe and healthful workplaces, comply with applicable Cal/OSHA standards, and maintain an effective written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). It also emphasizes that employees and their authorized representatives must have access to the IIPP. Employers should confirm their IIPP is current, implemented, and supported by documentation, including records demonstrating that employees have been trained on hazards specific to their job assignments.
More
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Bills
Here’s a look at bills WECA is supporting and opposing, which had votes in the last week.
AB 1707 (Davies, R) Introduces provisions for electricians to apply for certification and exams electronically, and also renew certifications online. Additionally, it allows individuals who fail the certification exam to promptly re-register and retake it at the next available slot. (Based on 02/04/2026 text)
Votes: 03/18/26 - ASM. L. & E. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - ASM. APPR. (Y:15 N:0 A:0) (P)
WECA Position: Support
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AB 1809 (Fong, D) This bill would make permanent job order contracting for school and community college districts. Job order contracting allows these districts to hire contractors for project management through a simplified process, provided they have a PLA that covers all public works exceeding a specified monetary threshold. (Based on 03/23/2026 text)
Votes: 03/18/26 - ASM. ED. (Y:7 N:0 A:1) (P)
04/14/26 - ASM. HIGHER ED. (Y:6 N:3 A:1) (P)
05/13/26 - ASM. APPR. (Y:12 N:3 A:0) (P)
05/18/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:57 N:11 A:12) (P)
WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)
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AB 1859 (Ortega, D) This bill requires that awarding bodies or owners grant access to joint labor-management committees (JLMCs) to "investigate" prevailing wage and apprenticeship violations. These committees can take legal action if access is denied. Additionally, the bill specifies that courts may impose civil penalties for violations. (Based on 05/18/2026 text)
Votes: 03/18/26 - ASM. L. & E. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
04/07/26 - ASM. JUD. (Y:9 N:3 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - ASM. APPR. (Y:11 N:3 A:1) (P)
WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)
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AB 2152 (González, Mark, D) This bill makes “essential local fire station projects” eligible for judicial streamlining under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) only if they have a PLA with a $50,000 threshold for any construction. (Based on 05/18/2026 text)
Votes: 04/13/26 - ASM. NAT. RES. (Y:13 N:0 A:1) (P)
04/23/26 - ASM. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (Y:6 N:1 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - ASM. APPR. (Y:11 N:0 A:4) (P)
WECA Position: Oppose
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AB 2231 (Ahrens, D) This bill would exempt from CEQA hospital projects located in the City of Emeryville or the City of Santa Clara. The bill would require, before a lead agency determines that a hospital project is exempt from CEQA, that a project applicant certify to the lead agency that the project complies with certain labor requirements, including payment of prevailing wages and use of STW. AB 2231 creates a system where workers on PLA projects are afforded fewer rights, fewer remedies, and less transparency than those on non-PLA projects. This is not a pro-worker policy—it is a carveout that replaces public enforcement with private arbitration and strips workers of long-standing statutory protections. (Based on 04/22/2026 text)
Votes: 04/20/26 - ASM. NAT. RES. (Y:14 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/06/26 - ASM. APPR. (Y:14 N:0 A:1) (P)
05/11/26 - ASM. THIRD READING (Y:70 N:1 A:9) (P)
WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)
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AB 2717 (Caloza, D) This bill would require, for an outdoor advertising display authorized pursuant to the exemption and on which construction commences on or after January 1, 2027, the payment of at least the general prevailing rate of per diem wages to all construction workers employed in the execution of the project, and the use of a skilled and trained workforce to complete the project and provisions that undermine longstanding, transparent labor law enforcement in California. (Based on 05/18/2026 text)
Votes: 04/22/26 - ASM. G.O. (Y:22 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - ASM. APPR. (Y:11 N:0 A:4) (P)
WECA Position: Oppose
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AB 2748 (Quirk-Silva, D) Exempts new or existing affordable housing projects for which a permit application is submitted between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2035, from specified electric vehicle (EV) charging receptacle installation requirements in the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, including any subsequent editions, and instead requires the affordable housing project to comply with the EV charging receptacle installation requirements in the 2022 edition of the California Green Building Standards Code. (Based on 05/18/2026 text)
Votes: 04/22/26 - ASM. H. & C.D. (Y:8 N:0 A:4) (P)
05/14/26 - ASM. APPR. (Y:13 N:2 A:0) (P)
WECA Position: Support
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SB 909 (Smallwood-Cuevas, D) This bill would exempt contractor DIR registration fee adjustments from the APA, remove the $800 cap, and eliminate the publishing requirement. It also mandates that contractors who violate prevailing wage laws face increased penalties, with 50% of the penalties directed to the State Public Works Enforcement Fund. SB 909 would increase daily civil penalties for prevailing wage, certified payroll, and related violations. This increases further potential financial exposure for contractors, even for clerical or unintentional errors. Prime contractors remain liable for subcontractor compliance, compounding the risk. (Based on 05/14/2026 text)
Votes: 03/25/26 - SEN. L., P.E. & R. (Y:4 N:1 A:0) (P)
04/14/26 - SEN. JUD. (Y:11 N:1 A:1) (P)
04/27/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)
WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)
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SB 954 (Blakespear, D) Bill narrows eligibility and imposes a series of new requirements to use a CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing projects. These include additional setback standards, community benefit agreements, zero-emission backup generation mandates, stringent air limits, LEED Gold certification, and even a requirement for gubernatorial certification. (Based on 05/14/2026 text)
Votes: 04/15/26 - SEN. E.Q. (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)
04/22/26 - SEN. L., P.E. & R. (Y:4 N:1 A:0) (P)
05/04/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)
WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)
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SB 1145 (Grayson, D) Excludes from the Surplus Land Act dispositions for military base reuse projects and streamlines environmental review for the Concord Community Reuse Project. (Based on 04/28/2026 text)
Votes: 04/15/26 - SEN. L. GOV. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
04/22/26 - SEN. E.Q. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/11/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:39 N:0 A:1) (P)
WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)
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SB 1154 (Reyes, D) This bill gives "best value" contracting option to community college districts for projects over $1,000,000. It includes bad safety language and STW mandates unless covered by a PLA. It mandates a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030, on its utilization. These provisions will expire on January 1, 2031. (Based on 02/18/2026 text)
Votes: 04/08/26 - SEN. ED. (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)
05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:29 N:9 A:2) (P)
WECA Position: Oppose
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SB 1165 (Caballero, D) SB 1165 strengthens tax enforcement by authorizing the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to coordinate with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to ensure contractors settle unpaid taxes. (Based on 04/16/2026 text)
Votes: 04/13/26 - SEN. B., P. & E.D. (Y:11 N:0 A:0) (P)
04/22/26 - SEN. REV. & TAX (Y:5 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/07/26 - SEN. Consent Calendar 2nd (Y:36 N:0 A:4) (P)
WECA Position: Support
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SB 1185 (Cortese, D) The bill extends the skilled and trained workforce (STW) requirement to facilities related to pharmaceutical research, development, and production. It mandates monthly compliance reports to the Labor Commissioner. If contractors or subcontractors violate this workforce requirement, they face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per month for a first violation and up to $10,000 per month for subsequent violations. (Based on 05/14/2026 text)
Votes: 04/15/26 - SEN. L., P.E. & R. (Y:4 N:1 A:0) (P)
05/04/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:6 N:1 A:0) (P)
05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading (Y:29 N:7 A:4) (P)
WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)
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SB 1241 (Smallwood-Cuevas, D) The new bill broadens the circumstances in which skilled and trained workforce requirements apply and includes additional changes. It prohibits the waiver of penalties if monthly compliance reports are incomplete or false. The bill also considers whether a contractor submitted and followed a compliance plan when determining penalties. Additionally, a contractor or subcontractor found guilty of material misrepresentation becomes ineligible for public works contracts. The Commissioner must investigate complaints about workforce violations from labor-management committees. (Based on 05/14/2026 text)
Votes: 03/25/26 - SEN. L., P.E. & R. (Y:4 N:1 A:0) (P)
04/13/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)
05/14/26 - SEN. APPR. (Y:6 N:1 A:0) (P)
WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)