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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California AB 858

Employment: rehiring and retention: displaced workers.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (1)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law, until December 31, 2025, requires an employer, as defined, to offer its laid-off employees specified information about job positions that become available for which the laid-off employees are qualified, and to offer positions to those laid-off employees based on a preference system, in accordance with specified timelines and procedures. Existing law, until December 31, 2025, also prohibits an employer from refusing to employ, terminating, reducing compensation, or taking other adverse action against a laid-off employee for seeking to enforce their rights under these provisions. These provisions are enforced by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, as prescribed. Existing law defines "laid-off employee" for these purposes to mean an employee who was employed by the employer for 6 months or more and whose most recent separation from active employment by the employer occurred on or after March 4, 2020, and was due to a reason related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a public health directive or reduction in force, among other reasons. Existing law also creates a presumption that a separation due to a lack of business, reduction in force, or other economic, nondisciplinary reason is due to a reason related to the COVID-19 pandemic, unless the employer establishes otherwise by a preponderance of the evidence. This bill would extend operation of these provisions until January 1, 2027, except as specified.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Sep 11, 2025
House		AB 858 Lee Concurrence in Senate AmendmentspassSet your home in California to see
Sep 10, 2025
Senate		3rd Reading AB858 Lee et al. By DurazopassSet your home in California to see
Aug 29, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amendedpassSet your home in California to see
Aug 18, 2025
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Jul 9, 2025
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Jun 4, 2025
House		AB 858 Lee Assembly Third ReadingpassSet your home in California to see
May 23, 2025
House		Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Apr 23, 2025
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see

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