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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 261

Division of Labor Standards Enforcement: orders, decisions, and awards.

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

Sponsors

Cosponsors (3)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, under the direction of the Labor Commissioner, within the Department of Industrial Relations and sets forth its powers and duties regarding the enforcement of labor laws. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to investigate employee complaints and to provide for a hearing in any action to recover wages, penalties, and other demands for compensation, as specified. Existing law provides that the judgment creditor, or the commissioner, as assignee of the judgment creditor, is entitled to court costs and reasonable attorney's fees for enforcing the judgment, as specified. This bill would instead require that the judgment creditor, or the Labor Commissioner or public prosecutor as assignee of the judgment creditor, be awarded the above-described court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Existing law provides for enforcement if a final judgment against an employer arising from the employer's nonpayment of wages for work performed in this state remains unsatisfied after specified periods of time, including prohibiting the employer from conducting business in the state, as specified, if a final judgment against the employer remains unsatisfied for 30 days. This bill would additionally require the judgment debtor to be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed 3 times the outstanding judgment amount if a final judgment arising from the nonpayment of work performed in this state remains unsatisfied after a period of 180 days, as provided. The bill would require a court to award a prevailing plaintiff all reasonable attorney's fees and costs in any action brought by a judgment creditor, the commissioner, or a public prosecutor to enforce a final judgment arising from the nonpayment of wages, penalties, or other amounts owed arising from work performed in this state, as provided. This bill would also make findings and declarations related to its provisions.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 4:04 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Sep 9, 2025
Senate		Unfinished Business SB261 Wahab et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Sep 8, 2025
House		SB 261 Wahab Senate Third Reading By KalrapassSet your home in California to see
Aug 29, 2025
House		Do pass as amended.passSet your home in California to see
Jul 15, 2025
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Jul 9, 2025
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]passSet your home in California to see
Jun 4, 2025
Senate		3rd Reading SB261 Wahab et al.passSet your home in California to see
May 23, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amendedpassSet your home in California to see
Apr 28, 2025
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 8, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Mar 26, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Judiciary]passSet your home in California to see

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