Bill Commons

CA AB 1362

enacted

Foreign labor contractor registration: agricultural workers.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did CA AB 1362 pass?

Yes. CA AB 1362 has been enacted into law as of 2025-10-01. Latest recorded action (2025-10-01): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 190, Statutes of 2025.

What is CA AB 1362 about?

(1) Existing law establishes the Department of Industrial Relations within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and sets forth the functions of the department, which include, among others, fostering, promoting, and developing the welfare of the wage earners of California and improving their working conditions. Existing law establishes within the department the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, headed by the Labor Commissioner, for the purposes of enforcing labor laws. Existing law requires the Labor Commissioner to enforce and administer a program to register and supervise foreign labor contractors who perform foreign labor contracting activities to recruit or solicit foreign workers. Existing law defines foreign workers for purposes of these provisions to mean any person seeking employment who is not a United States citizen or permanent resident but who is authorized by the federal government to work in the United States, including a person who engages in temporary nonagricultural labor, as specified. Existing law requires foreign labor contractors to register under the program, as prescribed. Existing law requires an applicant for registration as a foreign labor contractor to execute a written application in a form prescribed by the commissioner, as specified, that includes, among other things, the names and addresses of all persons financially interested in the proposed operation as a foreign labor contractor, as provided. Existing law imposes specific requirements on foreign labor contractors relating to recruitment or solicitation for employment and relating to work contracts. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to adopt regulations or policies and procedures to implement these provisions. Existing law authorizes the commissioner, or a person aggrieved by a violation of these provisions, to bring certain actions against the violator, including an action for injunctive relief, as provided. A violation of these provisions is a crime. Existing law makes these provisions applicable only to nonagricultural workers, and exempts persons licensed as farm labor contractors, specified persons exempt from farm labor contractor licensing requirements, and employers of agricultural workers. This bill would, beginning July 1, 2027, expand the above-described provisions to agricultural workers under the federal H-2A visa program. The bill would make related conforming changes and findings and declarations. The bill would additionally require, beginning July 1, 2027, the above-described application to contain a listing of each federal visa program under which the person will be performing foreign labor contracting activities. The bill would authorize the commissioner to enforce the above-described foreign labor contractor registration provisions through specified procedures, including the issuance of a citation or filing of a civil action against a person who violates those provisions. (2) Existing law requires farm labor contractors to be licensed by the commissioner and to comply with specified employment laws applicable to farm labor contractors. Existing law prohibits the commissioner from issuing to any person, or renewing, a license to act as a farm labor contractor unless certain conditions are satisfied, including a requirement that the person has executed a written application in a form prescribed by the commissioner as a foreign labor contractor, as prescribed. This bill would require, beginning July 1, 2027, a person who is licensed or acting as a farm labor contractor and who performs foreign labor contracting activities to register with the commissioner as a foreign labor contractor, as prescribed. The bill would authorize the commissioner to eliminate duplicative application information requirements for information previously obtained from the farm labor contractor's license application, as specified. By expanding the application of the foreign labor contractor registration provisions, the bill would expand an existing crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the Department of Industrial Relations to submit to the Legislature, by January 1, 2028, a study on how to extend foreign labor contractor registration requirements to certain foreign labor contractors, as specified. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Who sponsors CA AB 1362?

Kalra is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1362, joined by 8 cosponsors.

Description

(1) Existing law establishes the Department of Industrial Relations within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and sets forth the functions of the department, which include, among others, fostering, promoting, and developing the welfare of the wage earners of California and improving their working conditions. Existing law establishes within the department the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, headed by the Labor Commissioner, for the purposes of enforcing labor laws. Existing law requires the Labor Commissioner to enforce and administer a program to register and supervise foreign labor contractors who perform foreign labor contracting activities to recruit or solicit foreign workers. Existing law defines foreign workers for purposes of these provisions to mean any person seeking employment who is not a United States citizen or permanent resident but who is authorized by the federal government to work in the United States, including a person who engages in temporary nonagricultural labor, as specified. Existing law requires foreign labor contractors to register under the program, as prescribed. Existing law requires an applicant for registration as a foreign labor contractor to execute a written application in a form prescribed by the commissioner, as specified, that includes, among other things, the names and addresses of all persons financially interested in the proposed operation as a foreign labor contractor, as provided. Existing law imposes specific requirements on foreign labor contractors relating to recruitment or solicitation for employment and relating to work contracts. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to adopt regulations or policies and procedures to implement these provisions. Existing law authorizes the commissioner, or a person aggrieved by a violation of these provisions, to bring certain actions against the violator, including an action for injunctive relief, as provided. A violation of these provisions is a crime. Existing law makes these provisions applicable only to nonagricultural workers, and exempts persons licensed as farm labor contractors, specified persons exempt from farm labor contractor licensing requirements, and employers of agricultural workers. This bill would, beginning July 1, 2027, expand the above-described provisions to agricultural workers under the federal H-2A visa program. The bill would make related conforming changes and findings and declarations. The bill would additionally require, beginning July 1, 2027, the above-described application to contain a listing of each federal visa program under which the person will be performing foreign labor contracting activities. The bill would authorize the commissioner to enforce the above-described foreign labor contractor registration provisions through specified procedures, including the issuance of a citation or filing of a civil action against a person who violates those provisions. (2) Existing law requires farm labor contractors to be licensed by the commissioner and to comply with specified employment laws applicable to farm labor contractors. Existing law prohibits the commissioner from issuing to any person, or renewing, a license to act as a farm labor contractor unless certain conditions are satisfied, including a requirement that the person has executed a written application in a form prescribed by the commissioner as a foreign labor contractor, as prescribed. This bill would require, beginning July 1, 2027, a person who is licensed or acting as a farm labor contractor and who performs foreign labor contracting activities to register with the commissioner as a foreign labor contractor, as prescribed. The bill would authorize the commissioner to eliminate duplicative application information requirements for information previously obtained from the farm labor contractor's license application, as specified. By expanding the application of the foreign labor contractor registration provisions, the bill would expand an existing crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the Department of Industrial Relations to submit to the Legislature, by January 1, 2028, a study on how to extend foreign labor contractor registration requirements to certain foreign labor contractors, as specified. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Introduced
2025-02-21
Latest action
2025-10-01 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 190, Statutes of 2025.
Bill type
bill
Last updated

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Kalraauthor
  • Connollycoauthor
  • Harabediancoauthor
  • Leecoauthor
  • McKinnorcoauthor
  • Ortegacoauthor
  • Stefanicoauthor
  • Lairdcoauthor
  • Wahabcoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-02-21

    Introduced. To print.

    introduction

  2. 2025-02-22

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

  3. 2025-02-24

    Read first time.

    reading-1

  4. 2025-03-17

    Referred to Com. on L. & E.

    referral-committee

  5. 2025-04-24

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  6. 2025-05-07

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    referral-committee

  7. 2025-05-23

    Coauthors revised.

  8. 2025-05-23

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (May 23).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  9. 2025-05-27

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  10. 2025-06-02

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 12. Page 1888.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  11. 2025-06-03

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1,referral-committee

  12. 2025-06-11

    Referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and JUD.

    referral-committee

  13. 2025-06-18

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 18). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  14. 2025-07-09

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  15. 2025-08-18

    In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    referral-committee

  16. 2025-08-29

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  17. 2025-08-29

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  18. 2025-09-05

    Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  19. 2025-09-08

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  20. 2025-09-10

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8. Page 2814.).

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  21. 2025-09-10

    In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  22. 2025-09-11

    Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 16. Page 3310.).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  23. 2025-09-23

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  24. 2025-10-01

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  25. 2025-10-01

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 190, Statutes of 2025.

    became-law

Versions

  • 02/21/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-21Compare
  • 09/05/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-09-05Compare
  • 09/15/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-15Compare
  • 10/01/25 - Chaptered — 2025-10-01Compare
  • AB1362Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2025-04-23 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Lee: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Flora: other
    • Chen: other
  • Do pass.

    2025-05-23 · pass · 11-2

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Calderon: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Dixon: no
    • Tangipa: no
    • Ta: other
    • Sanchez: other
  • AB 1362 Kalra Assembly Third Reading

    2025-06-03 · pass · 57-12

    Member-level votes (79)
    • Addis: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Hoover: no
    • Gallagher: no
    • Wallis: no
    • Ellis: no
    • Patterson: no
    • Alanis: no
    • Jeff Gonzalez: no
    • Hadwick: no
    • Castillo: no
    • Dixon: no
    • DeMaio: no
    • Sanchez: no
    • Wilson: other
    • Soria: other
    • Lackey: other
    • Chen: other
    • Ta: other
    • Davies: other
    • Macedo: other
    • Flora: other
    • Tangipa: other
    • Bains: other
  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

    2025-06-18 · pass · 4-1

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Cortese: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Strickland: no
  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2025-07-08 · pass · 11-1

    Member-level votes (13)
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Niello: no
    • Valladares: other
  • Placed on suspense file

    2025-08-18 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Richardson: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Grayson: yes
  • Do pass

    2025-08-29 · pass · 5-2

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Richardson: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Dahle: no
    • Seyarto: no
  • 3rd Reading AB1362 Kalra et al. By Laird

    2025-09-10 · pass · 30-8

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Umberg: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Reyes: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Choi: no
    • Strickland: no
    • Grove: no
    • Niello: no
    • Jones: no
    • Dahle: no
    • Alvarado-Gil: no
    • Seyarto: no
    • Ochoa Bogh: other
    • Valladares: other
  • AB 1362 Kalra Concurrence in Senate Amendments

    2025-09-11 · pass · 59-16

    Member-level votes (80)
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Johnson: no
    • Dixon: no
    • Hoover: no
    • Hadwick: no
    • Tangipa: no
    • Wallis: no
    • Macedo: no
    • Gallagher: no
    • Jeff Gonzalez: no
    • Sanchez: no
    • Castillo: no
    • Ellis: no
    • Alanis: no
    • Flora: no
    • Patterson: no
    • DeMaio: no
    • Lackey: other
    • Chen: other
    • Davies: other
    • Bains: other
    • Ta: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

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