Bill Commons

CA SB 597

enacted

Labor-related liabilities: direct contractor and subcontractor.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper

Quick answers

Did CA SB 597 pass?

Yes. CA SB 597 has been enacted into law as of 2025-10-13. Latest recorded action (2025-10-13): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 774, Statutes of 2025.

What is CA SB 597 about?

Existing law requires, for contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2022, a direct contractor making or taking a contract in the state for the erection, construction, alteration, or repair of a building, structure, or other private work, to assume, and be liable for, any debt owed to a wage claimant or third party on the wage claimant's behalf, incurred by a subcontractor at any tier acting under, by, or for the direct contractor for the wage claimant's performance of labor included in the subject of the contract between the direct contractor and the owner. Existing law defines "direct contractor" for this purpose to mean a contractor that has a direct contractual relationship with an owner. This bill would apply the above-described provision to contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2026. The bill would instead require, for contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, a direct contractor making or taking a contract in the state for the erection, construction, alteration, or repair of a building, structure, or other private work, to assume, and be liable for, any indebtedness for the performance of labor, as specified. The bill would prohibit a direct contractor from being held liable for the indebtedness with respect to fringe or other benefit contributions if they make contribution payments by joint check, as specified. The bill would define "direct contractor" for this purpose to mean a contractor that has a direct contractual relationship with an owner or any other person or entity engaging contractors or subcontractors, as specified, on behalf of the owner. Existing law provides for a streamlined, ministerial approval process or use by right for certain housing developments that meet specified requirements. Existing law requires these developments to meet specified labor standards, including, among other things, making health care expenditures for each employee, as specified. Existing law grants a joint labor-management cooperation committee standing to sue a construction contractor pursuant to the above-described liability provision for failure to make those health care expenditures. This bill would additionally grant a joint labor-management cooperation committee standing to sue pursuant to the liability provision added by this bill.

Who sponsors CA SB 597?

Cortese is the primary sponsor of CA SB 597.

Description

Existing law requires, for contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2022, a direct contractor making or taking a contract in the state for the erection, construction, alteration, or repair of a building, structure, or other private work, to assume, and be liable for, any debt owed to a wage claimant or third party on the wage claimant's behalf, incurred by a subcontractor at any tier acting under, by, or for the direct contractor for the wage claimant's performance of labor included in the subject of the contract between the direct contractor and the owner. Existing law defines "direct contractor" for this purpose to mean a contractor that has a direct contractual relationship with an owner. This bill would apply the above-described provision to contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2026. The bill would instead require, for contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, a direct contractor making or taking a contract in the state for the erection, construction, alteration, or repair of a building, structure, or other private work, to assume, and be liable for, any indebtedness for the performance of labor, as specified. The bill would prohibit a direct contractor from being held liable for the indebtedness with respect to fringe or other benefit contributions if they make contribution payments by joint check, as specified. The bill would define "direct contractor" for this purpose to mean a contractor that has a direct contractual relationship with an owner or any other person or entity engaging contractors or subcontractors, as specified, on behalf of the owner. Existing law provides for a streamlined, ministerial approval process or use by right for certain housing developments that meet specified requirements. Existing law requires these developments to meet specified labor standards, including, among other things, making health care expenditures for each employee, as specified. Existing law grants a joint labor-management cooperation committee standing to sue a construction contractor pursuant to the above-described liability provision for failure to make those health care expenditures. This bill would additionally grant a joint labor-management cooperation committee standing to sue pursuant to the liability provision added by this bill.

Introduced
2025-02-20
Latest action
2025-10-13 — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 774, Statutes of 2025.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Corteseauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-02-20

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    introduction,reading-1,referral-committee

  2. 2025-02-21

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

  3. 2025-03-05

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

    referral-committee

  4. 2025-03-26

    Set for hearing April 9.

  5. 2025-03-28

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  6. 2025-04-09

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 739.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

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

  7. 2025-04-09

    Set for hearing April 22.

  8. 2025-04-23

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 836.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

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

  9. 2025-04-25

    Set for hearing May 5.

  10. 2025-05-05

    May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  11. 2025-05-16

    Set for hearing May 23.

  12. 2025-05-23

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  13. 2025-05-23

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1206.) (May 23).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  14. 2025-05-27

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  15. 2025-05-29

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1327.) Ordered to the Assembly.

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  16. 2025-05-29

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

    reading-1

  17. 2025-06-05

    Referred to Coms. on L. & E. and JUD.

    referral-committee

  18. 2025-06-27

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  19. 2025-07-10

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

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

  20. 2025-07-10

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  21. 2025-07-16

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

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

  22. 2025-08-20

    August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  23. 2025-08-29

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).

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

  24. 2025-09-02

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  25. 2025-09-03

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  26. 2025-09-08

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3007.) Ordered to the Senate.

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  27. 2025-09-08

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  28. 2025-09-09

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2743.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

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

  29. 2025-09-17

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  30. 2025-10-13

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  31. 2025-10-13

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 774, Statutes of 2025.

    became-law

Versions

  • 02/20/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-20Compare
  • 03/28/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-03-28Compare
  • 06/27/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-06-27Compare
  • 07/10/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-07-10Compare
  • 09/02/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-09-02Compare
  • 09/12/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-12Compare
  • 10/13/25 - Chaptered — 2025-10-13Compare
  • SB597Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

    2025-04-09 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Durazo: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Strickland: yes

  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-04-22 · pass · 13-0

    Member-level votes (13)
    • Allen: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Wiener: yes

  • Placed on suspense file

    2025-05-05 · pass · 7-0

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

  • Do pass

    2025-05-23 · pass · 6-0

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

  • Special Consent

    2025-05-29 · pass · 38-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Grove: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • Jones: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Alvarado-Gil: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Limón: other
    • Reyes: other

  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-07-09 · pass · 7-0

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

  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-07-15 · pass · 12-0

    Member-level votes (12)
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Papan: yes

  • Do pass as amended.

    2025-08-29 · pass · 11-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Sanchez: other
    • Ta: other
    • Tangipa: other
    • Dixon: other

  • SB 597 Cortese Senate Third Reading By Kalra

    2025-09-08 · pass · 79-0

    Member-level votes (80)
    • Addis: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Johnson: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Ellis: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Nguyen: other

  • Unfinished Business SB597 Cortese Concurrence

    2025-09-09 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Richardson: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Jones: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Alvarado-Gil: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Grove: yes
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Reyes: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Blakespear: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB597

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z

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