AB 538

  • California Assembly Bill
  • 2025-2026 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Assembly
  • Passed Assembly Jun 03, 2025
  • Passed Senate Sep 10, 2025
  • Became Law Oct 11, 2025

Public works: payroll records.

Bill Subjects

Publicworks Payrollrecords

Abstract

Existing law requires the Labor Commissioner to investigate allegations that a contractor or subcontractor violated the law regulating public works projects, including the payment of prevailing wages. Existing law requires each contractor and subcontractor on a public works project to keep accurate payroll records, showing the name, address, social security number, work classification, straight time and overtime hours worked each day and week, and the actual per diem wages paid to each journeyman, apprentice, worker, or other employee employed by the contractor or subcontractor in connection with the public work. Existing law requires certified copies of records to be available upon request by the public and sets forth a process for the public to request the records either through the awarding body or the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. Existing law makes any contractor, subcontractor, agent, or representative who neglects to comply with the requirements to keep accurate payroll records guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would require the awarding body, if a request is made by the public through the awarding body and the body is not in possession of the certified records, to obtain those records from the relevant contractor and make them available to the requesting entity. The bill would authorize the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to enforce certain penalties if a contractor fails to comply with the awarding body's request within 10 days of receipt of the notice. To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on any contractor, subcontractor, agent, or representative, the bill would expand the scope of a crime and impose a state-mandated local program. 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.

Bill Sponsors (1)

Votes


Actions


Oct 11, 2025

California State Legislature

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 616, Statutes of 2025.

California State Legislature

Approved by the Governor.

Sep 22, 2025

California State Legislature

Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

Sep 10, 2025

Senate

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 9. Page 2807.).

Assembly

In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

Aug 29, 2025

Senate

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (August 29).

Senate

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Jul 07, 2025

Senate

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  • Referral-Committee
APPR. suspense file. APPR

Jun 25, 2025

Senate

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Jun 18, 2025

Senate

Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on L., P.E. & R.

Jun 04, 2025

Senate

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

Jun 03, 2025

Assembly

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 3. Page 2006.)

May 27, 2025

Assembly

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

May 23, 2025

Assembly

Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

Assembly

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).

Assembly

Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)

Apr 23, 2025

Assembly

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

  • Referral-Committee
suspense file.

Mar 19, 2025

Assembly

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 19). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Feb 24, 2025

Assembly

Referred to Com. on L. & E.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on L. & E.

Feb 12, 2025

Assembly

From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

Feb 11, 2025

Assembly

Read first time. To print.

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
AB538 HTML
02/11/25 - Introduced PDF
05/23/25 - Amended Assembly PDF
09/12/25 - Enrolled PDF
10/11/25 - Chaptered PDF

Related Documents

Document Format
03/17/25- Assembly Labor and Employment PDF
04/21/25- Assembly Appropriations PDF
05/28/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS PDF
06/24/25- Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement PDF
07/03/25- Senate Appropriations PDF
08/29/25- Sen. Floor Analyses PDF

Sources

Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the California State Legislature.

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