What AB 1331 does
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the enrolled text, September 4, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Elhawary introduced AB 1331 on . The text was amended 0 times, and heard in 8 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, June 5, 2025: 55 ayes, 15 noes.
- Senate Floor, August 31, 2026: 29 ayes, 5 noes.
- Assembly Floor, August 31, 2026: 61 ayes, 7 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Labor and Employment, April 2, 2025: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy and Consumer Protection], 5-0.
- Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection, April 22, 2025: Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary], 10-3.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 23, 2025: Do pass as amended., 11-3.
- Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, June 25, 2025: Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary], 4-1.
- Senate Judiciary, July 15, 2025: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 9-2.
- Senate Appropriations, August 18, 2025: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 29, 2025: Do pass as amended, 5-2.
Who supports and opposes AB 1331
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 28, 2026 lists 59 organizations in support and 138 in opposition. When Assembly Labor and Employment first listed positions on April 1, 2025, the count was 21 in support and 52 opposed. By the Senate Floor Analyses analysis of August 28, 2026 it was 59 to 138.
In support: California Federation of Labor Unions (sponsor); Air Line Pilots Association, International; AFSCME California; Association of Flight Attendants - CWA; California Alliance for Retired Americans; California Civil Liberties Advocacy; California Coalition for Worker Power; California Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union; and 51 more.
Opposed: Acclamation Insurance Management Services; ADT Security Services; Aerospace and Defense Alliance of California; Agricultural Council of California; Allied Managed Care; American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; Anaheim Chamber of Commerce; and 130 more.
Read the Senate Floor Analyses analysis.
Our read
Analysis by Capitol Axis, drawn from the committee analyses and vote record for AB 1331.
California Civil Liberties Advocacy appears in support in the analysis for this bill.
Opposition roughly doubled on the way through, 52 at Assembly Labor and Employment to 138 at Senate Floor Analyses.
Among the 138 on the opposed list are Acclamation Insurance Management Services, ADT Security Services and Aerospace and Defense Alliance of California, and chambers of commerce account for much of it.
California Federation of Labor Unions sponsored it, and a sponsored bill is negotiated with the sponsor in the room.
What happens next
It reached the Governor's desk on September 14, 2026. Bills presented after the Legislature adjourned on August 31 must be signed or vetoed within thirty days.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for labor organizations
Two decisions follow from a bill at this stage. The first is whether to weigh in with the Governor's office before the thirty-day window closes. The second is how to prepare for implementation if it becomes law: which agency writes the rules, when the comment period opens, and which obligations begin January 1.
The labor group at Capitol Axis handles that for labor clients.
Questions about AB 1331
What does AB 1331 do?
AB 1331 concerns workplace surveillance. See the Legislative Counsel's Digest on leginfo for the full summary.
Has AB 1331 passed the California Legislature?
It reached the Governor's desk on September 14, 2026. Bills presented after the Legislature adjourned on August 31 must be signed or vetoed within thirty days.
Who supports and opposes AB 1331?
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 28, 2026 lists 59 organizations in support and 138 in opposition. Supporters include California Federation of Labor Unions (sponsor); Air Line Pilots Association, International; AFSCME California. Opponents include Acclamation Insurance Management Services; ADT Security Services; Aerospace and Defense Alliance of California.
What happens next with AB 1331?
The Governor can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until then, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect.