Golden State Today

A series of bills introduced in 2025 has sparked debate over their potential impact on small businesses. The proposals, divided into categories labeled as "Good," "Bad," and "Ugly" for small businesses, are currently under review.

Among the bills considered favorable to small businesses is Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Jones. This bill proposes to nullify specific amendments to the Low-Carbon Fuel Standard regulations adopted by the California Air Resources Board on November 8, 2024.

Assembly Bill 24, introduced by DeMaio, aims to balance the budget through measures such as capping annual labor costs and requiring a two-thirds legislative vote for both state budgets and new program fees.

Senate Bill 628, presented by Grove, seeks to allow employers to claim credits equivalent to overtime wages paid during a quarter for certain agricultural employees.

Senate Bill 84, from Niello, offers defendants relief from liability for statutory damages if alleged violations are corrected within a specified timeframe of receiving notice.

Conversely, several bills have been categorized as detrimental to small businesses. Senate Bill 590 by Durazo proposes expanding paid family leave benefits eligibility to include individuals with familial-like relationships with employees.

Wiener's Senate Bill 310 addresses wage theft and introduces penalties recoverable through civil action. Caballero's Senate Bill 555 focuses on cost-of-living adjustments for workers' compensation recipients.

Wahab's Senate Bill 261 pertains to wage theft enforcement and mandates posting orders online following specific criteria related to appeals.

In the "Ugly" category is Senate Bill 222 from Wiener. This bill would allow civil actions against parties responsible for climate-related disasters if they engage in misleading practices regarding fossil fuel products' connection to climate change.

Lastly, Senate Bill 809 by Durazo challenges current definitions of independent contractors by clarifying that vehicle ownership alone does not constitute independent contractor status when providing services or labor for payment.