(September 15, 2025) — The final days of the California State Legislature’s year extended into a rare Saturday session to finalize key legislation.
In the final days of the legislative session, California lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment that will appear on the November 4, 2025, ballot as Proposition 50. This measure, which needs voter approval, would temporarily allow the state to use a new, legislature-drawn congressional district map from 2026 to 2030, replacing the one created by the state’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
Additionally, lawmakers passed a major package of climate and energy bills, which included extending the state’s cap-and-trade program until 2045. They approved controversial measures like allowing rideshare drivers to unionize and passing legislation aimed at increasing tech safety for children. Legislators also revised the state budget including more funding for vaccinations, resources for the upcoming statewide special election, and protecting construction for the Olympics from CEQA review.
Measures that failed to advance included revising the Los Angeles County-only tax on high-value real estate transactions, workplace surveillance, as well as a criminal justice bill that would have made some felony offenders eligible for diversion programs.
Sen. John Laird from Santa Cruz told CalMatters that in his 11 years serving in the Legislature, this year had “the most number of issues that are big issues that have been addressed in the last days of session.”
This session, CAPA opposed 10 bills and only 2 of those are headed to the Governor’s desk. Two bills that CAPA supported also passed the Legislature. CAPA worked on more than a dozen bills this year that were amended to address our concerns or did not move forward this session.
Here are updates on key legislation:
AB 84 & SB 414: Charter School/Enrichment Activities: These bills are intended to create more oversight in charter schools. However, the bills were amended late in the session to restrict all public schools from purchasing season passes and memberships to theme parks, zoos, and family entertainment activities. In the bill that was approved by the Legislature (SB 414), CAPA was able to negotiate language that protected the sale of one-time admission.
STATUS: SB 414 AMENDED/PASSED, Headed to Governor’s Desk; AB 84 Moved to inactive, DEAD.
AB 446 (Ward): Pricing surveillance: This bill would have made it more difficult for businesses to offer discounts without facing litigation and would have prohibited using technology to verify customers were eligible for a discount, such as a military, local resident, or teacher discount. The bill was amended to apply only to grocery stores, only for price increases, and removes loyalty programs from the bill. STATUS: Moved to inactive, dead.
AB 1331 (Elhawary): Workplace surveillance: This bill restricts employer surveillance in employee break areas, but it would also ban the use of AI in any security systems. The measure also defines AI so broadly that it could apply to badges that allow employees to access secure spaces. The measure also conflicts with pending Cal/OSHA regulations regarding workplace violence prevention. STATUS: Moved to inactive, dead.
AB 1064 (Bauer-Kahan): Leading Ethical AI Development (LEAD) for Kids Act: This bill is aimed at chatbots but originally included all AI which creates problems for technology to prevent ticket fraud, innovations in ride and gaming technology (augmented and virtual reality), and photo souvenirs. The bill was amended to STATUS: AMENDED/PASSED, Headed to Governor’s desk.
AB 858 (Lee): Hospitality/Right to Rehire: This bill would have expanded COVID-era rules to rehire displaced workers to workers laid off due to natural disasters. The bill was amended late in the session to extend existing COVID rehire rules for hospitality workers until 2027. The Governor vetoed previous expansions of this program but signed legislation last year sunsetting this requirement at the end of 2025 as a part of a compromise. STATUS: PASSED, Headed to Governor’s desk.
Governor Gavin Newsom will have until October 13 to sign or veto end-of-session bills that reach his desk. The Legislature returns to Sacramento in January 2026.
