California Assembly Bill 1221
Session 20252026
Workplace surveillance tools.
Active
Failed in Assembly on Feb 2, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1221
State
California
Session
20252026
Motion Text
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Roll Call Votes
Yes
Other
Other
Other
Yes
Yes
Other
Yes
Summary
Existing law establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within the Department of Industrial Relations. Existing law authorizes the division, which is headed by the Labor Commissioner, to enforce the Labor Code and all labor laws of the state, the enforcement of which is not specifically vested in any other officer, board, or commission.
This bill would generally regulate the use of workplace surveillance tools and an employer's use of worker data. The bill would, among other things, require an employer, at least 30 days before introducing a workplace surveillance tool, to provide a worker who will be affected a written notice that includes, among other things, a description of the worker data to be collected, the intended purpose of the workplace surveillance tool, and how this form of worker surveillance is necessary to meet that purpose. The bill would define "employer" to include public employers, as specified. The bill would prohibit an employer from transferring, selling, disclosing, or licensing worker data to a vendor, unless the vendor is under contract to analyze or interpret the worker data and the contract includes certain terms. The bill would prohibit an employer from using certain workplace surveillance tools, including a workplace surveillance tool that incorporates facial, gait, or emotion recognition technology, except as specified. The bill would also prohibit an employer from using a workplace surveillance tool to infer specified categories of information about a worker, including, among others, their immigration status, veteran status, ancestral history, religious or political beliefs, disability status, criminal record, or credit history. The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to enforce the bill's provisions, would authorize an employee to bring a civil action for specified remedies for a violation of the bill's provisions, and would authorize a public prosecutor to enforce the provisions. The bill would subject an employer who violates the bill's provisions to a civil penalty of $500 for each violation. The bill would define various terms for purposes of its provisions.
02/21/25 - Introduced
February 21, 2025
03/28/25 - Amended Assembly
March 28, 2025
04/21/25 - Amended Assembly
April 21, 2025
05/06/25 - Amended Assembly
May 6, 2025
04/01/25- Assembly Labor and Employment
April 1, 2025
04/30/25- Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection
April 30, 2025
05/12/25- Assembly Appropriations
May 12, 2025
Sort by most recent
02/02/2026
Assembly
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
01/31/2026
Assembly
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
05/23/2025
Assembly
In committee: Held under submission.
05/14/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
05/07/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
05/06/2025
Assembly
Read second time and amended.
05/05/2025
Assembly
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (May 1).
04/22/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
04/21/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
04/21/2025
Assembly
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
04/03/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
04/01/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.
03/28/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended.
03/28/2025
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on L. & E., P. & C.P. and JUD.
02/24/2025
Assembly
Read first time.
02/22/2025
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
02/21/2025
Assembly
Introduced. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 22, 2025 5:55:24 AM
Record Updated
Feb 3, 2026 8:34:46 AM