AB 1729: State employment: telework programs.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires every state agency to develop and implement a telecommuting plan as part of its telecommuting program in work areas where telecommuting is identified as being both practical and beneficial to the organization. Existing law requires the Department of General Services to establish a unit for purposes of overseeing telecommuting programs that is required to, among other things, develop and update policy, procedures, and guidelines to assist agencies in the planning and implementation of telecommuting programs. Existing law requires the department to establish criteria for evaluating the state’s telecommuting program. Existing law defines “telecommuting” for purposes of those provisions.

This bill would revise and recast those provisions. The bill would replace the term “telecommuting” with “telework,” as defined. The bill would also require the Department of General Services to establish a telework dashboard that displays the cost-effectiveness and efficiency benefits of state telework programs, including documenting annual savings to the state of reduced office space and operating costs. The bill would additionally require each state agency, every 10 years, to evaluate its telework program to ensure that it aligns with the state agency’s unique operational needs to carry out its programmatic missions and to help recruit and retain a qualified workforce.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 9 · Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 18, 2026Vetoed by Governor.
2. September 4, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
3. August 27, 2026In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
4. August 27, 2026Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 6.).
5. August 13, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
6. August 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 13).
7. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
8. June 23, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
9. June 17, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on G.O. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
10. June 10, 2026Referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and G.O.
11. May 28, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
12. May 27, 2026Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 67. Noes 7. Page 5477.).