SB 801: Agricultural workers: wages, hours, and working conditions: definitions.

Official summary

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

Existing law sets wage, hour, meal break requirements, and other working conditions for employees and requires an employer to pay overtime wages to an employee who works in excess of a workday or workweek. Existing law establishes the Department of Industrial Relations and provides that one of its functions is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of California, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment.

Existing law establishes specific labor protections for sheepherders and goat herders, as defined, relating to wages, meal and rest periods, lodging, and other conditions of employment. Existing law imposes civil penalties, as prescribed, for violations of these provisions.

Existing law, the Phase-In Overtime for Agricultural Workers Act of 2016, establishes a schedule that phases in overtime requirements for persons employed in an agricultural occupation, as defined. The act, beginning January 1, 2022, among other things, requires that any work performed by a person employed in an agricultural occupation in excess of 12 hours per day be compensated at a rate of no less than twice the employee’s regular rate of pay. Existing law requires the Department of Industrial Relations to update a specific wage order of the Industrial Welfare Commission governing agricultural occupations to be consistent with the act, except in specified circumstances in which the existing wage order offers greater protections. The act defines the term “employed in an agricultural occupation” for these purposes as having the same meaning as in that wage order.

For purposes of the Phase-In Overtime for Agricultural Workers Act of 2016, this bill would create an exception from the above-described definition for sheepherders or goat herders, as defined in that order.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 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. February 2, 2026Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. April 30, 2025April 30 set for first hearing. Testimony taken. Further hearing to be set.
3. April 11, 2025Set for hearing April 30.
4. April 2, 2025Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
5. March 24, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
6. March 12, 2025Referred to Com. on RLS.
7. February 24, 2025Read first time.
8. February 24, 2025From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
9. February 21, 2025Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.