SB 826: California Workforce Development Board: port automation.

Official summary

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

Prior law, until January 1, 2024, required the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the California Workforce Development Board to oversee a stakeholder process to develop recommendations on how best to mitigate the employment impacts of automation at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. That prior law created an industry panel consisting of 10 members, as specified, within the agency to inform the stakeholder process. That prior law authorized the California Workforce Development Board to contract the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Labor Center to facilitate implementation and authorized the UCLA Labor Center to commission expert research and testimony to supplement the stakeholder process. That prior law required the industry panel to provide an annual update on the stakeholder process at a regularly scheduled meeting of the California Workforce Development Board. That prior law required the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the California Workforce Development Board, upon the completion of the stakeholder process, but not later than July 1, 2023, to issue findings and recommendations on the most effective ways to implement policies and programs to mitigate the employment impacts of automation and the transitioning of seaport operations to low- and zero-emission operations on workers and individuals living in communities adjacent to the ports.

This bill would reinstate the above-described provisions until January 1, 2029, to determine how to best mitigate national security, cybersecurity, workforce, and economic impacts of automation at California seaports. The bill would instead create an industry panel consisting of 17 members, as specified. The bill would require the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the California Workforce Development Board, upon the completion of the stakeholder process, but not later than July 1, 2027, to issue findings and recommendations, as described above. The bill would condition the implementation of these provisions on an appropriation by the Legislature for this express purpose.

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. May 23, 2025May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
3. May 16, 2025Set for hearing May 23.
4. May 12, 2025May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
5. May 2, 2025Set for hearing May 12.
6. April 30, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 867.) (April 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7. April 11, 2025Set for hearing April 30.
8. March 12, 2025Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
9. February 24, 2025Read first time.
10. February 24, 2025From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
11. February 21, 2025Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.