SB-7
Labor & Employment

Employment: automated decision systems.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
1
1
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires employers to notify workers 30 days before using automated decision systems for employment decisions.
  • Prohibits automated systems from making decisions based on immigration status, health status, or protected characteristics.
  • Mandates human review of all automated termination or discipline decisions with a 14-day appeal process.
  • Establishes a $500 penalty per violation and allows workers to sue employers for violations.

Summary

Senator McNerney's workplace automation legislation establishes comprehensive requirements for employers using automated decision systems (ADS) in employment decisions. The bill mandates that employers notify workers at least 30 days before deploying ADS technology, maintain current inventories of all systems in use, and provide detailed information about how these systems affect employment decisions.

Under the new requirements, employers must allow workers to access and correct data used by automated systems and cannot use ADS as the primary basis for discipline or termination decisions. The legislation prohibits automated systems from analyzing protected characteristics like immigration status, religious beliefs, or health information, and bars the use of predictive behavior analysis. When ADS contributes to disciplinary actions or terminations, employers must provide affected workers written notice and a 30-day window to appeal the decision.

The Labor Commissioner would enforce these provisions through investigations and citations, with employers facing $500 civil penalties per violation. Workers who experience violations may pursue civil actions for damages, and the bill protects them from retaliation for exercising these rights. While employers who comply with the notice and appeal requirements would be exempt from similar obligations under other state laws, local governments retain authority to enact stronger worker protections.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection
Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 444
Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy and Consumer Protection]
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB7 McNerney et al
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Rebecca Bauer-KahanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Rebecca Bauer-KahanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Isaac BryanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lori WilsonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
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Tina McKinnorD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Joe PattersonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh LowenthalD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Liz OrtegaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Carl DeMaioR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Alexandra MacedoR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jerry McNerneyD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Jerry McNerney
Jerry McNerneyD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Isaac Bryan
Isaac BryanD
California State Assembly Member
Sade Elhawary
Sade ElhawaryD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Latest Voting History

June 25, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5027PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires employers to notify workers 30 days before using automated decision systems for employment decisions.
  • Prohibits automated systems from making decisions based on immigration status, health status, or protected characteristics.
  • Mandates human review of all automated termination or discipline decisions with a 14-day appeal process.
  • Establishes a $500 penalty per violation and allows workers to sue employers for violations.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Jerry McNerney
Jerry McNerneyD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Isaac Bryan
Isaac BryanD
California State Assembly Member
Sade Elhawary
Sade ElhawaryD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Senator McNerney's workplace automation legislation establishes comprehensive requirements for employers using automated decision systems (ADS) in employment decisions. The bill mandates that employers notify workers at least 30 days before deploying ADS technology, maintain current inventories of all systems in use, and provide detailed information about how these systems affect employment decisions.

Under the new requirements, employers must allow workers to access and correct data used by automated systems and cannot use ADS as the primary basis for discipline or termination decisions. The legislation prohibits automated systems from analyzing protected characteristics like immigration status, religious beliefs, or health information, and bars the use of predictive behavior analysis. When ADS contributes to disciplinary actions or terminations, employers must provide affected workers written notice and a 30-day window to appeal the decision.

The Labor Commissioner would enforce these provisions through investigations and citations, with employers facing $500 civil penalties per violation. Workers who experience violations may pursue civil actions for damages, and the bill protects them from retaliation for exercising these rights. While employers who comply with the notice and appeal requirements would be exempt from similar obligations under other state laws, local governments retain authority to enact stronger worker protections.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection
Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 444
Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy and Consumer Protection]
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB7 McNerney et al
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

June 25, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Labor And Employment Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5027PASS

Contacts

Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Rebecca Bauer-KahanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 17 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Rebecca Bauer-KahanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Isaac BryanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lori WilsonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tina McKinnorD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Joe PattersonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Josh LowenthalD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Liz OrtegaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Carl DeMaioR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Alexandra MacedoR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jerry McNerneyD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Bill Author