SB-779
Labor & Employment

Contractors: civil penalties.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Increases minimum civil penalties for unlicensed contractor violations from $200 to $1,500 starting July 2026.
  • Authorizes the Contractors State License Board to adjust penalty amounts for inflation every five years.
  • Requires public entities to receive notice within 72 hours if they plan to hire unlicensed contractors.

Summary

Senator Archuleta's contractor licensing enforcement measure raises minimum civil penalties for unlicensed contracting and establishes new baseline fines for violations of California's Contractors State License Law, taking effect July 2026.

The legislation increases the minimum penalty for unlicensed contracting from $200 to $1,500, while maintaining the existing $15,000 maximum fine. For other licensing violations, it creates new minimum penalties of $500 for general infractions and $1,500 for serious violations like workers' compensation insurance lapses, with maximum fines remaining at $8,000 and $30,000 respectively. The Contractors State License Board receives authority to adjust these minimum penalties every five years based on Consumer Price Index changes.

The measure preserves current citation procedures requiring the board's registrar to notify public entities within 72 hours when they plan to award contracts to unlicensed contractors. Citations must detail specific violations and include orders to cease unlicensed activity. The board must continue considering violation severity and prior infractions when determining penalty amounts within the prescribed ranges.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Bob ArchuletaD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Bob ArchuletaD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Bob Archuleta
Bob ArchuletaD
California State Senator
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 22, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
130013PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Increases minimum civil penalties for unlicensed contractor violations from $200 to $1,500 starting July 2026.
  • Authorizes the Contractors State License Board to adjust penalty amounts for inflation every five years.
  • Requires public entities to receive notice within 72 hours if they plan to hire unlicensed contractors.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Bob Archuleta
Bob ArchuletaD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Archuleta's contractor licensing enforcement measure raises minimum civil penalties for unlicensed contracting and establishes new baseline fines for violations of California's Contractors State License Law, taking effect July 2026.

The legislation increases the minimum penalty for unlicensed contracting from $200 to $1,500, while maintaining the existing $15,000 maximum fine. For other licensing violations, it creates new minimum penalties of $500 for general infractions and $1,500 for serious violations like workers' compensation insurance lapses, with maximum fines remaining at $8,000 and $30,000 respectively. The Contractors State License Board receives authority to adjust these minimum penalties every five years based on Consumer Price Index changes.

The measure preserves current citation procedures requiring the board's registrar to notify public entities within 72 hours when they plan to award contracts to unlicensed contractors. Citations must detail specific violations and include orders to cease unlicensed activity. The board must continue considering violation severity and prior infractions when determining penalty amounts within the prescribed ranges.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Hearing
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 22, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
130013PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Bob ArchuletaD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Bob ArchuletaD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member