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AB-1729 • 2026

State employment: telework programs.

State employment: telework programs.

Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Lee
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how the telework programs will be funded or whether all agencies will have identical requirements.

State Telework Programs

The bill changes the term 'telecommuting' to 'telework', requires state agencies to evaluate their telework programs every ten years, and mandates a dashboard for tracking cost savings.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the term 'telecommuting' to 'telework' in all relevant state agency policies.
  • Requires each state agency to review its telework program every ten years to ensure it aligns with operational needs.
  • Directs the Department of General Services to create a dashboard that tracks cost savings from telework programs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State agencies and their employees.

Terms To Know

Telework
Working remotely, usually from home or another location outside the main office.
Dashboard
A tool that displays important information about telework programs in a clear and concise manner.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how telework programs will be funded.
  • It is unclear if all state agencies will have identical requirements for their telework plans.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-08 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  3. 2026-03-02 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on P. E. & R.

  4. 2026-02-06 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 8.

  5. 2026-02-05 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1729, as introduced, Lee.
State employment: telework programs.
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF