Public contracts: local agencies: responsive bidders.

Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Berman
Last action: 2026-04-20
Official status: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Local Agency Contracts: Bidders Must Disclose Wage Violations

This law requires contractors bidding on public works contracts with local agencies to disclose any history of wage and hour violations and provide supporting documents, or face disqualification from the bid process.

What This Bill Does

Requires contractors to fully disclose their history of wage and hour violations when submitting bids for public works contracts to local agencies.
Specifies that contractors must provide detailed documentation to support their disclosure of any wage and hour violations.
Allows local agencies to disqualify a contractor from the bidding process if they do not provide the required disclosures or supporting documents.

Who It Names or Affects

Contractors who bid on public works contracts with local agencies
Local agencies that award public works contracts

Terms To Know

wage and hour violations: Breaking laws or rules about how much workers should be paid and when they are allowed to work.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the consequences for local agencies that do not follow these requirements.
It is unclear what specific types of supporting documentation contractors must provide.

Bill History

2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 18).
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L. & E.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1838, as amended, Berman.
Public contracts: local agencies: responsive bidders.
Existing law governs the procurement process for contracts of specified public entities. Existing law requires a local agency that requires that contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder meeting, or making a good faith effort to meet, participation goals for minority, women, or disabled veteran business enterprises to provide in the general conditions under which bids will be received that any person making a bid or offer to perform a contract shall include specified information in that bid or offer.
This bill would require a contractor, as a condition of submitting a bid to a local
agency, as specified,
agency for a public works contract,
to
fully disclose any history of
wage-and-hour violations
wage and hour violations, as specified,
and provide supporting documentation, as described. The bill would authorize a contractor that fails to provide the required disclosures and supporting materials to be disqualified from the bid.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF