AB-2646 • 2026

Employment: minimum wages: agricultural workers.

Budget Crime Education Labor Taxes

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Krell
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on expanding criminal penalties or specifying new uses for the Industrial Relations Unpaid Wage Fund beyond returning unpaid wages to workers.

Minimum Wage Increase for Agricultural Workers

The bill sets a new minimum wage of $19.75 per hour for agricultural workers and adjusts this rate annually based on the cost-of-living adjustment for social security benefits.

What This Bill Does

Sets a new minimum hourly wage of $19.75 for approved agricultural employees starting January 1, 2027.
Increases the minimum wage each year by the same amount as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.

Who It Names or Affects

Agricultural employees and their employers in California.

Terms To Know

Industrial Relations Unpaid Wage Fund: A fund where collected unpaid wages are kept to be returned to workers or used for other purposes related to worker rights.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will go into the Industrial Relations Unpaid Wage Fund.
It is unclear what new uses the fund might have beyond returning unpaid wages to workers.

Bill History

2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-26 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L. & E.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2646, as amended, Krell.
Employment: minimum wages: agricultural workers.
Existing law establishes a minimum wage for all industries and imposes criminal penalties for violation of these wage provisions. Existing law authorizes the Labor Commissioner to collect due and unpaid wages or benefits on behalf of workers. Under existing law, the commissioner acts as trustee and deposits collected wages and benefits into the Industrial Relations Unpaid Wage Fund, which is continuously appropriated for the purpose of remitting the collected wages or benefits.
This bill would require the minimum hourly wage for an approved agricultural employee and corresponding employee, as defined, to be $19.75 per hour. Commencing January 1, 2027, and each January thereafter, the bill would require the above-described minimum hourly wage to be adjusted by an amount equal to the cost-of-living
adjustment for social security benefits, as specified. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. By increasing the revenue to the Industrial Relations Unpaid Wage Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, and expanding the purposes for which moneys in that fund may be used, the bill would make an appropriation.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF