SB-310 • 2026

Failure to pay wages: penalties.

Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Wiener
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Died on file pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on subsequent penalties beyond the initial $100 fine and the $200 plus 25% for willful or intentional violations.

Penalties for Not Paying Wages

This law sets penalties for employers who do not pay their workers' wages and allows employees to take legal action if the employer breaks this rule.

What This Bill Does

It makes it against the rules for an employer to not give their workers the money they earned.
The first time an employer does this, they have to pay a $100 fine.
If it happens again or was done on purpose, the employer has to pay a $200 fine plus 25% of what they owe the worker.
Workers can ask for these fines if their boss doesn't pay them.
The Labor Commissioner can also collect these fines.

Who It Names or Affects

Employers who do not pay workers' wages
Employees whose employers do not pay them

Terms To Know

Labor Commissioner: A government official who makes sure that workers are treated fairly and get the money they earn.
Civil penalty: Money a person or company has to pay as punishment for breaking a law.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass all stages of voting in the legislature and is no longer active.
It does not specify what happens if an employer repeatedly breaks this rule.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Died on file pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-01-20 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2026-01-20 California Legislative Information
Ordered to second reading.
2026-01-20 California Legislative Information
From inactive file.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Ordered to inactive file on request of Senator Wiener.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1195.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-25 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 5.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 2. Page 834.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 22.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 739.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 9.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and JUD.
2025-02-11 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 13.
2025-02-10 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 310, as amended, Wiener.
Failure to pay wages: penalties.
Existing law makes every person who fails to pay the wages of each employee subject to a specified penalty.
Existing law makes the initial violation subject to a $100 penalty and each subsequent violation, or any willful or intentional violation, subject to a $200 penalty plus 25% of the amount unlawfully withheld.
Existing law requires the penalty to either be recovered by an employee as a statutory penalty or by the Labor Commissioner as a civil penalty, as prescribed.
This bill also would permit the
$200
penalty
for each subsequent violation, or any willful or intentional violation,
to be recovered through an independent civil action, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF