Posts tagged Assembly Bill 1729
Newsom vetoes bill pushing back on return-to-office orders for state workers
September 24, 2026 // "While I fundamentally believe in-person collaboration is an essential part of a productive and effective workplace, the state's existing telework policy includes a process for departments to consider exemptions on a case-by-case basis," the statement reads in part. "This measure, by limiting department flexibility and encouraging telework to be the default work arrangement, takes the state's telework policy in the wrong direction. For those reasons, I cannot sign this bill."
Opinion Shameful: Republicans help SEIU defy Gavin Newsom’s return to work order
September 1, 2026 // Enter Assembly Bill 1729. Authored by Democratic Assemblyman Alex Lee and coauthored by Republican Assemblyman Josh Hoover, the bill throws a statutory obstacle in Newsom’s way. Existing law already requires agencies to maintain telework plans where teleworking is “both practical and beneficial.”
Downtown business leader says union push for state worker telework disrupts revival efforts
February 19, 2026 // More than 100,000 people worked in Downtown Sacramento before the pandemic. Now, that number is only at about 60% of its pre-pandemic high, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. Michael Ault, executive director of the organization, is still advocating to put state workers in offices four days a week. “We would love to see the employees come back as much as we can,” Ault said. While he recognized that many workers enjoy the flexibility of remote and hybrid work, he said that the lack of public employees Downtown has noticeably hurt small businesses.