CaliforniaState agencies would review telework and report program savings
If it had taken effect, the bill would have required state agencies to review telework programs every 10 years and the state to report their costs and benefits.
What it does
The Department of General Services would create a dashboard showing program benefits, including savings from less office space and lower operating costs, along with emissions and travel changes.
Every 10 years, each state agency would review whether its telework program fits its work and mission and helps it recruit and keep qualified employees.
The bill would rename “telecommuting” as “telework” in these provisions, defining it as using computers or related technology instead of some or all of a California employee’s commute.
Argument forA public dashboard and regular reviews could help agencies spot ways to reduce office costs while keeping enough staff to serve the public.
Argument againstAgencies might spend time collecting and reviewing information for the dashboard and 10-year evaluations, taking staff attention from other work.
More detail
The Department of General Services would have to create a dashboard about state telework programs. The dashboard would cover state telework programs.
Each state agency would have to evaluate its telework program. The requirement would apply to every state agency and its telework program. The evaluation would consider the agency’s operational needs and mission, and how telework may help recruit and keep qualified workers. Each agency would evaluate its program every 10 years; no first evaluation date is stated.
The bill would use “telework” in place of “telecommuting” in these state program provisions. The defined term would mean using computers or related technology in place of some or all of a commute by employees who live in California.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 18Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.Latest
- Sep 4Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 27In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1729 Lee et al. By Ashby Urgency Clause. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 27Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 6.).Passed Senate
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on G.O. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on G.O.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Governmental Organization]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and G.O.Minor
- May 28In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1729 Lee Third Reading Urgency. Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 67. Noes 7. Page 5477.).Passed Assembly
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- May 14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 8From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Coauthors revised.
- Mar 2Referred to Com. on P. E. & R.Minor
- Feb 6From printer. May be heard in committee March 8.
- Feb 5Read first time. To print.Introduced
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