Thursday, May 21, 2026

In This Edition:

·        Rapid Safety Progress

·        Ballot Initiative Proposed for 2028

·        Nuclear Apprenticeship Push

·        End to EEO-1 Reporting?

·        PLAs for California Sporting Venues

·        Updated Cal/OSHA Workplace Posting

·        Bills!
 

Small Construction Firms Drive Rapid Safety Progress But Still Lag Larger Peers

• A Dodge Construction Network report reveals that small construction companies with 20 or fewer employees are rapidly adopting workplace safety practices.
• These small firms increased their use of online safety training, employee assistance programs, and heat exposure tracking methods faster than their larger industry peers.
• Despite making significant progress, smaller contractors still utilize formal health and safety management practices less frequently than mid-sized and large enterprises.
• Industry researchers note that these smaller organizations require additional worker engagement, free tools, and data analysis to sustain long-term workplace protections.

READ MORE

—

California Ballot Initiative Proposed for 2028 to Repeal the Top-Two Primary System

On May 8, Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant and strategist known for his work on California ballot measure campaigns, filed an initiative for the 2028 ballot proposing to repeal the state’s top-two primary system. California adopted the system when voters approved Proposition 14, 53.7% to 46.3% in June 2010.

The top-two system requires all candidates to be listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election. This makes it possible for two candidates of the same political party to win a top-two primary and face off in the general election. California is one of three states, including Alaska and Washington, that use a top-two style primary, or a variation of one, for all congressional and statewide elections.

Maviglio’s proposed constitutional amendment would authorize partisan primaries for congressional and state offices and allow any political party that holds a partisan primary to advance the top vote-getters from that primary to the general election.

To qualify for the ballot, the initiative campaign needs to collect signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast at the 2026 gubernatorial election. State law currently requires ballot initiatives to appear on general election ballots. If adopted in 2028, it would be used in the 2030 primaries.

—

Bechtel, NABTU Launch Nuclear Apprenticeship Push as Power Demand Rises

Bechtel and North America’s Building Trades Unions have signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize apprenticeship programs for nuclear construction projects, including both traditional reactors and small modular reactors. The initiative comes as nuclear construction accelerates alongside rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, and electrification. Bechtel said the partnership is designed to align training programs with evolving nuclear construction methods while maintaining strict safety and quality standards required on nuclear projects.

Story

—

EEOC Filing Signals Likely End to EEO-1 Reporting

Since 1966, employers with 100 or more employees have been required to file the Standard Form 100, popularly known as the EEO-1 Report, annually. This form collects information on all of an employer’s work locations and the number of employees at each location by job category, sex, and race or ethnicity. Similar reports must also be filed periodically by labor unions (the EEO-3), state and local governments (the EEO-4), and public and secondary school systems (the EEO-5). On May 14, 2026, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) received from the EEOC a proposed rule titled: Rescission of EEO-1, EEO-2, EEO-3, EEO-4. EEO-5, and Reporting Requirement Under Title VII, the ADA, GINA, and the PWFA. Read More

—

PLAs for California Sporting Venues

At a recent hearing of the Senate Special Committee on International Sporting Events on the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Cup Soccer, the State Building and Construction Trades Council revealed that they are well on their way to securing PLAs for all venue construction.

Jeremy Smith, on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, reported that:

“The LA/OC Building Trades Council looks forward to entering into negotiations with the general manager and board of Expo Park about community benefit tools such as project labor agreements or community benefits agreements, to ensure the workers creating all these needed improvements and upgrades at the Rose Bowl and Expo Park are locally based, properly skilled and trained, and that these games provide the jolt to the local economy that workers in the pavilion wage can provide.”

—

Updated Cal/OSHA Workplace Posting

California employers should take note that the Cal/OSHA workplace posting titled “Safety and Health Protection on the Job” was updated in April 2026. The poster summarizes key workplace safety and health obligations under California law and must be displayed in a conspicuous location where employee notices are customarily posted. Failure to display the notice may result in penalties.

The posting reminds employers of their obligation to provide safe and healthful workplaces, comply with applicable Cal/OSHA standards, and maintain an effective written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). It also emphasizes that employees and their authorized representatives must have access to the IIPP. Employers should confirm their IIPP is current, implemented, and supported by documentation, including records demonstrating that employees have been trained on hazards specific to their job assignments.

More

—

Bills

Here’s a look at bills WECA is supporting and opposing, which had votes in the last week.

AB 1707 (Davies, R) Introduces provisions for electricians to apply for certification and exams electronically, and also renew certifications online. Additionally, it allows individuals who fail the certification exam to promptly re-register and retake it at the next available slot. (Based on  02/04/2026 text)

Votes: 03/18/26 - ASM. L. & E.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - ASM. APPR.  (Y:15 N:0 A:0) (P)

WECA Position: Support

—

AB 1809 (Fong, D) This bill would make permanent job order contracting for school and community college districts. Job order contracting allows these districts to hire contractors for project management through a simplified process, provided they have a PLA that covers all public works exceeding a specified monetary threshold. (Based on 03/23/2026 text)

Votes: 03/18/26 - ASM. ED.  (Y:7 N:0 A:1) (P)

04/14/26 - ASM. HIGHER ED.  (Y:6 N:3 A:1) (P)

05/13/26 - ASM. APPR.  (Y:12 N:3 A:0) (P)

05/18/26 - ASM. THIRD READING  (Y:57 N:11 A:12) (P)

WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)

—

AB 1859 (Ortega, D) This bill requires that awarding bodies or owners grant access to joint labor-management committees (JLMCs) to "investigate" prevailing wage and apprenticeship violations. These committees can take legal action if access is denied. Additionally, the bill specifies that courts may impose civil penalties for violations. (Based on 05/18/2026 text)

Votes: 03/18/26 - ASM. L. & E.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

04/07/26 - ASM. JUD.  (Y:9 N:3 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - ASM. APPR.  (Y:11 N:3 A:1) (P)

WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)

—

AB 2152 (González, Mark, D) This bill makes “essential local fire station projects” eligible for judicial streamlining under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) only if they have a PLA with a $50,000 threshold for any construction. (Based on 05/18/2026 text)

Votes: 04/13/26 - ASM. NAT. RES.  (Y:13 N:0 A:1) (P)

04/23/26 - ASM. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT  (Y:6 N:1 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - ASM. APPR.  (Y:11 N:0 A:4) (P)

WECA Position: Oppose

—

AB 2231 (Ahrens, D) This bill would exempt from CEQA hospital projects located in the City of Emeryville or the City of Santa Clara. The bill would require, before a lead agency determines that a hospital project is exempt from CEQA, that a project applicant certify to the lead agency that the project complies with certain labor requirements, including payment of prevailing wages and use of STW. AB 2231 creates a system where workers on PLA projects are afforded fewer rights, fewer remedies, and less transparency than those on non-PLA projects. This is not a pro-worker policy—it is a carveout that replaces public enforcement with private arbitration and strips workers of long-standing statutory protections. (Based on 04/22/2026 text)

Votes: 04/20/26 - ASM. NAT. RES.  (Y:14 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/06/26 - ASM. APPR.  (Y:14 N:0 A:1) (P)

05/11/26 - ASM. THIRD READING  (Y:70 N:1 A:9) (P)

WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)

—

AB 2717 (Caloza, D) This bill would require, for an outdoor advertising display authorized pursuant to the exemption and on which construction commences on or after January 1, 2027, the payment of at least the general prevailing rate of per diem wages to all construction workers employed in the execution of the project, and the use of a skilled and trained workforce to complete the project and provisions that undermine longstanding, transparent labor law enforcement in California. (Based on 05/18/2026 text)

Votes: 04/22/26 - ASM. G.O.  (Y:22 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - ASM. APPR.  (Y:11 N:0 A:4) (P)

WECA Position: Oppose

—

AB 2748 (Quirk-Silva, D) Exempts new or existing affordable housing projects for which a permit application is submitted between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2035, from specified electric vehicle (EV) charging receptacle installation requirements in the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, including any subsequent editions, and instead requires the affordable housing project to comply with the EV charging receptacle installation requirements in the 2022 edition of the California Green Building Standards Code. (Based on 05/18/2026 text)

Votes: 04/22/26 - ASM. H. & C.D.  (Y:8 N:0 A:4) (P)

05/14/26 - ASM. APPR.  (Y:13 N:2 A:0) (P)

WECA Position: Support

—

SB 909 (Smallwood-Cuevas, D) This bill would exempt contractor DIR registration fee adjustments from the APA, remove the $800 cap, and eliminate the publishing requirement. It also mandates that contractors who violate prevailing wage laws face increased penalties, with 50% of the penalties directed to the State Public Works Enforcement Fund. SB 909 would increase daily civil penalties for prevailing wage, certified payroll, and related violations. This increases further potential financial exposure for contractors, even for clerical or unintentional errors. Prime contractors remain liable for subcontractor compliance, compounding the risk. (Based on 05/14/2026 text)

Votes: 03/25/26 - SEN. L., P.E. & R.  (Y:4 N:1 A:0) (P)

04/14/26 - SEN. JUD.  (Y:11 N:1 A:1) (P)

04/27/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)

WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)

—

SB 954 (Blakespear, D) Bill narrows eligibility and imposes a series of new requirements to use a CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing projects. These include additional setback standards, community benefit agreements, zero-emission backup generation mandates, stringent air limits, LEED Gold certification, and even a requirement for gubernatorial certification. (Based on 05/14/2026 text)

Votes: 04/15/26 - SEN. E.Q.  (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)

04/22/26 - SEN. L., P.E. & R.  (Y:4 N:1 A:0) (P)

05/04/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)

WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)

—

SB 1145 (Grayson, D) Excludes from the Surplus Land Act dispositions for military base reuse projects and streamlines environmental review for the Concord Community Reuse Project. (Based on 04/28/2026 text)

Votes: 04/15/26 - SEN. L. GOV.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

04/22/26 - SEN. E.Q.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/11/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading  (Y:39 N:0 A:1) (P)

WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)

—

SB 1154 (Reyes, D) This bill gives "best value" contracting option to community college districts for projects over $1,000,000. It includes bad safety language and STW mandates unless covered by a PLA. It mandates a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030, on its utilization. These provisions will expire on January 1, 2031. (Based on 02/18/2026 text)

Votes: 04/08/26 - SEN. ED.  (Y:5 N:2 A:0) (P)

05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading  (Y:29 N:9 A:2) (P)

WECA Position: Oppose

—

SB 1165 (Caballero, D) SB 1165 strengthens tax enforcement by authorizing the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to coordinate with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to ensure contractors settle unpaid taxes. (Based on 04/16/2026 text)

Votes: 04/13/26 - SEN. B., P. & E.D.  (Y:11 N:0 A:0) (P)

04/22/26 - SEN. REV. & TAX  (Y:5 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/07/26 - SEN. Consent Calendar 2nd  (Y:36 N:0 A:4) (P)

WECA Position: Support

—

SB 1185 (Cortese, D) The bill extends the skilled and trained workforce (STW) requirement to facilities related to pharmaceutical research, development, and production. It mandates monthly compliance reports to the Labor Commissioner. If contractors or subcontractors violate this workforce requirement, they face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per month for a first violation and up to $10,000 per month for subsequent violations. (Based on 05/14/2026 text)

Votes: 04/15/26 - SEN. L., P.E. & R.  (Y:4 N:1 A:0) (P)

05/04/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:6 N:1 A:0) (P)

05/19/26 - SEN. Senate 3rd Reading  (Y:29 N:7 A:4) (P)

WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)

—

SB 1241 (Smallwood-Cuevas, D) The new bill broadens the circumstances in which skilled and trained workforce requirements apply and includes additional changes. It prohibits the waiver of penalties if monthly compliance reports are incomplete or false. The bill also considers whether a contractor submitted and followed a compliance plan when determining penalties. Additionally, a contractor or subcontractor found guilty of material misrepresentation becomes ineligible for public works contracts. The Commissioner must investigate complaints about workforce violations from labor-management committees. (Based on  05/14/2026 text)

Votes: 03/25/26 - SEN. L., P.E. & R.  (Y:4 N:1 A:0) (P)

04/13/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:7 N:0 A:0) (P)

05/14/26 - SEN. APPR.  (Y:6 N:1 A:0) (P)

WECA Position: OUA (Oppose unless amended)