SHRM and SHRM California Score Victories in State

As California’s 2025 legislative session came to a close, SHRM and SHRM California secured several key victories that strengthen the state’s workforce and support employers’ ability to lead effectively.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three SHRM-supported bills into law:

• AB 338 — Directs the California Workforce Development Board to provide funding for workforce development strategies in response to the 2025 wildfires, helping affected communities rebuild through skills-first employment opportunities.
• AB 1098 — Establishes the California Education Interagency Council to evaluate and address the evolving nature of work and the state’s economy, fostering stronger connections between education and employment.
• SB 638 — Expands eligibility standards for career and technical education grant applicants, increasing access to programs for underserved and special populations across California.

In addition, Newsom vetoed SB 7, a measure that SHRM opposed. The bill would have imposed comprehensive new regulations on the use of automated decision systems (ADSs) in employment. SHRM expressed concern that SB 7, while well-intentioned, would have hindered innovation, created significant compliance burdens for small and midsize employers, and increased litigation risks without clear benefit to workers.

SHRM and SHRM California will continue to engage state policymakers when the Legislature reconvenes in January. The 2026 session is expected to bring renewed debate on workplace technology, workforce development, and employment policy — issues central to SHRM’s mission to create better workplaces for a better world.