California Will Enact New Workplace Labor Laws
Governor Gavin Newsom signed three bills expanding bereavement leave and mandated anti-hate-speech training.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Human Resources
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Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed three pieces of legislation that will update workplace standards across California. These new laws address sex discrimination, bereavement leave access, and anti-hate-speech training requirements for businesses.
Why it matters
The legislation aims to modernize employee protections by establishing a uniform definition of sex discrimination and expanding family leave policies to include designated persons. It also seeks to incorporate anti-hate-speech education into existing corporate training programs to foster inclusive work environments.
Employers with five or more staff members will be required to provide two hours of training for supervisors and one hour for nonsupervisory employees. Additionally, bereavement leave is capped at five days with the option to designate a person every 12 months.
The players
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom serves as the Governor of California and signed the three labor-related bills into law.
The details
AB 1803 requires employers to integrate anti-hate-speech training into their current harassment programs without necessitating separate courses. Meanwhile, AB 2563 creates a uniform definition of sex discrimination, and SB 1149 allows employees to name a designated person for bereavement leave if that individual is not a relative.
Timeline
Two of the new labor laws take effect on January 1, 2027.
The anti-hate-speech training mandate takes effect on January 1, 2028.
Market Landscape
These regulations reflect a broader trend of California tightening labor compliance requirements to align with evolving social standards. This shift positions the state as a leader in mandates for corporate internal training and inclusive human resources policies compared to other jurisdictions.
Employees will gain more flexibility in bereavement leave and expanded protection from discrimination in the workplace. Business owners must prepare to update their training materials to include anti-hate-speech content to remain in compliance with these upcoming regulations.
The takeaway
Workers should review their company policies to understand how they can exercise new bereavement leave rights starting in 2027. Employers should begin planning their integrated training curriculum now to ensure full compliance before the 2028 deadline.
Further reading
For more information on state mandates, visit the California Human Resources section.
Live Poll
Do you support the implementation of these new workplace protections in your state?
