Two New California Laws Every Employer and Worker Should Know

California just added two new rules to the workplace playbook. One changes what employees learn in their required harassment training. The other sets a new minimum wage for a specific group of seasonal farmworkers. Neither takes effect tomorrow, but both are worth understanding now, whether you run a business or work for one.

Harassment training is getting a new section

California employers with five or more employees already have to provide harassment prevention training to supervisors and staff. Under AB 1803, signed in September, that training will need a new component starting January 1, 2028: anti-hate speech training.

The new material has to give supervisors and employees practical guidance on three things. They need to be able to recognize, report, and confront workplace speech that vilifies, humiliates, or incites hatred against people based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, national origin, sex, and disability.

It is important to understand what this law does and does not change. Harassment based on those traits is already illegal in California. AB 1803 does not create a new category of prohibited conduct. Instead, it gives workers and managers better tools to spot hateful speech when it happens and to report it through the right channels. For employers, that means updating training materials before the 2028 deadline. For employees, it means clearer guidance on what to do when something crosses the line.

A new wage floor for H-2A farmworkers: $19.75 an hour

Starting January 1, 2027, AB 2646 creates a separate California minimum wage of $19.75 an hour for seasonal agricultural workers who are brought in through an approved job order. In practice, that means workers on H-2A visas. The rate will be adjusted every year to keep pace with the cost of living.

The law also reaches beyond visa holders. California residents who do the same or substantially similar work for the same employer, in the same county, during the same period are also covered by the new rate. That provision keeps local workers from being paid less than the H-2A crew working alongside them.

What the law does not do matters just as much. It is not a new minimum wage for every farmworker in the state. Agricultural workers outside these circumstances remain under the existing wage rules. If you work in agriculture and are not sure which rate applies to you, the details of your employer, your county, and your job duties will decide the answer.

What to do next

If you are dealing with harassment at work, or you are unsure which wage rate applies to you, talk to an employment attorney or contact the California Labor Commissioner’s Office. Employers should start planning now for the 2027 wage change and the 2028 training update.

Legal Disclaimer and Contact Information

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. Reading this material does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case involves unique facts, and individuals seeking guidance on their case should consult an experienced attorney for legal advice. For a free phone consultation with Attorney Thomas Lee, please call (213) 251-5533.   

Sources: AB 1803 on California Legislative Information and AB 2646 on California Legislative Information.