Yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 1102, the H-2A bill authored by Senator Bill Monning. Western Growers thanks all of our members who responded to our Action Alerts and reached out to their legislators and Governor Newsom requesting that the bill be vetoed. Your collective outreach made a significant impact on the outcome of this bill.

If passed into law, SB 1102 would have changed the law by ignoring the definition of “voluntary” and “mandated” travel time. However, the Administration has expressed that they are not interested in expanding the definition of travel time. Additionally, Governor Newsom has directed the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency to develop a less restrictive template than that in SB 1102.

Moving forward, Western Growers will be an active participant in the development of the template that will be provided to H-2A employers.

For more information on the veto of SB 1102, read Governor Newsom’s full message to the California State Senate here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SB-1102.pdf.