California law expands protections against immigration-related workplace retaliation

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2495 on October 12, 2026. The law amends California Labor Code section 1019 to expand protections against retaliation concerning perceived immigration status. The updated statute prohibits unfair immigration-related practices, such as misusing E-Verify or threatening false reports, when used to retaliate against an employee. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.

The legislation strengthens state labor protections against immigration-related retaliation. By expanding the scope of protected activity, the law increases the legal liability for employers regarding how they use employment verification tools like E-Verify.