Governor Newsom Vetoes Remote Work Bill
California state employees will maintain their current four-day in-office work schedule following Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of a bipartisan remote work bill. Governor Newsom rejected Assembly Bill 1729 on September 18, which would have allowed individual state agencies to establish their own telework policies.
Bipartisan Bill and Controversy
AB 1729 was co-sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee and Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover, aiming to replace the uniform four-day office mandate with agency-specific flexibility. Governor Newsom defended his decision by stating that in-person work is essential for productivity and efficiency, noting that current policies already allow for case-by-case exceptions.
Cost-Saving Projections
The state auditor previously reported that the office mandate was implemented without fully assessing space needs and costs. The audit estimated that allowing remote work for three or more days could reduce office space by roughly 30% and save up to $225 million annually. Assemblymember Lee expressed regret over the veto, emphasizing that remote work could save taxpayer funds and state resources.
