Newsom Vetoes Remote Work Law in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom of the United States vetoed a bill proposal aimed at preserving the remote‑work arrangement for state employees. With the veto decision announced on Friday, the regulation that would have allowed each state agency to set its own remote‑work policy did not come into effect.

Bipartisan Support Obtained

The proposal was drafted jointly by Republican legislator Josh Hoover and Democrat legislator Alex Lee. The regulation envisioned granting state agencies the authority to determine remote‑work conditions for employees according to their needs.

In his veto justification, Newsom stated that face‑to‑face collaboration is crucial for a productive and effective work environment. The governor noted that under the current system, departments can grant employees remote‑work exceptions on a case‑by‑case basis.

Four Days of Office Attendance per Week

The Newsom administration's decision to require state employees to report to the office four days a week took effect on July 1, 2026. Employees have been required to be in the office two days a week since 2024. The governor's earlier plan to implement the regulation in July 2025 has been postponed by one year.

Audit Report Sparks Debate

An audit of state offices at Hoover’s request found that, before employees returned to the office, the validity office failed to collect certain key information about office space needs and costs. The Newsom administration said it would not participate in the findings of the audit report.

More than 90 employees are affected.

In June, a state employees’ union filed a lawsuit against the California government over the environmental impacts of mandatory office returns. Within the lawsuit, it was argued that requiring more than 90,000 employees to commute regularly to the office would increase transportation‑related emissions.

Remote Work Debate Continues

Following Newsom’s veto decision, the debate over how state employees in California should structure their work continues. Within the current policy of the state administration, departments have the opportunity to grant case‑by‑case remote‑work exceptions to employees who meet certain conditions.