H-2A Worker Minimum Wage Bill Passes
Published Friday, August 28, 2026
Assembly Bill 2646 by Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, passed the California Senate on Aug. 25 on a party-line 30-8 vote. The bill would establish a $19.75-per-hour state minimum wage for certain agricultural employees, including nonresident farmworkers permitted to work temporarily or seasonally in California through the applicable state approval process. It also would apply to California residents and other “corresponding” employees performing the same or substantially similar work. The bill would apply the $19.75 minimum wage beginning Jan. 1, with annual increases thereafter tied to the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.
AB 2646 now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration and signature or veto. If enacted, the measure would establish a wage floor above California’s current statewide minimum wage of $16.90 per hour and create additional wage requirements for agricultural employers with qualifying workers.
Staff contact: Bryan Little, blittle@cfbf.com.
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