SACRAMENTO – On Friday, September 18, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 1729, an act which would have made telework arrangements the default employment arrangement and would have required agencies to provide written support for requiring in person work. It would also have required the administration of a dashboard which kept a running tally on facility savings and environmental benefits. The veto message reemphasized Newsom’s opinion that in person work improves mentoring and collaboration and that existing guidelines provided for exceptions which permit remote work in certain circumstances.
Here is a link to the veto message: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Veto-Message-AB-1729.pdf
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Newsom vetoed AB 1383, an act which would have modified the provisions of the Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) reducing the normal retirement age for local safety employees and State peace officer/firefighters from 57 to 55, allowed public employers and labor organizations to negotiate a higher pension formula such as 3%@55, and increased the cap on pensionable compensation. The veto message indicated that Newsom wished to avoid disturbing the stability that PEPRA has provided and a potential return to unsustainable pension obligations.
Here is a link to the veto message: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Veto-msg-AB-1383.pdf
Although both bills had overwhelming support from both houses of the legislature, it is unlikely there will be an effort to override either of the vetoes, which would require a special session prior to November 30th. Absent a special session, the legislature is not scheduled to return until early December, after the election for a new Governor. Given an upcoming gubernatorial election, there might also be a consensus to run the bills again under a new administration that may be more receptive to either or both of the bills.
In short, technically a veto override is possible, but for all practical purposes, it is a highly unlikely outcome. Historically, special sessions have been called to address broader outstanding issues, but that is very different from calling the Legislature back to override the veto of a specific bill. That has not happened in decades, and California has not overridden a gubernatorial veto since 1980.
CSLEA is prepared to move forward by developing a strategy for next year, particularly with respect to AB 1383.
