California state employees are mounting sustained opposition to Governor Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office mandate, which requires nearly all telework-eligible state workers to report to offices four days per week starting July 1, 2026. Less than two weeks before the deadline, state workers and their unions are backing legislation that would give agencies more flexibility to allow remote work.
On Wednesday, the state Senate’s Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement advanced Assembly Bill 1729 in a 4-1 vote, marking a significant step for the bipartisan measure authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, a Milpitas Democrat. The bill would require state agencies to provide written justification if they mandate in-person work and would enable agencies to establish their own telework policies rather than follow a blanket four-day requirement.
Dozens of state employees testified in support of AB 1729, citing the financial and logistical burden the mandate would impose. Anne Hilborn, a scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told lawmakers that gas, parking, and childcare costs are substantial. “Gas is really expensive. Parking is really expensive. Extra childcare is really expensive,” she said, noting that no compensation has been offered to offset these expenses.
Danica DuPaty, an employee with the Employment Development Department and member of SEIU Local 1000, echoed the concern. “I have yet to hear from the government that we will be compensated in any way, whether it’s through raises or through transportation or any type of stipends,” she said. Workers also raised concerns about long commutes and increased greenhouse gas emissions, with Hilborn and her colleagues noting the irony of spending tax dollars on climate mitigation while being forced to increase their own carbon footprint.
Newsom has defended the mandate as essential for improving collaboration, mentoring, and accountability among state workers. According to CalMatters, the governor argues the policy will revitalize downtown Sacramento. At an April press conference, Newsom stated, “This is four days a week. This is the gold standard dream.”
The mandate is grounded in Newsom’s belief that in-person work strengthens government operations, but a 2024 state audit cited by Lee suggests otherwise. The audit found that allowing state workers to continue working remotely would save the state money, reduce pollution, and boost productivity and employee morale. State data from 2022 and 2023 show that teleworking eliminated 1.08 billion commuter miles, according to CalMatters reporting.
The mandate affects approximately 108,000 state workers. Some agencies have already flagged workspace constraints; a memo from the Department of Water Resources obtained by ABC10 acknowledged that some employees may be assigned temporary workstations outside their divisions due to office space limitations. The Department of General Services is assisting agencies in preparing for the transition, but logistical challenges remain.
State worker unions, led by SEIU Local 1000, the state’s largest public employee union, have pursued multiple strategies to challenge the order. Beyond supporting AB 1729, the union representing state attorneys has filed a legal challenge on environmental grounds under California’s CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) law, arguing the mandate has unrecognized environmental impacts.
Even if AB 1729 reaches Newsom’s desk, its prospects are uncertain. The governor has shown little willingness to compromise on the core requirement. In May 2026, Newsom postponed the mandate for some state worker unions during labor negotiations as a cost-cutting measure, but he reaffirmed his commitment to the policy in subsequent statements, saying “we want to get it done.”
The measure passed its first Senate committee Wednesday and will continue moving through the legislative process. Lee said the bill reflects modern workplace expectations and the realities of remote work. “I don’t think it’s fair to shackle our office workers to be the entire bedrock for our downtowns,” he said, arguing that downtowns should be places workers “want to be,” not places they are forced to be.
Sources
- CalMatters — Newsom’s return-to-office mandate, state workers’ opposition, AB 1729 details, 2024 audit findings, and Newsom’s justifications for the policy
- ABC10 — State workers’ testimony at Senate hearing, specific employee quotes on costs and concerns, workspace constraints, and legislative progress on AB 1729
- SEIU Local 1000 — Union support for telework and opposition to the mandate
- FOX40 — Newsom’s defense of the policy and legislative pushback
