Newsom Vetoes AB 1729, Rejecting Flexible Telework for State Employees
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1729 on September 18, 2026, rejecting a measure that would have allowed state agencies to set their own telework policies. The bill, which passed the legislature unanimously, aimed to replace the governor's four-day-a-week return-to-office mandate with a system requiring agencies to justify in-person requirements. Newsom argued that in-person collaboration is essential and that the bill incorrectly made telework the default. The veto intensifies tensions with SEIU Local 1000, the largest state worker union, which is currently negotiating contracts and has authorized a potential strike over pay and remote work issues.