July 6, 2026: Anti-Labor Trafficking and Wage Theft Legislation Sponsored by Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Signed Into Law

The law ensures labor traffickers and employers who commit wage theft can be prosecuted where victims live and work

SACRAMENTO, Calif.- Anti-labor trafficking legislation co-sponsored by the Los Angeles County and Sonoma County District Attorneys' Offices has been signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom and will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. AB 1583 was authored by Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) and unanimously passed the state legislature with bipartisan support.

"Labor traffickers don't stop at county lines, and our work to stop their crimes doesn't either," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. "Under this new law, labor exploiters can be held fully accountable and can no longer hide behind multi-jurisdictional crimes. The law will also strengthen protections for vulnerable workers in Los Angeles County and throughout California, including immigrant workers in the agriculture, service, construction and garment manufacturing industries.

"I thank Assemblymember Chris Rogers, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office, the California Legislature and Governor Newsom for recognizing that reform is urgently needed to combat labor trafficking and wage theft. I also want to recognize Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and Legislative Advocate Tamar Tokat, whose dedication to strengthening public safety laws and advancing justice was instrumental in enacting this bill. Additionally, I'm grateful to Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney Katy Yount for drafting this important legislation."

Labor trafficking and wage theft are insidious problems nationwide, especially in California, and are vastly underreported due to the precarious employment and immigration status of the victims. The new law strengthens California's response to labor trafficking and wage theft by establishing clear jurisdictional authority for prosecutors to bring cases in the county where the victim resided at the time of the crime, the employment agreement was entered into, any portion of the work was performed or the offending business operated. The law also closes a critical loophole by authorizing coordinated prosecutions for multi-jurisdiction labor trafficking and wage theft cases.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office's Economic and Labor Justice Unit (LJU) was established to protect anyone who works, lives or does business in Los Angeles County from wage theft and labor trafficking. The LJU investigates and prosecutes cases involving unpaid wages, exploitative labor practices and human trafficking, ensuring that workers are treated fairly under the law. The LJU has become a leader in the field, providing training, technical assistance and strategic guidance to agencies across California and throughout the nation.