California SB342: Contractors: unlicensed work.

What the bill says

An act to amend Section 7031 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations. professions and vocations Contractors: unlicensed work. Existing law, the Contractors State License Law, establishes the Contractors State License Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate contractors…

From the chaptered text, September 30, 2026:

An act to amend Section 7031 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations. professions and vocations Contractors: unlicensed work. Existing law, the Contractors State License Law, establishes the Contractors State License Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate contractors. Existing law prohibits a person engaging in the business or acting in the capacity of a contractor from recovering compensation for work performed that requires a contractor’s license unless the person was a duly licensed contractor at all times during the performance of the act or contract, except as specified. This bill would further exempt from that prohibition an action for compensation arising from a contract for specified projects, including for a public work of improvement or a commercial or institutional construction project, and would, instead, authorize a person to maintain an action for compensation under one of those contracts if the person was a duly licensed contractor at the time the contract was executed and during the portion of the performance of the contract for which compensation is sought. Existing law authorizes a person who uses the services of an unlicensed contractor to bring an action to recover all compensation paid to the unlicensed contractor for performance of any act or contract, except as provided. This bill would additionally exempt from that …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Thomas Umberg (D, SD34) · primary sponsor
• Buffy Wicks (D, AD14)

Latest actions

1. September 30, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 967, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. September 8, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 30, 2026: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 6856.) Ordered to the Senate.
5. August 30, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
6. August 30, 2026: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
7. August 30, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
8. August 27, 2026: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
9. August 26, 2026: Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
10. August 25, 2026: From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (August 25).

Votes

• Unfinished Business SB342 Umberg et al. Concurrence (August 30, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed
• SB 342 Umberg Senate Third Reading By Wicks (August 30, 2026): 75 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended. (August 25, 2026): 19 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended. (August 13, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] (June 30, 2026): 17 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate 3rd Reading SB342 Umberg (January 26, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB342?

SB342 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Contractors: unlicensed work.

What does SB342 do?

In its own words: An act to amend Section 7031 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations. professions and vocations Contractors: unlicensed work. Existing law, the Contractors State License Law, establishes the Contractors State License Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate contractors…

What is the status of SB342?

Chaptered as of September 30, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 967, Statutes of 2026. (September 30, 2026).

Who sponsored SB342?

Thomas Umberg (D, SD34), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for SB342?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB342