California Lawmakers Reject Workplace Surveillance Limits

California lawmakers on Jan. 19, 2026 rejected Assembly Bill 1331, which would have barred employer surveillance in employee-only areas and during off-duty hours and imposed $500 civil penalties per violation. Business groups and county officials argued the restrictions would jeopardize safety, and after passing seven committees and the Assembly the measure died on the Senate floor, leaving AI-enabled audio and video monitoring largely unregulated in workplaces.