Goal:
To protect temporary migrant workers in California from exploitation by passing legislation requiring greater oversight of foreign labor recruiters.
Summary:
Temporary migrant workers are vulnerable to unscrupulous FLCs who illegally charge them high fees and bind them to exploitative work conditions.
California is the largest host state in the U.S. for temporary migrant workers. However, California’s state legislature currently only protects around 3% of all temporary migrant workers in the state.
In 2021, we launched our campaign calling on California to protect temporary migrant workers who are too often bound to exploitative work conditions by unscrupulous foreign labor contractors (FLCs). With our partner CAST, we pushed for the passage of legislation that would require FLCs to be registered in California and for working conditions to be disclosed during recruitment.
Despite our best efforts, on September 27, 2022 Governor Newsom vetoed our bill giving reasons which expose a lack of understanding of what it takes to fight forced labor of temporary migrant workers and insufficient commitment to migrant workers’ rights at the highest level in California.
In 2025, a bill, co-sponsored by Freedom United, was once again introduced to the California legislature to require FLCs to be registered in California and for working conditions to be disclosed during recruitment. Partnering with the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative, Freedom United re-launched our campaign to protect temporary migrant workers in California.
Timeline of events:
January 2020: Freedom United launches our campaign in partnership with CAST to amend existing California legislation to protect all temporary migrant workers.
November 2020: Our supporters ask members of the Leadership Group on Responsible Recruitment to join our campaign. We receive support from M&S and a joint letter expressing support for our campaign’s objective from Danone North America, PBC; Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company; Mars, Incorporated; Nestlé USA, Inc.; PepsiCo, Inc.; and Unilever, United States.
February 2021: A new bill, AB364 (Rodriguez), is introduced to the California state legislature to stop fake recruiters and help end forced labor.
April 2021: AB 364 passes out of the Labor and Employment Committee and the Judicial Committee.
May 2021: AB 364 passes out of the Judicial Assembly Appropriations Committee.
June 2021: AB364 passes in the California State Assembly.
July 2021: AB364 passes in the Senate Judicial Committee! The Committee in its analysis cited the support of big business for the bill.
August 2022: AB364 passes out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and goes to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.
September 2022: Freedom United sends a letter in support of AB364 to Governor Newsom urging him to sign the bill into law.
Our supporters email and call the Governor’s office asking him to adopt AB364.
The office of the bill’s sponsor, Freddie Rodriguez, sends the Governor Freedom United’s petition of almost 37,000 signatures asking for him to pass AB364.
All 5 living former U.S. Ambassadors to Monitor & Combat Trafficking in Persons write to Governor Newsom asking him to pass AB364.
September 27, 2022: Governor Newsom vetoes AB364.
February 21, 2025: AB 1362 is introduced in California attempting once again to expand protections for all temporary migrant workers. Freedom United re-launches our campaign.
April 24, 2025: AB 1362 passes out of the Labor and Employment Committee.
May 23, 2025: AB 1362 passes out of the Appropriations Committee.
June 18, 2025: AB 1362 passes out of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee.
July 8, 2025: AB 1362 passes out the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
August 29, 2025: AB 1362 passes out the Senate Appropriations Committee.
September 5, 2025: AB1362 is amended to narrow its focus exclusively on H-2A agricultural workers, who are among the most vulnerable to exploitation.
September 11, 2025: AB 1362 passes out of the Assembly and Senate to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.
Freedom United sends a letter in support of AB 1362 and hands in our petition of almost 46,000 signatures to Governor Newsom urging him to sign the bill into law.
October 1, 2025: Governor Newsom signs AB 1362 into law.
Outcome:
On October 1, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1362 into law — a groundbreaking step forward in ensuring temporary migrant workers in California are safer from exploitation, abuse, and unfair recruitment practices.
AB 1362 closes the accountability gap in the agricultural industry by requiring H-2A recruiters to register with the state and post a bond. These mechanisms ensure recruiters follow the law, benefiting around 40,000 agricultural workers recruited to California each year.
While this bill specifically covers agricultural workers, it sets an important precedent and a foundation for broader protections in future legislation and positions California as a leader as federal rollbacks weaken migrant worker protections across the US.
Thank you to the Freedom United community for showing up over several years, signing the petition, for emailing and calling the Governor’s office and tweeting at the Governor to make your voice heard!
Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.