January 27, 2022

On Tuesday, the paid sick leave expansion deal dropped. Governor Newsom was joined by Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins to announce the deal which will provide the benefit through September 30, 2022. Supporters have pointed to the benefit as a crucial way to keep sick employees home, and help close out threats of spreading COVID. The proposal is paired with the restoration of business tax credits including the research and development credits, and more money for the Small Business COVID relief program.

“California’s ability to take early budget action will protect workers and provide real relief to businesses reeling from this latest surge. Throughout this pandemic, we have come together to address the immediate impacts COVID-19 continues to have on millions of California families, both at home and at work. By extending sick leave to frontline workers with COVID and providing support for California businesses, we can help protect the health of our workforce, while also ensuring that businesses and our economy are able to thrive. We will continue to work to address additional needs of small businesses through the budget – they are the backbone of our communities and continue to be impacted by COVID-19.”

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