California AB 1803 Adds Anti-Hate Speech Content to Workplace Harassment Training
California employers will have a new component to address in workplace harassment prevention training beginning January 1, 2028. Although the requirement does not take effect until 2028, Talent Authority recommends incorporating the new anti-hate speech content into workplace respect and harassment-prevention training now.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed California AB 1803 on September 27, 2026. The law, now Chapter 547, amends Government Code §12950.1 and applies to employers with five or more employees that are already subject to California’s biennial harassment-prevention training requirements.
Beginning January 1, 2028, required workplace harassment prevention training must include practical guidance on recognizing, reporting, and confronting workplace speech that vilifies, humiliates, or incites hatred against people based on legally protected characteristics.
What Employers Need to Know About California AB 1803
AB 1803 does not create a separate anti-hate speech training course. Instead, California anti-hate speech training becomes a required component of the harassment-prevention training employers already provide.
Importantly, the law also states that existing training addressing unlawful harassment and abusive conduct based on protected characteristics can satisfy the new requirement. For many employers, that means the change may involve reviewing and updating existing California workplace respect training rather than building an entirely new program.
Why doesn’t AB1803 take effect until 2028?
The law provides employers with substantial lead time before the new requirement takes effect. Practically, that gives the California Civil Rights Department, employers, and training providers time to update existing harassment-prevention programs to incorporate the new anti-hate speech content. Because the requirement can be integrated into existing training, employers do not need to create a separate course.
Talent Authority Harassment Prevention Training
Talent Authority’s workplace respect and harassment-prevention programs already address respectful workplace behavior, protected characteristics, inappropriate conduct, reporting, and leader responsibilities. We are incorporating the specific AB 1803 anti-hate speech training requirement into our California programs for both employees and leaders.
Explore our Compliance Courses
Employment Law for Leaders (includes all 2027 employment law updates)
Comments