CA SB291

Establishes minimum civil penalties of $10,000 per violation for sole owner contractor licensees and $20,000 per violation for partnerships, corporations, LLCs, or tribal businesses that employ workers without maintaining workers' compensation coverage, with subsequent violations capped at $30,000 per occurrence

Requires the Contractors State License Board to establish a verification process by January 1, 2027, including audits or other evidence-gathering methods, to confirm that contractors claiming exemption from workers' compensation insurance requirements truly have no employees

Prohibits the board from renewing or reinstating a license for any contractor found to have falsely filed a workers' compensation exemption certificate until they provide valid proof of workers' compensation insurance or self-insurance

Mandates the board's annual legislative report specifically include the number of disciplinary actions taken for workers' compensation exemption certificate violations

Beginning July 1, 2026, sets minimum civil penalties for general contractor violations at $500-$8,000 and $1,500-$30,000 for more serious offenses, with inflation adjustments permitted every five years