The Transforming CalWORKs legislation, AB 119 (2025) makes several changes job search as a Welfare-to-Work (WTW) activity.
Effective July 1, 2026, job search will no longer be a required WTW activity in initial engagement, after completion of a WTW activity, or between WTW activities. Counties cannot require WTW participants to engage in job search unless it is an assigned WTW activity that the participant has agreed to. Job search will remain an activity that the county can offer at any point in the WTW flow.
Note that any future federal work participation rate penalty can no longer be passed through to the counties. (ACL 26-32, May 8, 2026.)