Why Bill AB-283 Exists

For more than two decades, IHSS wages have been decided county by county. That means workers in one county might make $22 an hour, while caregivers just one county over earn $16.50 for the exact same job. Meanwhile, housing, food, and gas costs rise everywhere. The result: constant turnover, caregiver shortages, and vulnerable people left without reliable support.

AB 283 (Haney, 2025) is designed to change that. It would shift bargaining power from 58 counties to the state, creating a statewide public authority. Caregivers and their unions could finally bargain with Sacramento instead of fighting 58 separate battles. Counties would no longer pay the 35% share of wage increases, removing their incentive to stall or nickel-and-dime us.

What AB 283 Would Do

• Establish statewide collective bargaining for IHSS wages, benefits, and working conditions.
• Remove counties from financial responsibility for wage increases (ending the 65% state / 35% county split).
• Preserve client rights to hire, fire, and supervise their own providers.
• Keep caregivers as employees under current law, avoiding reclassification fights.
• Merge county bargaining units into a unified statewide system, led by unions like SEIU and UDW.

Why This Matters

Caregivers aren’t asking for luxuries. We’re asking for wages that let us stay in this job without sliding into poverty. Statewide bargaining means:

• A pathway to wages tied to living costs, not just county budgets.
• Better recruitment and retention, so families aren’t left scrambling for care.
• Fewer gaps in services for the elderly and disabled who depend on IHSS.

Where AB 283 Stands

As of June 2025, AB 283 cleared major Senate committees. It moved forward only after amendments reassured counties that they wouldn’t be stuck with new unfunded costs. With county opposition neutralized, the biggest threat now is the state budget itself. California is still facing deficits, and lawmakers are nervous about any bill that looks expensive, even if it prevents bigger costs down the road.

If the bill passes in the 2025 session, implementation could start in mid-to-late 2026, with wage impacts showing up in the 2026–27 fiscal year. If it stalls in Appropriations or Budget, it will die by November 2025 and have to wait until 2026 to be reintroduced.

What’s at Stake

This is the closest California has come in decades to fixing IHSS wages statewide. If AB 283 fails, we go back to 58 county fights—loopholes, stalling, and crumbs while the cost of living keeps climbing. If it passes, we get a seat at the state table and a shot at fairness.

Some counties do the right thing. Santa Barbara County has shown what happens when supervisors choose to hide behind loopholes instead: caregivers trapped in poverty, clients left without stable care, and a system that fails both. AB 283 is our chance to close those loopholes statewide.

The Bottom Line

We’ve been waiting since 1999 for a system that values caregivers as much as the people we serve. AB 283 isn’t perfect, but it’s the strongest chance we’ve had to move wages toward a real living standard. If Sacramento won’t act now, caregivers and clients will keep paying the price.