SB 1455 (Stats. 2024, ch. 485) moved the date on which B&P §7125 requires every licensee, with or without employees, to carry workers' compensation. From what date does that requirement apply?

Explanation

SB 216 (Stats. 2022, ch. 978) wrote a version of §7125 that requires every licensee to carry workers' compensation or self-insurance whatever its classification, leaving only a §7029 joint venture with no employees exempt, and set it to start on January 1, 2026. SB 1455 (Stats. 2024, ch. 485) rewrote that start date: the new section "shall become operative on January 1, 2028" (b), and the interim §7125 — a no-employee exemption available to everyone except C-8, C-20, C-22, C-39 and D-49 holders — stays in effect until then. (a) is the original SB 216 date, which is why so much study material still states the all-licensee rule as current. (c) is a real date in the same bill, but for something else: by January 1, 2027 §7125.7 requires the board to establish a process to verify that licensees claiming the no-employee exemption are eligible. (d) is not a date either bill uses.