California enacts first-in-nation law on corporate slavery-era disclosures
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2599, requiring large companies doing business in the state to disclose historical ties to chattel slavery. Companies with more than $100 million in annual worldwide sales that existed or had predecessors by Dec. 31, 1964 must file sworn affidavits, with initial filings due Jan. 15, 2029. The California Civil Rights Department will publish the disclosures, and covered companies bidding on or renewing certain state contracts must certify compliance.
California's measure, signed Sept. 30, 2026, applies to firms exceeding $100 million in global annual revenue whose operations or corporate ancestors date to Dec. 31, 1964 or earlier. They must examine historical records and file sworn statements about whether they, affiliates, or predecessors took part in or gained from slavery-linked dealings, such as buying, selling, insuring, or using enslaved individuals as collateral. The Civil Rights Department will post these filings publicly, with the first deadline Jan. 15, 2029.
The bill followed recommendations from the state's Reparations Task Force, created in 2020 and finalized in 2023. It passed along party lines: 30-8 in the Senate on Aug. 25 and 60-13 in the Assembly on Aug. 26. Earlier disclosure laws in California, Illinois, and Maryland mainly targeted insurers. Insurance groups said the new requirement might repeat existing disclosures.
Count words. First para: California's(1) measure(2), signed(3) Sept.(4) 30(5), 2026(6), applies(7) to(8) firms(9) exceeding(10) $100(11) million(12) in(13) global(14) annual(15) revenue(16) whose(17) operations(18) or(19) corporate(20) ancestors(21) date(22) to(23) Dec.(24) 31(25), 1964(26) or(27) earlier(28). They(29) must(30) examine(31) historical(32) records(33) and(34) file(35) sworn(36) statements(37) about(38) whether(39) they(40), affiliates(41), or(42) predecessors(43) took(44) part(45) in(46) or(47) gained(48) from(49) slavery-linked(50) dealings(51), such(52) as(53) buying(54
Covered corporations may face added research, legal, and compliance costs, while firms seeking certain California contracts could need to certify compliance. The public, historians, and affected communities could gain new searchable records about corporate ties to slavery. Those disclosures may influence reputations, consumer or investor perceptions, and broader debates over how institutions address historical harms. The law's practical reach may depend on how thoroughly companies investigate predecessors and how the state publishes and enforces filings. Count: Covered1 corporations2 may3 face4 added5 research6, legal7, and8 compliance9 costs10, while11 firms12 seeking13 certain14 California15 contracts16 could17 need18 to19 certify20 compliance21. The22 public23, historians24, and25 affected26 communities27 could28 gain29 new30 searchable31 records32 about33 corporate34 ties35 to36 slavery37. Those38 disclosures39 may40 influence41 reputations42, consumer43 or44 investor45 perception