California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB-2257 on Sept. 4, amending California’s landmark worker classification law AB-5 by adding more than 30 new occupations to the list of those exempt from the strict requirements governing independent contractor status. The statute, which takes effect immediately, benefits freelance writers and photographers, music industry professionals, performance artists, data aggregators, real estate appraisers, home inspectors and many others.

Among the bill’s highlights:

  • A provision was removed from AB-5 that imposed a cap of 35 annual submissions for freelance writers and photographers before characterizing those individuals as employees.
  • Musicians who book a single live performance, and those involved in the production of sound recordings and musical compositions, will remain independent contractors.
  • Individual performance artists such as comedians, magicians, storytellers and puppeteers, who retain intellectual property rights and artistic control, will remain independent contractors.
  • Previous exemptions for bona fide contracting relationships, and relationships between a service provider and a referral agency, have been modified.

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