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CA AG Bonta Co-Leads Coalition to Block DOL Rule Lowering Farmworker Wages

Published
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12

Why it matters

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 10 other state attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting the United Farm Workers' motion for summary judgment to block the U.S. Department of Labor's 2025 interim final rule reducing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for domestic and H-2A farmworkers. The coalition argues the rule transfers an estimated $2.46 billion annually from workers to employers by deducting housing costs from H-2A wages and creating artificially lower job categories that depress pay for both foreign and domestic laborers. The filing challenges the DOL's departure from farm-specific wage data and claims the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act.

The amicus brief was filed on July 8, 2026. The specific contents of the motion and the current procedural posture of the underlying case are not yet detailed in public filings. The timeline for the court's consideration of the summary judgment motion remains unclear.

Attorneys should monitor this case closely. The rule has already begun depressing farmworker wages in California and nationwide, pushing many workers toward the federal poverty line. A successful challenge could establish important precedent limiting federal agencies' ability to restructure wage protections through interim final rules. Conversely, if the rule survives judicial review, it signals reduced federal oversight of agricultural labor standards—a significant shift for employers and workers across the sector. The decision will likely influence how states approach federal labor regulations affecting their workforces.

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