https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/12/opinion-california-studied-employee-ownership-sb-1174-would-put-the-evidence-to-work/

“Senate Bill 1174, introduced by Republican state Senator Suzette Valladares of Santa Clarita, would give contractors with qualifying employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) a modest preference when bidding on state-funded Caltrans construction projects: 2 percent for companies with between 30 and 49 percent ESOP ownership, 3 percent for those with between 50 and 99 percent ownership, and 4 percent for those with 100 percent ownership. Contractors that are signatories to a qualifying collective bargaining agreement or master labor agreement would receive an additional percentage point.”