California Legislature Passes Broad Slate of AI Bills

Summary

California’s legislature has passed a broad slate of AI-related bills, with several already signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and others awaiting his signature or veto. The measures cover employers, healthcare providers, advertisers, large online platforms, AI developers, chatbot operators, and attorneys. SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” would bar employers from relying solely on automated decision systems for discipline or termination and require human corroboration and post-use notice when such systems play a primary role. AB 1833 would restrict AI workplace surveillance that infers emotional states or collects neural data except for safety purposes. In healthcare, AB 1979 would prevent AI systems from independently performing licensed clinical functions, while SB 503 and AB 2575 address bias mitigation and clinicians’ ability to override clinical decision-support systems. SB 903 would prohibit companion chatbots from presenting themselves as therapists or providing psychotherapy without licensed-professional oversight for specified uses. Advertising bills would require disclosure for synthetic performers and extend protections against unauthorized digital replicas of real people. Newsom signed SB 1119, “Adam’s Law,” requiring child-risk assessments, age verification, mitigation measures, and independent child-safety audits for covered companion chatbots; its main requirements begin in 2027, with audits beginning in 2029. SB 867 bans the sale of physical toys containing companion chatbots from 2027 through 2031, while AB 1609 would regulate customer-service chatbots operated by businesses with more than $500 million in annual revenue. Other bills would expand or clarify provenance requirements under the California AI Transparency Act, regulate generative AI use by attorneys, and build capacity for independent AI verification organizations and third-party auditors. The article presents the package as evidence of California’s continuing role in state-level AI regulation, while noting that the remaining bills may not all become law.