CaliforniaSeven California laws would exclude AI systems from public participant roles
Under seven California laws, AI systems, autonomous agents, and robots would not count as public participants, while people could use them if their own participation stays reasonably typical in both volume and frequency.
What it does
AI systems, autonomous agents, and robots would not count as public participants under seven California laws. People could still use these tools if both the volume and frequency of their own participation stay reasonably typical.
A person would be barred from knowingly using AI to falsely claim that a human appeared before, sent information to, or otherwise engaged with a government agency.
Government agencies and legislative rules committees covered by these laws could use tools that meet separate state criteria to check whether AI is present.
Argument forExcluding AI systems from public participant roles could reduce floods of automated requests and comments, helping agencies hear from people.
Argument againstAn agency's check could mistake a person's permitted AI-assisted request for a machine acting alone, making it harder for that person to take part.
More detail
Seven California laws would exclude AI systems, autonomous agents, and robots from terms used for public participants. The seven laws cover public records, meetings, agency proceedings, environmental reviews, and coastal matters. People could still use these tools to help with their own participation if both its volume and frequency are reasonably consistent with ordinary participation by a person.
A person would be barred from knowingly using AI to falsely claim that a human engaged with a government agency. The false claim could concern a human appearing before an agency, sending it information, or otherwise engaging with it.
Covered government agencies and legislative rules committees could use tools to check whether AI is present. This covers agencies and legislative rules committees named in the seven laws. The tools must meet criteria set by a separate state law.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 863, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 28Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.To Governor
- Aug 20Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 5578.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB1159 Cabaldon et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 1159 Cabaldon Senate Third Reading By Lowenthal. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6148.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Jul 2Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30).Minor
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 25Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 23).Major
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 9From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.Major
- May 18Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.Minor
- May 4In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB1159 Cabaldon et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 4Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4129.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Apr 8Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 7Ordered to second reading.Minor
- Apr 7Withdrawn from committee.Major
- Apr 7From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3742.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 6
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 27Set for hearing April 6.
- Mar 25Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.Major
- Mar 24From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 3659.) (March 24).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Set for hearing March 24.
- Mar 4Referred to Coms. on JUD. and P., D.T., & C.P.Minor
- Feb 19From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 21.
- Feb 18Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
AI & PrivacyGovernment & EthicsTechnology