Countries / United States (federal) / California

California

The most active US AI rule-maker: a frontier-model transparency law (SB 53), training-data disclosure, CCPA automated-decision rules, companion-chatbot and provenance laws are in force, and a 2026 wave adds child-safety audits, workplace ADS limits and an AI auditor regime.

Targeted binding rulesApproach
8Rules tracked
5Binding and in force
6Upcoming deadlines

In force (5)

  • SB 53 / TFAIA
    LawCalifornia Legislature / GovernorBinding

    Requires developers of frontier models (trained with more than 10^26 operations) to publish transparency reports at release, and 'large frontier developers' (over $500M annual revenue) to publish and follow a frontier AI framework on catastrophic risk and send quarterly risk summaries to Cal OES. Critical safety incidents must be reported to Cal OES within 15 days (24 hours if there is imminent risk of death or serious injury), and whistleblowers are protected.

    In forceEffective 1 Jan 2026
  • AB 2013
    LawCalifornia Legislature / GovernorBinding

    Requires developers of generative AI systems made available to Californians (released or substantially modified since 1 Jan 2022) to post documentation on their websites about training data, including dataset sources, data types, whether copyrighted or personal information is included, and collection periods. Narrow exemptions cover security, aircraft and federal defence systems.

    In forceEffective 1 Jan 2026
  • CCPA ADMT regulations
    RegulationCalifornia Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA)Binding

    Updates the California Consumer Privacy Act regulations to give consumers rights to pre-use notice, opt-out and access when businesses use automated decision-making technology for significant decisions (e.g. employment, lending, housing, health care, education), and requires risk assessments and annual cybersecurity audits for high-risk processing. Applies to businesses subject to the CCPA.

    Partly in forceEffective 1 Jan 2026
  • SB 243
    LawCalifornia Legislature / GovernorBinding

    Requires operators of 'companion chatbot' platforms to disclose that users are talking to AI, maintain protocols to detect and respond to suicidal ideation and self-harm (including crisis referrals), and, for known minors, give break reminders and block sexually explicit content. Operators must publish their protocols and report annually to the Office of Suicide Prevention.

    In forceEffective 1 Jan 2026
  • CA AI Transparency Act
    LawCalifornia Legislature / GovernorBinding

    Requires generative AI providers whose systems are publicly accessible in California to offer a free disclosure-verification tool and embed latent provenance disclosures (provider, system and version, creation date, unique identifier, and whether AI created or altered the content) in AI-generated or altered image, video and audio. AB 853 delayed operation to 2 Aug 2026 and extended duties to large online platforms (2027) and capture-device makers (2028); SB 1000 (urgency statute, effective 30 Sep 2026) removed the 1-million-user threshold and the manifest-label option.

    Partly in forceEffective 2 Aug 2026

Adopted, not yet in force (3)

  • SB 1119 / Adam's Law
    LawCalifornia Legislature / GovernorBinding

    Requires companion-chatbot operators, from 1 Jul 2027, to perform and document a comprehensive child-safety risk assessment before releasing a new or substantially modified chatbot, and to provide child-account protections and parental controls. Operators must also obtain independent child-safety audits (first by 1 Jan 2029 or before first public release, then every two years); the Attorney General can request audit reports for cause.

    Enacted, not yet in forceApplies 1 Jul 2027
  • SB 947
    LawCalifornia Legislature / GovernorBinding

    Bars California employers from relying solely on automated decision systems for discipline or termination decisions, requires human review and corroboration, and requires notice to affected workers including a description of the data used. Protects workers from retaliation for asserting these rights.

    Enacted, not yet in forceApplies 1 Jul 2027
  • SB 813 / AB 1405
    LawCalifornia Legislature / GovernorBinding

    SB 813 creates a state framework to certify independent verification organizations that assess AI systems and models for safety and risk; AB 1405 has the Government Operations Agency set up a registry of AI auditors with independence and transparency standards and bars unregistered persons from conducting covered AI audits.

    Enacted, not yet in forceAdopted 9 Sep 2026

What the rules require

Obligation types found across California's instruments. Filled dot: imposed by a binding instrument. Ring: guidance only.

Transparency to usersSB 53 / TFAIA, AB 2013, CCPA ADMT regulations, SB 243, CA AI Transparency Act, SB 947
Labelling AI contentCA AI Transparency Act
Impact assessmentCCPA ADMT regulations, SB 1119 / Adam's Law
Human oversightSB 947
Incident reportingSB 53 / TFAIA, SB 243
Data governanceAB 2013, CCPA ADMT regulations
Copyright and training dataAB 2013
Frontier model safetySB 53 / TFAIA, SB 813 / AB 1405
Security testingSB 1119 / Adam's Law, SB 813 / AB 1405
Consumer rightsCCPA ADMT regulations, SB 243, SB 1119 / Adam's Law, SB 947
PenaltiesSB 53 / TFAIA, SB 243, SB 1119 / Adam's Law, CA AI Transparency Act, SB 947

Timeline