Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026 · reviewed by Bhaskar Bhatt (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review or legal advice)What this label means
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California (United States) has 7 recorded AI policy instruments, 7 of them binding and 3 in force. Several binding statutes in force or with 2026 effective dates; SB 53 operative from 1 January 2026. Regulators include California Privacy Protection Agency, California Attorney General. California regulates AI through a set of targeted statutes and privacy rules rather than one AI act.
California regulates AI through a set of targeted statutes and privacy rules rather than one AI act. Senate Bill 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act signed in September 2025, requires large frontier-model developers to publish safety frameworks and report critical safety incidents. The California Privacy Protection Agency has adopted regulations on automated decision-making technology under the CCPA, and earlier laws cover AI-generated content disclosure, training-data transparency (AB 2013) and AI in healthcare communications.
What is the current regulatory status?
Several binding statutes in force or with 2026 effective dates; SB 53 operative from 1 January 2026. The state's privacy regulator also enforces automated-decision-making rules. A reviewer must confirm current effective dates and any federal pre-emption disputes.
Binding rules versus guidance
Binding: SB 53 (frontier models), AB 2013 (training-data transparency), CCPA and CPPA regulations on automated decision-making technology, and sector laws. Guidance: Attorney General advisories on AI and existing law.
California AB 2013: Generative artificial intelligence: training data transparency (Chapter 817, Statutes of 2024)
Developers of generative AI systems made available to Californians must post documentation of the data used to train them on their websites, including summaries of the datasets, whether they include copyrighted material, whether they were purchased or licensed, and whether they include personal information.
Applies from 1 Jan 2026Pending review (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review)Official source
California AI Transparency Act (SB 942, as amended by AB 853)
Covered providers of generative AI systems must offer a free AI-detection tool and embed disclosures and provenance data in AI-generated content. AB 853 (Chapter 674, Statutes of 2025) moved the operative date to 2 August 2026 and added duties for large online platforms and generative-AI hosting platforms.
Applies from 2 Aug 2026Pending review (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review)Official source
California Privacy Protection Agency regulations on automated decision-making technology, risk assessments and cybersecurity audits
Regulations under the California Consumer Privacy Act on automated decision-making technology (ADMT), risk assessments and cybersecurity audits. Businesses that use ADMT to make significant decisions about consumers must comply from 1 January 2027, with further deadlines phased into 2028.
Applies from 1 Jan 2027Pending review (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review)Official source
California SB 1119: Companion chatbots: children's safety (Chapter 190, Statutes of 2026)
Operators must carry out a documented, child-focused risk assessment before releasing a new or substantially modified companion chatbot, from 1 July 2027, and commission child-safety audits by 1 January 2029 or before first public release if later. The Attorney General must set up a public incident-reporting mechanism by 1 January 2028.
Applies from 1 Jul 2027Pending review (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review)Official source
California SB 243: Companion chatbots (Chapter 677, Statutes of 2025)
Operators of companion chatbots must disclose that the chatbot is AI and maintain a protocol for responding to suicidal ideation and self-harm that refers users to crisis services. Users known to be minors get break reminders and protection from sexual content. Annual reports to the Office of Suicide Prevention begin 1 July 2027, and a person injured by a violation can bring a civil action.
Adopted 13 Oct 2025Pending review (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review)Official source
California SB 53: Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act
SB 53 requires "large frontier developers" (developers of the most compute-intensive models above statutory thresholds) to publish a frontier AI framework describing how they assess and mitigate catastrophic risks, publish transparency reports when deploying new frontier models, report critical safety incidents to the California Office of Emergency Services, and protect employees who report safety concerns. It also directs creation of a public computing cluster ("CalCompute").
Applies from 1 Jan 2026Verified (reviewed by Bhaskar Bhatt; a factual check against the official source, not a legal review)Official source
California SB 813: Independent verification organizations for AI (Chapter 179, Statutes of 2026)
The Government Operations Agency must, by 1 January 2028, set up a process to designate and oversee independent verification organisations that assess AI models and applications. The law does not require any developer to use one.
Adopted 9 Sep 2026Pending review (a factual check against the official source, not a legal review)Official source
Instruments at a glance
Native-language names are shown where the record carries one; a blank means the source is in English or the name is not yet recorded.
AI policy instruments recorded for California (United States)
No future deadlines are recorded for California; past milestones are listed on each policy page. New dates reach the calendar feed: California feed · how it works
Current priorities
Frontier-model safety transparency, automated decision-making rules under the CCPA, and AI-generated content provenance.
@misc{aipolicytracker2026_airegulationincalifornia,
author = {{AIPolicyTracker}},
title = {{AI regulation in California (United States)}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://aipolicytracker.org/jurisdictions/us-california}},
url = {https://aipolicytracker.org/jurisdictions/us-california},
urldate = {2026-10-27},
note = {Data licensed CC BY 4.0. Accessed 27 October 2026}
}
Frequently asked questions
Does California (United States) have an AI law?
Yes. 3 binding instruments are in force: California training-data transparency law (AB 2013); California CPPA automated decision-making rules; California SB 53.
Who regulates AI in California (United States)?
California Privacy Protection Agency (CCPA and automated decision-making regulations); California Attorney General (Enforcement of SB 53 and consumer law).
What is the status of AI regulation in California (United States)?
Several binding statutes in force or with 2026 effective dates; SB 53 operative from 1 January 2026. The state's privacy regulator also enforces automated-decision-making rules. A reviewer must confirm current effective dates and any federal pre-emption disputes.
What is binding and what is only guidance in California (United States)?
Binding: SB 53 (frontier models), AB 2013 (training-data transparency), CCPA and CPPA regulations on automated decision-making technology, and sector laws. Guidance: Attorney General advisories on AI and existing law.
Disclaimer: informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult a qualified lawyer before acting.
