Governor Gavin Newsom signs legislation establishing first-in-the-nation standards for independent AI audits and assessments
Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills, Senate Bill 813 and Assembly Bill 1405, to strengthen California's framework for safe and accountable artificial intelligence. The legislation establishes a first-in-the-nation framework for independent verification organizations to assess AI systems for compliance with state law. Assembly Bill 1405 creates a state registry for AI auditors and sets standards for their independence, transparency, and integrity. These bills aim to provide third-party evaluations to ensure AI remains safe and beneficial as the technology becomes more embedded in critical sectors of the economy. The administration announced that these measures are necessary because the scale of the technology demands sustained action from every level of government. In the healthcare sector, Assembly Bill 2575 addresses liability and employment protections. It eliminates a common defense in tort litigation where a professional's failure to override an AI output is considered a superseding cause of harm. Additionally, the bill prohibits employers from retaliating against healthcare workers who use their professional judgment to override or rely on AI-assisted clinical decision support systems. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Sources
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Governor Newsom signs first-in-the-nation AI safeguards to protect Californians, calls on the federal government to do its part
California State Portal | CA.gov
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