Technology & Innovation

Establishes private regulatory organizations to certify and monitor AI systems for safety and compliance in California. Requires AI developers to meet safety standards and undergo audits to receive certification from designated organizations. Provides legal protection from liability if AI systems were certified at the time of incident. Mandates annual reporting on AI risks, benefits, and certification results to the Legislature and Attorney General.

Requires state agencies to establish human oversight of artificial intelligence systems managing critical infrastructure. Mandates specialized AI safety training for personnel overseeing critical infrastructure systems. Requires annual safety assessments of AI systems that could impact transportation, energy, and emergency services. Exempts existing automated systems from oversight requirements if human monitoring would destabilize operations.

Establishes a state registry system for artificial intelligence auditors starting January 2027. Requires AI auditors to enroll, pay fees, and follow strict professional standards when auditing AI systems. Prohibits auditors from working for their auditee companies for 12 months after completing an audit. Creates protections for whistleblowers who report AI auditor misconduct to state authorities.

Establishes a new $20 monthly subsidy program for low-income households to access home internet service. Creates a Universal LifeLine Home Internet Services Fund to support broadband access for eligible households. Requires 90% enrollment of eligible households in the internet subsidy program by December 31, 2032. Allocates $20 million for public outreach through community media to increase program awareness.

Requires broadband providers to submit annual reports on actual internet speeds and pricing by January 2027. Mandates the Department of Consumer Affairs to publish yearly reports on broadband affordability and speeds. Imposes daily fines up to $1,000 on providers who fail to submit accurate data or cooperate with audits. Makes broadband pricing and speed data publicly available while protecting proprietary business information.

Requires California to develop an AI Cybersecurity Playbook by July 2026 to combat emerging cyber threats. Mandates state AI vendors to report potential security threats to designated state agencies. Establishes confidentiality protections for shared cybersecurity information between agencies. Creates a Cyber Incident Response Team to lead threat detection and response across California.

Establishes a state board to regulate AI systems used by children and enforce safety standards by January 2027. Requires AI developers to assess risks, register products, and prevent children from accessing high-risk AI by July 2027. Prohibits AI systems that manipulate children's emotions or collect biometric data in educational settings. Authorizes penalties up to $25,000 per violation and allows families to sue for damages from AI-related harms.

Expands autonomous vehicle regulations to include Level 2 self-driving cars and requires special driver licenses. Mandates all autonomous vehicles be zero-emission starting 2028, two years earlier than current law. Criminalizes unauthorized modifications that add self-driving capabilities with fines up to $10,000. Requires autonomous vehicles made after 2028 to detect and alert about unattended children or pets.

Requires AI systems with over 1 million monthly users to provide free detection tools for AI-generated content. Mandates large online platforms to retain and display provenance data that verifies content authenticity. Requires device manufacturers to include provenance data capture features in cameras and recording devices. Imposes $5,000 daily penalties for violations, enforceable by state and local attorneys.

Authorizes autonomous vehicles to display special marker lamps starting January 2026 to indicate when self-driving is active. Requires autonomous vehicle manufacturers to maintain $5 million in insurance coverage for testing and operation. Mandates that autonomous vehicles store sensor data for 30 seconds before any collision for three years. Requires all new autonomous vehicles under 8,501 pounds to be zero-emission vehicles starting January 2030.

Requires developers to assess high-risk AI systems for discrimination before public deployment starting 2026. Mandates companies notify individuals when AI systems are used to make decisions affecting them. Prohibits state agencies from contracting with companies that violate AI discrimination laws. Authorizes penalties up to $25,000 per violation for companies that discriminate using AI systems.

Establishes a new Department of Broadband and Digital Equity to centralize state oversight of broadband programs by July 2027. Creates an 11-member Broadband and Digital Equity Commission to guide policy and oversee the department's activities. Transfers control of broadband funds and programs from the Public Utilities Commission to the new department. Requires maintaining an interactive map showing broadband availability and allowing public reporting of service issues.

Establishes a process for telephone companies to stop being required service providers in areas with multiple alternatives. Requires companies to maintain service for two years if customers prove no alternatives exist at their location. Mandates the Public Utilities Commission create transition plans to ensure continued access to reliable voice service. Requires at least three alternative voice service providers before a company can withdraw from an area.

Requires all automated online accounts and AI bots to disclose their non-human status before any user interaction. Expands bot regulations to include generative AI systems that create synthetic content like images and text. Mandates bots to answer truthfully when asked about their identity and prohibits deceptive practices. Exempts bots that already follow stricter disclosure requirements under other laws.

Requires AI developers to document all copyrighted materials used to train their generative AI models. Mandates AI companies to respond to copyright owners' information requests within 7 days. Establishes penalties of $1,000 per violation or actual damages for non-compliant AI developers. Exempts AI developers who make all their training data publicly available at no cost.

Requires California internet providers to offer $15 monthly high-speed internet plans to low-income households. Mandates minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload for affordable internet plans. Requires providers to actively promote and advertise these affordable plans to eligible households. Establishes annual reporting requirements to track program effectiveness starting January 2027.

Prohibits defendants from using AI system autonomy as a defense in civil lawsuits for harm caused. Establishes a broad definition of AI that includes all autonomous systems affecting physical or virtual environments. Holds AI developers and users directly accountable for damages caused by their AI systems.

Establishes CalCompute, a public cloud computing platform to advance safe and ethical AI development in California. Creates whistleblower protections for employees who report critical AI safety risks at major AI companies. Requires AI companies to provide anonymous reporting systems for employees who identify potential catastrophic risks. Mandates a 14-member consortium to develop CalCompute's framework and submit recommendations by January 2027.

Prohibits autonomous vehicles from delivering commercial goods without a human operator present in California. Imposes civil fines up to $25,000 for each violation of the autonomous delivery prohibition. Requires DMV to evaluate autonomous delivery vehicle safety and job impacts by January 2031. Prevents deployment permits for driverless delivery vehicles until authorized by future legislation.