California AI law
California · SB 1159
Set to take effect January 1, 2027
Artificial intelligence: transparency and governance.
Enacted September 30, 2026
California's SB 1159 makes clear that AI systems, autonomous agents, robots and other nonhuman entities are not 'persons' or 'members of the public' who can engage with government under the Public Records Act, the open-meeting laws, the Legislative Open Records Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Coastal Act and CEQA. People may still use AI or assistive technology for their own participation at an ordinary volume.
Key provisions
- Under the California Public Records Act, the Bagley-Keene and Brown open-meeting acts, the Legislative Open Records Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Coastal Act and CEQA, 'person'…
- A natural person may still use AI, agents or robots, including assistive technology, for their own engagement with an agency, if the volume and frequency are reasonably consistent with ordinary…
- Public agencies (and the Legislature's rules committees) may use a disclosure verification tool meeting the criteria of Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.2 to determine whether AI is present