News California AI Bills Committee April 22 2026
April 22, 2026 — California Advances Wave of AI Bills Through Committees, Covering Healthcare, Chatbot Safety, Workers, and Provenance
California's legislative committees advanced a significant number of AI-related bills on April 21–22, 2026, as the spring committee hearing season moves into high gear in Sacramento. The bills cover AI in healthcare, chatbot safety, worker protections, content provenance, advertising disclosure, and personal data rights.[1]
Healthcare AI
AB 1979, sponsored by Assemblymember Bonta, concerns the use of AI in healthcare services. Approved by the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection and sent to Appropriations on April 22.[1]
AB 2575, sponsored by Assemblymember Ortega, also concerns the use of AI in healthcare. The Committee on Labor and Employment approved it 11-1 on April 8, and the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection approved it on April 22, sending it to Appropriations.[1]
SB 903, sponsored by Senator Padilla and Senator Rubio, concerns the use of AI and transcription of patient information in professional mental health therapy. Now with Senate Rules Committee, with a hearing set for April 13.[1]
Chatbot Safety
AB 1609, sponsored by Assemblymember Zbur, concerns customer service chatbots. Approved by Privacy and Consumer Protection and sent to Appropriations on April 22.[1]
AB 1988, the Preventing AI User Self Endangerment (PAUSE) Act sponsored by Assemblymember Pellerin, concerns AI chatbot safety. Approved by the Health Committee and sent to Appropriations on April 22.[1]
AB 2023 and SB 1119 are companion bills concerning chatbots and children's safety. AB 2023 was approved by the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection on April 21, sent to Assembly Appropriations. The Senate version, SB 1119, was approved by Senate Judiciary and referred to Appropriations on April 21. Sponsored by Assemblymembers Bauer-Kahan and Wicks, and Senator Padilla.[1]
SB 867, sponsored by Senator Padilla and others, would prohibit the inclusion of companion chatbots in toys. Approved by the Committee on Privacy, Digital Tech, and Consumer Protection on April 7, sent to Appropriations, placed on suspense on April 20.[1]
Worker Protections
AB 1883, sponsored by Assemblymember Bryan, is a workplace surveillance bill. Passed by the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection on April 20, sent to Appropriations.[1]
AB 1898, sponsored by Assemblymember Schultz, would require employers to provide written notice to employees when a workplace AI tool is used to assist in employment-related decisions or to surveil the workplace. Approved by the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection on March 25, sent to Judiciary Committee.[1]
SB 947, sponsored by Senator McNerney and Senator Reyes, would establish worker protections regarding the use of AI and automated decision systems. Sent to Appropriations on April 22.[1]
SB 951, sponsored by Senator Reyes, is a digital displacement notice bill requiring 90-day notice from covered employers before any technological displacement affecting 25% or more of the workforce. Approved by the Labor Committee on April 8 and by the Privacy and Digital Tech Committee on April 21, sent to Appropriations.[1]
Content Provenance and Digital Replicas
SB 1111, sponsored by Senator Ashby, concerns AI and digital replicas. The bill clarifies that false impersonation includes the use of a digital replica with the intent to impersonate another. Approved by the Public Safety Committee on April 22.[1]
SB 1146, sponsored by Senator Gonzalez, adds AI provisions to existing false advertising law around health-related consumer products. Passed by the Senate Privacy/Digital Tech Committee on April 7, passed by the Judiciary Committee on April 15, set for an Appropriations hearing on April 27.[1]
SB 1159, sponsored by Senator Cabaldon, specifies that for purposes of the California Public Records Act, terms like "person" and "member of the public" do not include AI systems, autonomous agents, or robots. Passed by Senate Judiciary on March 24, by Privacy Committee on April 7, ordered to third reading on April 8.[1]
Data Privacy and Consumer Rights
AB 2169, sponsored by Assemblymember Lowenthal, amends the CCPA to require AI model deployers/operators to allow consumers to request a copy of their personal information, contextual data, and social graph, with a five-business-day response requirement. Approved by the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection on March 22, sent to Appropriations.[1]
SB 1104, a data broker registration bill sponsored by Senator Cabaldon, was approved by the Privacy Committee on April 22, sent to Appropriations.[1]
Previously Covered Bills
Several bills that advanced on April 22 have already received dedicated coverage:
- AB 2027 — Worker data protection
- AB 2653 — Sweat-free AI Code of Conduct
- AB 2713 — AI Transparency Act adjustment
- SB 1142 — Digital Dignity Act
Significance
California remains the most active state legislature on AI regulation in 2026, with over 30 AI-related bills in play. The April 21–22 committee hearings mark a critical inflection point, as bills that advance past Appropriations will move to floor votes in May. The breadth of California's approach — spanning healthcare, worker protections, chatbot safety, content provenance, advertising, and data privacy — contrasts with states that have focused on narrower AI domains.[1][2]
See Also
- California AI Bills Advance to Appropriations Committee
- California SB 1000 AI Content Provenance Bill Advances
- California Executive Order N-5-26 on AI Procurement