California Writes the Playbook for AI Regulation
Key highlights this week:
We’re tracking 1,093 bills in all 50 states related to AI during the 2025 legislative session.
Gov. Newsom signed a major AI safety bill into law this week, making California the first state to enact such a law.
Regulators in California have also been busy, and there remain another 10 AI-related bills on Newsom’s desk, which is the topic of this week’s deep dive.
As we enter the final months of 2025, California is poised to make the biggest changes regarding AI regulation this year. While notable proposals failed to make it across the finish line in other states, in the last two weeks, California has issued new AI regulations, signed a major AI safety bill into law, and Governor Gavin Newsom (D) still has a substantial AI employment bill awaiting his decision. This comes as two agencies in California have also released final regulations this year addressing AI.
All eyes remain on California as hundreds of bills sit on Gov. Newsom’s desk, including 10 AI-related bills. While the governor has until October 12 to make a decision, he signed a major piece of AI legislation into law well before that deadline.
