Policy documents and bill actions

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-06-10: Referred to Communications & Technology
• 2026-09-30: Reported as amended

• 2026-06-10 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-09-30 Amended: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:16:19.456965+00:00.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3587 PRINTER'S NO. 3969
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 563
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY WAXMAN, FREEMAN, CARROLL, HILL-EVANS, GALLAGHER,
PASHINSKI, D. WILLIAMS, SANCHEZ, CIRESI AND CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
JUNE 10, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study and issue a report on the impact driverless vehicles
have on safety and the workforce.
WHEREAS, In the near future, autonomous vehicles could
partially or entirely replace human drivers by utilizing
technology; and
WHEREAS, There are five levels of autonomous vehicles, with
Level 2 providing support for both speed and steering and Levels
3, 4 and 5 allowing the vehicle to take over safety-critical
functions from the human driver; and
WHEREAS, The ability of driverless vehicles is improving with
the use of artificial intelligence (AI); and
WHEREAS, AI is being used in driverless vehicles to improve
safety and accuracy and mimic human abilities; and
WHEREAS, With 94% of traffic fatalities attributed to humans,
driverless vehicles have the potential to improve safety; and
WHEREAS, A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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general order requires certain entities to report if a Level 2
automated driving system was in use at the time of a crash and
immediately prior to the crash if the crash resulted in property
damage and injury; and
WHEREAS, A power outage in San Francisco, California, on
December 20, 2025, resulted in many driverless taxis stopping in
and blocking roads and intersections; and
WHEREAS, A system malfunction led more than 100 driverless
taxis to stop in Wuhan, China, on April 1, 2026, leaving
passengers stranded; and
WHEREAS, In 2025, the United States Department of
Transportation unveiled automated vehicle framework to allow for
the further growth of automated vehicles; and
WHEREAS, As of 2025, there are more than 1,500 driverless
taxis on the road in the United States, with an estimated 35,000
expected to be on the road by 2030; and
WHEREAS, Driverless freight trucks are currently being tested
for use on roads in the United States; and
WHEREAS, There is a shortage of truck drivers and a high
turnover rate of truck drivers, which helps incentivize the
development of driverless freight trucks; and
WHEREAS, Driverless vehicles have the potential to disrupt
employment in the transport industry; and
WHEREAS, In 2024, 66% of drivers in the United States feared
driverless vehicles, and 25% of drivers in the United States
felt uncertain about driverless vehicles; and
WHEREAS, There are at least 23 states, including
Pennsylvania, that regulate personal delivery devices (PDDs);
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has regulated PDDs since 2020; and
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WHEREAS, Pennsylvania allows PDDs that weigh 550 pounds or
less without cargo with a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour to
operate in a pedestrian area and with a maximum speed of 25
miles per hour to operate on the shoulder or roadway; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania considers PDDs to be pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, PDDs must yield to human pedestrians and bicyclists
in a pedestrian area; and
WHEREAS, There are four authorized entities operating PDDs in
Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, PDDs had to be removed from testing on the campus of
the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 because a PDD blocked a
curb cut, making it difficult for a wheelchair user to access
the sidewalk; and
WHEREAS, A delivery robot ran into a human pedestrian in
Philadelphia due to a possible malfunction; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a
report on the impact that driverless vehicles have on safety and
the workforce; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study
the:
(1) safety concerns of driverless vehicles and PDDs,
including safety risks and safety benefits to the general
public;
(2) potential job loss to Pennsylvania workers in the
taxi industry, the ride-share industry, the food delivery
industry and the freight industry if driverless vehicles and
PDDs replace human workers;
(3) infrastructure needs, including upgrades to the
electrical grid, expansion of transportation networks, making
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highways safe for autonomous vehicles and other potential
costs to the Commonwealth and municipalities if driverless
vehicles are more widely adopted;
(4) impact of the use of driverless vehicles and PDDs in
certain areas, including school zones, hospitals, police
stations, fire stations, crime scenes, train stations and
airports;
(5) potential for access to driverless vehicles in
underserved areas;
(6) impact of driverless vehicle technology, safety and
recognition across diverse demographic groups; and
(7) impact of driverless vehicles on physical assistance
typically provided by human drivers to assist older riders
and disabled riders in entering and exiting a vehicle;
and be it further
RESOLVED, THAT, WHEN CONDUCTING THE STUDY, THE JOINT STATE
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION CONSULT WITH COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE
(CDL) DRIVERS IN THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY AND REPRESENTATIVES OF
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report with its findings to the Senate and the House of
Representatives no later than one year after the adoption of
this resolution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission submit
the report to the following:
(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Communications and Technology Committee of the Senate.
(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Communications and Technology Committee of the House of
Representatives.
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(3) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Labor and Industry Committee of the Senate.
(4) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Labor and Industry Committee of the House of Representatives.
(5) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Transportation Committee of the Senate.
(6) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives.
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Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-05-26: Referred to Communications & Technology
• 2026-09-30: Reported as amended
• 2026-09-30: First consideration
• 2026-09-30: Laid on the table

• 2026-05-26 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-09-30 Amended: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:16:19.924882+00:00.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3431 PRINTER'S NO. 3968
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2534
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, CIRESI, VENKAT, PICKETT, POWELL, RIVERA,
HOWARD AND SANCHEZ, MAY 26, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
AN ACT
Providing for artificial intelligence transparency, for duties
of covered providers of generative artificial intelligence
systems and for large online platforms and generative
artificial intelligence system hosting platforms; and
imposing a penalty.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Artificial
Intelligence Transparency Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Artificial intelligence." A machine-based system that can,
for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions,
recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual
environments. The term includes:
(1) Systems that use machine and human-based inputs to
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perceive real and virtual environments, abstract perceptions
into models through analysis in an automated manner and use
model inference to formulate options for information or
action.
(2) Generative artificial intelligence. AS FOLLOWS:
(1) A MACHINE-BASED SYSTEM THAT CAN, FOR A GIVEN SET OF
HUMAN-DEFINED OBJECTIVES, MAKE PREDICTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS
OR DECISIONS INFLUENCING REAL OR VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS,
INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO:
(I) PERCEIVE REAL AND VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS;
(II) ABSTRACT PERCEPTIONS MADE UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH
INTO MODELS THROUGH ANALYSIS IN AN AUTOMATED MANNER; AND
(III) USE MODEL INFERENCE TO FORMULATE OPTIONS FOR
INFORMATION OR ACTION BASED ON OUTCOMES UNDER
SUBPARAGRAPHS (I) AND (II).
(2) THE TERM INCLUDES GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
"Consumer." An individual residing in this Commonwealth.
"COVERED PLATFORM." A PUBLIC-FACING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM,
FILE SHARING PLATFORM, MASS MESSAGING PLATFORM OR STAND-ALONE
SEARCH ENGINE THAT DISTRIBUTES DIGITAL CONTENT TO USERS WHO DID
NOT CREATE OR COLLABORATE IN CREATING THE DIGITAL CONTENT.
"Covered provider." An entity that creates, codes or
otherwise produces a generative artificial intelligence system
that has more than 1,000,000 monthly active users and is
publicly accessible within this Commonwealth.
"Digital signature." A cryptography-based method that
identifies the user that attests to the information provided in
the signed section.
"FILE SHARING PLATFORM." AN ONLINE SERVICE THAT ENABLES
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USERS TO UPLOAD FILES AND MAKES THE FILES AVAILABLE FOR ACCESS,
DISCOVERY OR DOWNLOAD BY USERS WHO DID NOT CREATE OR COLLABORATE
IN CREATING THE CONTENT, INCLUDING THROUGH PUBLIC LINKS,
BROWSING INTERFACES OR SIMILAR DISTRIBUTION FEATURES. THE TERM
DOES NOT INCLUDE ONLINE SERVICES THAT ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR
FILE STORAGE OR COLLABORATION WITHIN A DEFINED ORGANIZATION,
WORKSPACE OR GROUP OF USERS WHERE ACCESS TO FILES IS LIMITED
THROUGH PERMISSION-BASED OR INVITATION-ONLY CONTROLS AND WHERE
CONTENT IS NOT ROUTINELY SURFACED OR DISTRIBUTED TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC.
"Generative artificial intelligence." The class of models
MODELS that emulate the structure and characteristics of input
data in order to generate derived synthetic digital content,
including information such as images, videos, audio clips or
text, that has been significantly modified or generated by
algorithms, including by artificial intelligence.
"Generative artificial intelligence system." Artificial
intelligence that incorporates generative artificial
intelligence.
"Generative artificial intelligence system hosting platform."
A publicly accessible Internet website or application that makes
available for download the source code or model weights of a
generative artificial intelligence system to a person in this
Commonwealth, regardless of whether the terms of that use
include compensation.
"Large online platform." The following:
(1) A public-facing social media platform, file sharing
platform, mass messaging platform or stand-alone search
engine that distributes digital content to users who did not
create or collaborate in creating the digital content A
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COVERED PLATFORM that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users
during the preceding 12 months.
(2) The term does not include:
(i) A provider of broadband Internet access service
as defined in 47 CFR 8.1(b) (relating to transparency).
(ii) A provider of telecommunications service as
defined in 47 U.S.C. § 153(53) (relating to definitions).
"Latent disclosure." Information embedded in or linked from
digital content that indicates the origin of the digital content
and the manner in which it was generated or altered by
artificial intelligence.
"Manifest disclosure." A visible disclosure that informs an
individual that the digital content has been created or altered
by artificial intelligence.
"Mass messaging platform." A direct messaging platform that
allows users to distribute digital content to more than 100 40
users simultaneously. THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE MESSAGING
SERVICES THAT ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR COMMUNICATION WITHIN A
DEFINED ORGANIZATION, WORKSPACE OR GROUP OF USERS WHERE
PARTICIPATION IS LIMITED THROUGH PERMISSION-BASED OR INVITATION-
ONLY CONTROLS AND WHERE MESSAGES ARE NOT ROUTINELY DISTRIBUTED
OR SURFACED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
"Metadata." The structural or descriptive information about
data.
"MINOR MODIFICATION." A CHANGE MADE TO CONTENT THAT DOES NOT
SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THE CONTENT'S PERCEPTION OR MEANING,
INCLUDING THROUGH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ALTERATIONS:
(1) A CHANGE TO BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST OR COLOR;
(2) SHARPENING;
(3) SATURATING;
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(4) FILE RESIZING;
(5) SCALING;
(6) CROPPING;
(7) FILE FORMAT CONVERSIONS BETWEEN FORMATS OR ENCODINGS
OF THE SAME MEDIA TYPE THAT DO NOT ADD, REMOVE OR SYNTHESIZE
CONTENT;
(8) RESAMPLING; OR
(9) DENOISING AND REMOVAL OF BACKGROUND NOISE IN AUDIO.
"Personal information." Any information that is linked or
reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable individual.
"Personal provenance data." Any provenance data that
contains either of the following:
(1) Personal information.
(2) Unique device, system or service information that is
reasonably capable of being associated with a particular
user.
"Provenance data." Any data that is embedded into, ATTACHED
TO OR OTHERWISE ASSOCIATED WITH digital content or that is
included in the digital content's metadata for the purpose of
verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin or history
of modification USING AN OPEN STANDARD.
"PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE." WITH REGARD TO A GENERATIVE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM, ANY RELATED APPLICATION,
CHATBOT, INTERFACE, MODEL ENDPOINT, API, WEBSITE, PORTAL OR
DIGITAL SERVICE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR ACCESS OR USE BY
INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES OUTSIDE THE COVERED PROVIDER'S
ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, CUSTOMERS, VENDORS,
CONTRACTORS OR OTHER EXTERNAL USERS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
ACCESS REQUIRES REGISTRATION, AUTHENTICATION, PAYMENT, APPROVAL
OF ACCOUNT TERMS OR ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS OF USE.
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"System provenance data." Any provenance data that is not
reasonably c…

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-02-19: Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
• 2026-02-20: From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
• 2026-03-04: Referred to Com. on TRANS.
• 2026-03-24: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
• 2026-03-27: Set for hearing April 7.
• 2026-04-08: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 8. Noes 3. Page 3761.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
• 2026-04-15: Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
• 2026-04-16: Set for hearing April 21.
• 2026-04-22: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3. Page 3979.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-04-24: Set for hearing May 4.
• 2026-05-04: May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
• 2026-05-08: Set for hearing May 14.
• 2026-05-18: From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 4270.) (May 14).
• 2026-05-18: Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-05-19: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-05-27: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 9. Page 4503.) Ordered to the Assembly.
• 2026-05-27: In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
• 2026-06-04: Referred to Coms. on TRANS., C. & C., and JUD.
• 2026-06-15: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
• 2026-06-23: From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on C. & C. (Ayes 13. Noes 2.) (June 22).
• 2026-06-24: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on C. & C.
• 2026-07-02: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-08-05: August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
• 2026-08-13: Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
• 2026-08-13: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 13).
• 2026-08-13: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-21: Read third time and amended.
• 2026-08-21: Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-30: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
• 2026-08-30: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 65. Noes 11. Page 6903.) Ordered to the Senate.
• 2026-08-30: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
• 2026-08-31: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 28. Noes 7.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
• 2026-09-09: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
• 2026-09-30: Approved by the Governor.
• 2026-09-30: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1021, Statutes of 2026.

• 2026-02-19 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-03-24 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-05-18 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-06-15 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-06-24 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-21 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-09-04 Enrolled: Official bill text
• 2026-09-30 Chaptered: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:16:20.130290+00:00.

Senate Bill

No. 1246 CHAPTER 1021 An act to add Section 13519.18 to the Penal Code, and to amend, repeal, and add Section 38751 of, to add Section 38754 to, to add the heading of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 38750) to Division 16.6 of, and to add Chapter 3
(commencing with Section 38800)
to Division 16.6 of, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. [ Approved by Governor September 30, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1246, Cortese.
Autonomous vehicles. (1) Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle operated if specified requirements are satisfied. Existing law prohibits the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles (department), as specified, and that application is approved. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations setting forth requirements for the submission and approval of an application, including, among other things, any testing, equipment, and performance standards the
department concludes are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, as specified. Existing law requires manufacturers of autonomous vehicles that operate without a human operator physically present in the vehicle, except as provided, to comply with certain requirements, including, among other things, to maintain a dedicated emergency response telephone line that is available for emergency response officials and to equip each autonomous vehicle with a 2-way voice communication device that enables
emergency response officials who are near the vehicle to communicate effectively with a remote human operator, as specified. Under existing law, an “emergency response official” includes, but is not limited to, emergency dispatchers, peace officers, as specified, and first responders. This bill would require manufacturers of autonomous vehicles to maintain communications capacity sufficient to support the maximum number of concurrent remote assistance or teleoperations sessions, as specified. The bill would require remote drivers
to be located within the United States and hold a driver’s license that is valid for operation in California, is of the appropriate class, and includes any required endorsements. The bill would require an autonomous vehicle manufacturer to ensure, through its staffing and assignments, that local incident technicians are immediately dispatched upon notification, electronically or otherwise, of
a crash or other incident or upon receiving a request from an emergency response official or 911 dispatch center. The bill would, in the event of a fleetwide emergency or system failure that may create a traffic hazard or impeded emergency response, require an autonomous vehicle manufacturer to immediately notify affected local jurisdictions, including emergency dispatch, of the location and status of their fleet and deploy local incident technicians, where appropriate, whenever affected vehicles cannot be remotely recovered.
The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2028, to adopt guidelines establishing reasonable response times for local incident technicians to be present at the scene upon the request of an emergency response official or 911 dispatch center. The bill would expand the definition of “emergency response official” for these purposes to also include traffic control, traffic enforcement, and parking enforcement personnel from a public agency in an applicable jurisdiction. The bill would require autonomous vehicle manufacturers, for an autonomous vehicle that operates as a commercial vehicle and that is not equipped with manual controls for completing the dynamic driving task, to ensure that remote assistants or remote drivers have the ability to place the autonomous vehicle in neutral to allow an emergency response
official to move the vehicle, cause the autonomous vehicle to move as directed by an emergency response official, or turn off the vehicle and have it remain stationary until otherwise directed by an emergency response official. The bill would require autonomous vehicle manufacturers to maintain data on response times of local incident technicians and responses to fleetwide emergencies or system failures, emergency events, immobilizations, obstructions, crashes, and requests from emergency response officials. The bill would require autonomous vehicle manufacturers to provide this data to the
department quarterly and would require the department to publish summary statistics on its internet website, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to share records with the Public Utilities Commission to support regulatory oversight of autonomous vehicle passenger service operations. The bill would specify that a violation of the above provisions is not a crime. The bill would authorize a city attorney or county counsel to bring a civil action on behalf of a city, county, or city and county to enforce specified violations of the above provisions. The bill would authorize a
court to impose specified civil penalties payable to the jurisdiction bringing the action, as specified. (2) Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) within the Department of Justice and requires the commission to develop guidelines and implement courses of instruction regarding specified topics, including, among others, racial profiling, handling domestic violence, and human trafficking. This bill would require POST to develop uniform guidelines and requirements for, and to provide approval of, the training and written guidance required to be provided by autonomous vehicle
manufacturers. The bill would authorize POST to impose fees sufficient to cover the reasonable regulatory costs associated with administering these provisions. The bill would require POST to implement a course or courses of instruction for voluntary training of law enforcement officers, as defined, on autonomous vehicles that operate as commercial vehicles as it relates to public
safety and to develop related uniform minimum guidelines for voluntary use by California law enforcement agencies, as specified. The bill would require the course or courses, learning and performance objectives, training standards, and guidelines to be developed in consultation with appropriate groups and individuals that have an interest and expertise in the field of the operation of autonomous vehicles, as specified. (3) The bill would make its provisions operative July 1, 2028. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following: (a) The current experience with autonomous vehicles deployed in California raises legitimate questions about corporate permit noncompliance, vehicle immobilizations, operations that hinder first responder activity, collisions involving children and animals, the displacement of workers employed in the transportation industry, and the adequacy of safety data disclosure by companies with a direct financial interest in the expansion of autonomous vehicle operations. (b) The coming years are likely to see a significant expansion of
autonomous vehicle activity on the state’s highways and roads, and both the existing regulatory structure and the statewide concerns raised by the expansion of autonomous vehicle operations require immediate and sustained legislative attention to this issue. While the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Public Utilities Commission have specific regulatory mandates, neither agency is charged with compr…

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-02-18: Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
• 2026-02-19: From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 21.
• 2026-03-04: Referred to Coms. on JUD. and P., D.T., & C.P.
• 2026-03-16: Set for hearing March 24.
• 2026-03-24: From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 3659.) (March 24).
• 2026-03-25: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.
• 2026-03-27: Set for hearing April 6.
• 2026-04-07: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3742.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-04-07: Withdrawn from committee.
• 2026-04-07: Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-04-08: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-05-04: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4129.) Ordered to the Assembly.
• 2026-05-04: In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
• 2026-05-18: Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.
• 2026-06-09: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
• 2026-06-24: From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 23).
• 2026-06-25: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
• 2026-07-01: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30).
• 2026-07-02: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-13: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6148.) Ordered to the Senate.
• 2026-08-13: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
• 2026-08-20: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
• 2026-08-28: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
• 2026-09-30: Approved by the Governor.
• 2026-09-30: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 863, Statutes of 2026.

• 2026-02-18 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-03-25 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-06-09 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-06-25 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-24 Enrolled: Official bill text
• 2026-09-30 Chaptered: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:16:20.287229+00:00.

Senate Bill

No. 1159 CHAPTER 863 An act to amend Sections 7920.520, 9072, 11405.70, and 11500 of, and to add Sections 8319, 11121.5, 11342.575, 11370.1.5, and 54951.5 to, the Government Code, and to amend Sections 21066 and 30111 of the Public Resources Code, relating to artificial intelligence. [ Approved by Governor September 30, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1159, Cabaldon.
Artificial intelligence: transparency and governance. The California Constitution provides that people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business. Various provisions of existing law, including the California Public Records Act, the Legislative Open Records Act, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, and the Ralph M. Brown Act, provide, with some exceptions, for public access to government records and meetings of government bodies. Among those acts, the California Public Records Act defines “person” to include any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, or association. Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, governs, among other things, the procedures for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulations by state agencies and for the review of those regulatory actions by the Office of Administrative Law. Existing law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA defines “person” to include any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business, trust, corporation, limited liability company, company, district, county, city and county, city, town, and, among other things, the state. Existing law, the California Coastal Act of 1976, establishes the California Coastal Commission and prescribes procedures for the preparation, approval, and certification of local coastal programs that regulate development in the coastal zone, as defined, in jurisdictions that have a certified local
coastal program. This bill would specify that, for purposes of the California Public Records Act, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Legislative Open Records Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the California Coastal Act of 1976, and CEQA, “person,” “interested person,” “participant,” “member of the public,” as applicable, and any other similar terms under each act referring to those who may engage with governmental agencies, do not include artificial intelligence, as defined, systems, autonomous agents, or robots, whether physical or digital. The bill would authorize governmental agencies to use a disclosure verification tool to determine if artificial intelligence is present. The bill would make findings and
declarations related to these provisions. The bill would prohibit a person from knowingly using artificial intelligence to falsely represent that a natural person appeared before, submitted information to, or otherwise engaged with a governmental agency. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. (a) (1) Subdivision (b) of Section 3 of Article 1 of the California Constitution establishes that “the people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business.” California’s transparency and governance laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the
Government Code), the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code), the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code), the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code), the Legislative Open Records Act (Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 9070) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code), implement this constitutional mandate by enabling natural persons to participate in and observe governmental processes. (2) Artificial intelligence (AI) systems can now be programmed to automatically
and continuously engage with governmental processes at scales and speeds that far exceed human capacity. AI systems have the ability to submit thousands or millions of automated public records requests, generate mass public comments on proposed regulations, file automated petitions for rulemaking, or otherwise flood governmental agencies with interactions that simulate human participation but lack genuine human deliberation
or judgment. (3) Automated mass engagement would overwhelm government agencies, divert limited public resources from serving actual constituents, drown out genuine human participation, and transform deliberative processes into meaningless exchanges with machines. Public comment periods would become ineffective if agencies must process thousands of AI-generated submissions, and the administrative burden would undermine the purpose of California’s transparency laws. This threat is not theoretical. In the United Kingdom, AI-powered platforms have already enabled automated generation of planning objections, prompting warnings from experts that such systems will overwhelm public agencies. (4) California’s transparency and governance laws referenced in paragraph (1) presuppose
participants who possess consciousness, moral agency, deliberative judgment, and membership in the political community. AI systems, regardless of their sophistication, lack these essential attributes of personhood. Consistent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s November 2025 guidance recognizing that AI systems are tools to support human activity rather than independent actors, and with the European Union’s AI Act adopted in 2024 protecting the fundamental rights of natural persons, California law maintains the distinction between human beings and artificial intelligence. (b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to clarify that, for purposes of California’s transparency and governance laws referenced in subdivision (a), the terms “person,” “interested person,” “member of the public,” and any other similar terms referring
to those who may engage with governmental agencies under those laws, refer to natural persons and legally recognized entities capable of genuine participation in democratic governance, not AI systems that could be programmed to simulate participation at scales that would overwhelm governmental processes. (c) The changes made by this act are not to be construed to imply that the terms “person,” “interested person…

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-02-13: Read first time. To print.
• 2026-02-14: From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
• 2026-03-02: Referred to Com. on TRANS.
• 2026-03-24: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 1.) (March 23).
• 2026-03-25: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-04-06: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 62. Noes 3. Page 4496.)
• 2026-04-06: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
• 2026-05-06: Referred to Com. on TRANS.
• 2026-06-09: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (June 9).
• 2026-06-10: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-18: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8.).
• 2026-08-18: In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
• 2026-08-24: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
• 2026-09-30: Approved by the Governor.
• 2026-09-30: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 909, Statutes of 2026.

• 2026-02-13 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-08-19 Enrolled: Official bill text
• 2026-09-30 Chaptered: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:16:20.446545+00:00.

Assembly Bill

No. 1944 CHAPTER 909 An act to amend Section 35554 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. [ Approved by Governor September 30, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1944, Lee.
Zero-emission transit buses: axle weight. Existing law prohibits the maximum gross weight on any one axle of a bus from exceeding 20,500 pounds, except the maximum limit for the curb weight on any one axle of a transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2019, is set at 22,000 pounds. Existing law, notwithstanding the previous provisions, sets specified higher maximum limits up to 25,000 pounds for the curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued during specified periods between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, inclusive, and sets the 22,000-pound maximum limit for an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1,
2022. A violation of this provision is a crime. This bill would, until January 1, 2032, establish specified higher weight limitations up to 25,000 pounds for zero-emission transit buses procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued at various specified periods between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2031 inclusive. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 35554 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 35554. (a) (1) Notwithstanding Section 35550, the maximum gross weight on any one axle of a bus shall not exceed 20,500 pounds. (2) This subdivision does not apply to a transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued before January 1, 2016. This subdivision does not apply to a bus purchased during an option period in a multiyear contract to purchase transit buses that is entered into before January 1, 2016, by a publicly owned or operated transit system, or an operator of a transit system under contract with a publicly owned or operated transit system, provided, however, that the option period does not exceed five years from the date of the original contract, or extend beyond January 1, 2021, whichever
is earlier. (b) A transit bus is not subject to Section 35550. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the following provisions shall apply to a transit bus: (1) The curb weight on any one axle of a transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018, inclusive, shall not exceed 23,000 pounds. (2) The curb weight on any one axle of a transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2019, shall not exceed 22,000 pounds. (d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (c), the following provisions shall apply to an articulated transit bus or
zero-emission transit bus: (1) The curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, shall not exceed 25,000 pounds. (2) The curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, inclusive, shall not exceed 24,000 pounds. (3) The curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, inclusive, shall not exceed 23,000
pounds. (4) The curb weight on any one axle of an articulated transit bus or zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2022, shall not exceed 22,000 pounds. (e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a), (c), and (d), the following provisions shall apply to a zero-emission transit bus: (1) The curb weight on any one axle of a zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2027, inclusive, shall not exceed 25,000 pounds. (2) The curb weight on any one axle of a zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2028, and December 31, 2029, inclusive, shall not exceed 24,000 pounds. (3) The curb weight on any one axle of a zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued between January 1, 2030, and December 31, 2031, inclusive, shall not exceed 23,000 pounds. (4) The curb weight on any one axle of a zero-emission transit bus procured through a solicitation process pursuant to which a solicitation was issued on or after January 1, 2032, shall not exceed 22,000 pounds. (f) Nothing in this article shall be construed to authorize a vehicle described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) or described in subdivision
(c), (d), or (e) to be operated in violation of Section 35753. (g) A transit operator operating an articulated transit bus shall, by July 1, 2016, provide notice to all cities and counties in whose jurisdiction the bus will operate in the upcoming calendar year, identifying the approximate routes upon which the bus is expected to be scheduled for service, including the names of streets and roads upon which that service is likely to take place. Thereafter, a transit operator operating an articulated transit bus shall annually provide notice by July 1, to all cities and counties in whose jurisdiction the bus will operate in the
upcoming calendar year, identifying any changes to the service on those routes and any new routes upon which the bus is expected to be scheduled for the upcoming year. The notice shall include data from information provided by the bus manufacturer to the transit operator, identifying the weight of the articulated bus. (h) For purposes of this section, the term “curb weight” means the total weight of a fully loaded transit bus, including maximum fuel, oil, and coolant, and all equipment used in the normal operation of the bus, except without passengers or a driver. (i) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (h), inclusive, a transit bus shall not operate on the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways in excess of the weight limitation for transit buses specified in federal law. (j) If the gross weight imposed upon the highway by the wheels on any one
axle of a transit bus exceeds 20,000 pounds, the axle shall be supported by four wheels bearing load upon the highway.

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-01-21: Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
• 2026-01-22: From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 21.
• 2026-02-18: Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and P., D.T., & C.P.
• 2026-04-07: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.
• 2026-04-08: Set for hearing April 13.
• 2026-04-10: Set for hearing April 20 in P., D.T., & C.P. pending receipt.
• 2026-04-13: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 3840.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.
• 2026-04-21: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 3957.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-04-24: Set for hearing May 4.
• 2026-05-04: May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
• 2026-05-08: Set for hearing May 14.
• 2026-05-14: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4256.) (May 14).
• 2026-05-14: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-05-19: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 4341.) Ordered to the Assembly.
• 2026-05-20: In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
• 2026-05-26: Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and P. & C.P.
• 2026-06-08: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
• 2026-06-16: Coauthors revised.
• 2026-06-16: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
• 2026-07-02: From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 1.) (July 1).
• 2026-07-02: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-08-05: August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
• 2026-08-13: Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
• 2026-08-13: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (August 13).
• 2026-08-13: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-21: Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended. (Ayes 55. Noes 17. Page 6296.)
• 2026-08-21: Read third time and amended.
• 2026-08-21: Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-30: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
• 2026-08-30: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 1. Page 6902.) Ordered to the Senate.
• 2026-08-30: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
• 2026-08-31: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
• 2026-09-09: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
• 2026-09-30: Vetoed by the Governor.
• 2026-09-30: In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

• 2026-01-21 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-04-07 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-06-08 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-07-02 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-21 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-09-04 Enrolled: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:16:20.622370+00:00.

Enrolled September 04, 2026 Passed
 IN Senate August 31, 2026 Passed
 IN Assembly August 30, 2026 Amended
 IN Assembly August 21, 2026 Amended
 IN Assembly July 02, 2026 Amended
 IN Assembly June 08, 2026 Amended
 IN Senate April 07, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 903 Introduced by Senator Padilla (Coauthor: Senator Rubio) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Lowenthal, and Pellerin) January 21, 2026 An act to add Chapter 13.6 (commencing with Section 4989.80) to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 903, Padilla.
Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence. Existing law establishes various healing arts boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs that license and regulate various healing arts licensees. Existing laws, including the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Act, the Educational Psychologist Practice Act, the Clinical Social Worker Practice Act, and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act, make a violation of those acts a crime. Existing law regulates the use of artificial intelligence, as defined. Existing law requires a health facility, clinic, physician’s office, or office of a group practice that uses generative artificial intelligence to generate written or verbal patient communications pertaining to patient clinical information to ensure those communications include a disclaimer that indicates to the patient that a communication was generated by
artificial intelligence and instructions describing how a patient may contact a human health care provider, employee, or other appropriate person. This bill would regulate the use of artificial intelligence in connection with providing or facilitating psychotherapy services, as defined. The bill, among other things, would authorize an individual, corporation, or entity that provides or facilitates psychotherapy services to use artificial intelligence tools or systems only to assist in providing administrative or supplementary support in psychotherapy services, as specified. The bill would prohibit an individual, corporation, or entity from using artificial intelligence to record or transcribe psychotherapeutic communications or sessions or to triage or screen a person for the need for psychotherapy services unless the patient or client or their authorized representative is informed that artificial intelligence will be used and the purpose of the artificial
intelligence tool or system, and the patient or client or their authorized representative provides consent, as specified. The bill would prohibit an individual, corporation, or entity from advertising or otherwise purporting to offer psychotherapy services when the services are provided through the use of companion chatbots. The bill would prohibit an individual, corporation, or entity from allowing artificial intelligence to perform certain acts, including making therapeutic decisions or detecting emotions or mental states, as specified, without review and approval by a licensed professional. The bill would make a violation of the bill’s provisions subject to the jurisdiction of the appropriate health care professional licensing board or enforcement agency, as specified, and would authorize those boards and enforcement entities to pursue any remedies authorized by law. Existing law, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, generally restricts the persons and entities to whom, and the purposes for which, a health care provider, health care service plan, or contractor may release a patient’s medical information. The Confidentiality of Medical Information Act additionally imposes certain disclosure requirements for the release of medical information that specifically relates to the patient’s participation in outpatient treatment with a psychotherapist. In this regard, the act prohibits a health care provider, health care service plan, or contractor from releasing that information to persons or entities who have requested that information and who are otherwise authorized by specified laws to receive that information, unless the requester makes certain written disclosures to the patient and to the provider of health care, health care service plan, or contractor, as specified. Those disclosures include, among other things, the
specific intended uses of the information, and the length of time during which the information will be kept before being destroyed or disposed of, as specified. Existing law makes a violation of those provisions that result in economic loss or personal injury to a patient punishable as a misdemeanor. This bill would require the use of artificial intelligence in patient or client records for psychotherapy services to comply with the confidentiality requirements of the above-described provision of the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act and would prohibit a company or entity from sharing, selling, storing, or training their models on any data obtained from psychotherapy in a manner inconsistent with any applicable law. By expanding the scope of existing crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state
to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 13.6 (commencing with Section 4989.80) is added to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: CHAPTER
 13.6. Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act 4989.80. This chapter may be cited as the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act. 4989.81. The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard individuals seeking psychotherapy services by ensuring these services are delivered by licensed professionals. This chapter is intended to protect consumers from unlicensed or unqualified providers, including unregulated artificial intelligence systems, while respecting individual choice and access to community-based and faith-based mental health support and recognizing that artificial intelligence technology has the potential to expand clinical capacity if used in a safe, ethical, and legal manner. 4989.82. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (a) “Administrative support” means tasks performed to assist a licensed professional in the delivery of psychotherapy services that do not involve psychotherapeutic communication. “Administrative support” includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: (1) Managing appointment scheduling and reminders. (2) Processing billing and insurance claims. (3) Drafting general communications related to therapy logistics that do not include
therapeutic advice. (b) “Artificial intelligence” means an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments. (c) “Companion chatbot” has the same meaning as in Section 22601. (d) (1) “Consent” means a clear, explicit affirmative act by an individual that meets both of the following requirements: (A) Unambiguously communicates the individual’s express,
informed, and voluntary agreement, either verbally or in writing, and documented in the record. (B) Is revocable by the individual. (2) “Consent” does not include an agreement that is obtained by any of the following: (A) The acceptance of a general or broad terms of use agreement…

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2025-10-06: Referred to Communications & Technology
• 2026-05-05: Reported as amended
• 2026-05-05: First consideration
• 2026-05-05: Laid on the table
• 2026-06-25: Removed from table
• 2026-09-29: Second consideration, with amendments
• 2026-09-29: Re-committed to Appropriations
• 2026-09-30: Re-reported as committed
• 2026-09-30: Third consideration and final passage (144-59)

• 2025-10-06 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-05-05 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-09-29 Amended: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:16:22.253359+00:00.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2403, 3349 PRINTER'S NO. 3963
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1925
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY VENKAT, HOGAN, KHAN, KOSIEROWSKI, SCOTT, HILL-
EVANS, FREEMAN, RIVERA, HANBIDGE, HADDOCK, SANCHEZ, MAYES,
HOWARD, GUZMAN, DONAHUE, GILLEN, GREEN, WAXMAN, PROBST,
PIELLI, McNEILL, BOROWSKI, SHUSTERMAN, PARKER, CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, MALAGARI, KOZAK, DOUGHERTY AND MUNROE,
OCTOBER 6, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Titles 35 (Health and Safety), 40 (Insurance) and 67
(Public Welfare) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes,
providing for artificial intelligence in facilities, for
artificial intelligence use by insurers and for artificial
intelligence use by MA or CHIP managed care plans; imposing
duties on the Department of Health, the Insurance Department
and the Department of Human Services; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 35
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN FACILITIES
Sec.
3501. Definitions.
3502. Disclosure.
3503. Responsible use.
3504. Artificial intelligence compliance statements.
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3505 . Retention of records.
3506 . Oversight.
3507 . Third-party vendor.
3508 . Exemption.
3509 . Enforcement and penalties.
3510 . Plan of correction.
3511 . Administrative procedures.
3512 . Regulations and guidance.
§ 3501. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Artificial intelligence." A machine-based system that can,
for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions,
recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual
environments that use machine-based and human-based inputs to
perceive real and virtual environments, abstract the perceptions
into models through analysis in an automated manner and use
model inference to formulate options for information or action.
The term includes generative artificial intelligence which is
the class of models that emulate the structure and
characteristics of input data in order to generate derived
synthetic content which includes information such as images,
videos, audio clips and text that has been significantly
modified or generated by algorithms, including by artificial
intelligence.
"Artificial intelligence model." A conceptual or
mathematical representation of abstracted phenomena captured as
a system of events, features or processes.
"Artificial intelligence system." A fully operational
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artificial intelligence application or scenario in which
artificial intelligence is deployed, including the model,
technical infrastructure and personnel in the workflow.
"Clinical decision making." The professional judgment of a
health care provider directly pertaining to the medical care and
treatment of patients.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Facility." A health care setting or institution providing
health care services, including:
(1) A general, special, psychiatric or rehabilitation
hospital.
(2) An ambulatory surgical facility.
(3) A cancer treatment center.
(4) A birth center.
(5) A skilled nursing home.
(6) An inpatient, outpatient or residential drug and
alcohol treatment facility.
(7) A facility licensed by the Department of Human
Services' Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services.
(8) A laboratory, imaging, diagnostic or other
outpatient medical service or testing facility.
(9) A health care provider office or clinic that is
owned by or employs a Commonwealth-licensed health care
provider .
"Health care provider." As follows:
(1) A facility or individual who is licensed, certified
or otherwise regulated to provide health care services under
the laws of this Commonwealth.
(2) The term does not include an individual providing
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emergency services under a licensed emergency medical
services agency as defined in section 8103 (relating to
definitions).
"Third-party vendor." A person or entity that makes an
artificial intelligence-based algorithm, product or service
commercially available, whether by sale, license or other
offering, for use by a facility.
§ 3502. Disclosure.
(a) Duty to disclose.--A facility shall disclose to patients
of the facility IN PLAIN LANGUAGE if artificial intelligence
models or systems are or will be used for clinical decision
making. The disclosure shall be:
(1) Provided in all related written communications using
plain language .
(2) Posted on the publicly accessible Internet website
of the facility in plain language . FACILITY SHALL:
(1) POST THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACILITY'S USE OF
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MODELS OR SYSTEMS IN CLINICAL
DECISION MAKING IN PLAIN LANGUAGE ON THE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
INTERNET WEBSITE OF THE FACILITY.
(2) INFORM PATIENTS ABOUT THE FACILITY'S USE OF
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MODELS OR SYSTEMS IN CLINICAL
DECISION MAKING IN THE GENERAL CONSENT FOR TREATMENT PROVIDED
TO A PATIENT OR IN OTHER WRITTEN FORM PRIOR TO OR AT THE TIME
OF SERVICE. THIS DISCLOSURE NEEDS ONLY TO BE PROVIDED TO THE
PATIENT ONCE DURING THE PATIENT'S EPISODE OF CARE.
(b) Communications PERSONALIZED COMMUNICATIONS .--
(1) A facility that uses artificial intelligence to
generate PERSONALIZED written or verbal patient
communications pertaining to patient AN INDIVIDUAL PATIENT'S
20250HB1925PN3963 - 4 -
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clinical information shall include IN THE COMMUNICATION TO
THAT PATIENT :
(i) A clear and conspicuous disclaimer in plain
language that indicates that the communication was
generated by artificial intelligence.
(ii) Clear instructions on how the patient may
contact a human health care provider or relevant employee
of the facility with questions.
(2) The disclosure requirements under paragraph (1)
shall not apply to communications that:
(i) only pertain to administrative matters,
including , BUT NOT LIMITED TO, appointment scheduling,
billing or other clerical or business matters; or
(ii) have been individually read , reviewed and
approved by a human health care provider.
(c) Nature and frequency.--The department shall determine
the nature and frequency of disclosure required under this
section to the patient. The department may request input from
facilities and health care providers or their representatives in
making the determination.
§ 3503. Responsible use.
(a) Compliance generally.--The use of artificial
intelligence models or systems for clinical decision making must
comply with this chapter and applicable Federal and State law.
(b) Requirements for artificial intelligence .--For each
instance in which a facility uses an artificial intelligence
model or system for clinical decision making, the facility shall
comply with the following:
(1) The artificial intelligence model or system for
clinical decision making must not supersede clinical decision
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making made by a human health care provider. A facility may
not penalize a health care provider solely for exercising
independent judgment in clinical decision ma…

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2024-12-02: Read first time. To print.
• 2024-12-03: From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
• 2025-02-03: Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
• 2025-03-05: From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
• 2025-03-06: Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
• 2025-03-26: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2025-04-09: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (April 9).
• 2025-04-10: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2025-04-21: Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 58. Noes 9. Page 1174.).
• 2025-04-21: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
• 2025-05-07: Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
• 2025-06-12: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (June 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2025-06-30: From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
• 2025-07-01: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2025-07-07: Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Menjivar.
• 2025-08-21: From inactive file.
• 2025-08-21: Ordered to second reading.
• 2025-08-21: Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
• 2025-08-21: (Ayes 30. Noes 8. Page 2233.)
• 2025-08-25: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2025-09-13: Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Grayson.
• 2026-06-15: From inactive file.
• 2026-06-15: Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-06-15: Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
• 2026-06-15: Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 (c).
• 2026-06-22: Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
• 2026-07-02: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (July 1).
• 2026-07-02: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-08-03: From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
• 2026-08-04: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-17: Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-08-18: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-21: Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-08-24: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-25: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 9.).
• 2026-08-25: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
• 2026-08-26: Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.
• 2026-08-26: Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6606.)
• 2026-08-27: From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 10. Noes 4.) (August 27).
• 2026-08-28: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 50. Noes 17. Page 6784.).
• 2026-09-08: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
• 2026-09-30: Approved by the Governor.
• 2026-09-30: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 864, Statutes of 2026.

• 2024-12-02 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2025-03-05 Amended: Official bill text
• 2025-08-21 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-06-15 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-07-02 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-17 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-21 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-09-02 Enrolled: Official bill text
• 2026-09-30 Chaptered: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:36:25.453897+00:00.

Assembly Bill

No. 40 CHAPTER 864 An act to add Section 21080.52 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. [ Approved by Governor September 30, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 40, Bonta.
California Environmental Quality Act: environmental impact reports: coal handling, storage, and export. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA provides that when an EIR has been prepared for a project, no subsequent or supplemental EIR shall be required by a lead agency or responsible agency, unless specified events
occur. This bill would require a lead agency, before issuing the initial discretionary approval for a large-volume bulk coal facility, defined as a facility with a design capacity exceeding 5,000,000 short tons per year of coal handling, storage, or export to prepare or cause to be prepared an EIR. The bill would prohibit a lead agency, air pollution control district, or air quality management district from relying on an existing EIR to issue a discretionary approval for, or to, a large-volume bulk coal facility, and would require a subsequent or new EIR to be prepared, if any of a list of specified conditions are met, including that there is an increase in design capacity of a project that did not previously meet the definition of a large-volume bulk coal facility, as
provided; there is a change in the type of coal handled, stored, or exported, or the EIR did not explicitly address the type of coal handled, stored, or exported; or there is a significant increase in the quantity of coal handled, stored, or exported, or the EIR did not explicitly disclose the quantity of coal to be handled, stored, or exported. The bill would require an EIR or subsequent EIR prepared pursuant to these provisions to, among other things, evaluate the large-volume bulk coal facility’s potential to generate PM2.5 and PM10 fugitive dust emissions during construction and operations, and to require mitigation measures, as provided. The bill would apply these provisions to a discretionary approval that is pending or made after June 4, 2026, as specified. Because the bill would create new duties for a lead agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution
requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The West Oakland community has a high cumulative air pollution exposure burden, a significant number of sensitive receptors, and includes census tracts that have been designated as disadvantaged communities. West Oakland is impacted by mobile sources of pollution, including diesel trucks and buses, and pollution from industry operations and adjacent Interstates 580, 980, and 880. (b) West Oakland was selected as a first-year priority community under the Community Air Protection Program pursuant to Assembly Bill 617
(Chapter 136 of the Statutes of 2017). (c) West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods. (d) The State Air Resources Board funded peer-reviewed research that identified significant increases in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in California due to passing coal-carrying trains, the staging of full and empty coal train cars, and coal storage and handling at an export terminal. (e) PM2.5 and other air pollution from shipping, handling, and storing coal have significant health effects that disproportionately impact communities of
color and low-income individuals. (f) The classification of coal as lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, or anthracite describes the coal’s properties and bears on its environmental impacts. (g) The United States Environmental Protection Agency found that PM2.5 poses the greatest risk to health of particulate matter pollutants. SEC. 2. Section 21080.52 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 21080.52. (a) For purposes of this section, both of the following definitions apply: (1) “Large-volume bulk coal facility” means a facility with a design capacity exceeding 5,000,000 short tons per year of coal handling, storage, or export. “Large-volume bulk coal facility” does not include a building, use, or infrastructure located at the same site, located within the same specific plan or redevelopment area, or covered by the same environmental impact report as a large-volume bulk coal facility, if that building, use, or infrastructure does not
handle, store, transport, or export coal, even if the building, use, or infrastructure was considered to be part of an overall project previously evaluated in an environmental impact report that also addressed the large-volume bulk coal facility. (2) “Type of coal” refers to the classification of coal as lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, or anthracite. (b) Before issuing the initial discretionary approval for a large-volume bulk coal facility, a lead agency shall prepare or cause to be prepared an environmental impact report pursuant to this division. (c) Issuance of any permit by an air pollution control district or air quality management district that authorizes construction, or increases potential emissions, of a
large-volume bulk coal facility shall be considered a discretionary approval, as that term is used in subdivision (a) of Section 21080, and shall not be exempt from this division. (d) Independent of the conditions for a subsequent environmental impact report set forth in Section 21166 and guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 21083, a lead agency, air pollution control district, or air quality management district shall not rely on an existing environmental impact report to issue a discretionary approval for or to a large-volume bulk coal facility, and a subsequent environmental impact report, or a new environmental impact report pursuant to subdivision (e), shall be
required, if any of the following conditions are met: (1) There is a change in the type of coal handled, stored, or exported, or the environmental impact report did not explicitly address the type of coal to be handled, stored, or exported. (2) There is a significant increase in the quantity of coal handled, stored, or exported, or the environmental impact report did not explicitly disclose the quantity of coal to be handled, stored, or exported. (3) There is an increase in the design capacity of a project that did not previously meet the definition of a large-volume bulk coal facility so that the total amount of coal handled, stored, or exported exceeds 5,000,000 short tons per year. (e) (1) If a previously certified environmental impact report for a large-volume bulk coal facility did not specifically ana…

Oct. 4, 2026, 12:36 a.m.: selected_text changed since Oct. 4, 2026, 12:16 a.m..

{'selected_text': None}

{'selected_text': {'text': "Assembly Bill\n              \n                        No. 40 CHAPTER 864 An act to add Section 21080.52 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. [ Approved  by Governor September\xa030,\xa02026. Filed with Secretary of State September\xa030,\xa02026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 40, Bonta.\n                          California Environmental Quality Act: environmental impact reports: coal handling, storage, and export. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA provides that when an EIR has been prepared for a project, no subsequent or supplemental EIR shall be required by a lead agency or responsible agency, unless specified events\n\t\t\t occur. This bill would require a lead agency, before issuing the initial discretionary approval for a large-volume bulk coal facility, defined as a facility with a design capacity exceeding 5,000,000 short tons per year of coal handling, storage, or export to prepare or cause to be prepared an EIR. The bill would prohibit a lead agency, air pollution control district, or air quality management district from relying on an existing EIR to issue a discretionary approval for, or to, a large-volume bulk coal facility, and would require a subsequent or new EIR to be prepared, if any of a list of specified conditions are met, including that there is an increase in design capacity of a project that did not previously meet the definition of a large-volume bulk coal facility, as\n\t\t\t provided; there is a change in the type of coal handled, stored, or exported, or the EIR did not explicitly address the type of coal handled, stored, or exported; or there is a significant increase in the quantity of coal handled, stored, or exported, or the EIR did not explicitly disclose the quantity of coal to be handled, stored, or exported. The bill would require an EIR or subsequent EIR prepared pursuant to these provisions to, among other things, evaluate the large-volume bulk coal facility’s potential to generate PM2.5 and PM10 fugitive dust emissions during construction and operations, and to require mitigation measures, as provided. The bill would apply these provisions to a discretionary approval that is pending or made after June 4, 2026, as specified. Because the bill would create new duties for a lead agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution\n\t\t\t requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a)\xa0The West Oakland community has a high cumulative air pollution exposure burden, a significant number of sensitive receptors, and includes census tracts that have been designated as disadvantaged communities. West Oakland is impacted by mobile sources of pollution, including diesel trucks and buses, and pollution from industry operations and adjacent Interstates 580, 980, and 880. (b)\xa0West Oakland was selected as a first-year priority community under the Community Air Protection Program pursuant to Assembly Bill 617\n\t\t\t\t(Chapter 136 of the Statutes of 2017). (c)\xa0West Oakland residents are predominantly people of color, and the life expectancy for an African American child born and raised in West Oakland is at least 15 years fewer than for a white child born and raised in wealthier Oakland neighborhoods. (d)\xa0The State Air Resources Board funded peer-reviewed research that identified significant increases in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in California due to passing coal-carrying trains, the staging of full and empty coal train cars, and coal storage and handling at an export terminal. (e)\xa0PM2.5 and other air pollution from shipping, handling, and storing coal have significant health effects that disproportionately impact communities of\n\t\t\t\tcolor and low-income individuals. (f)\xa0The classification of coal as lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, or anthracite describes the coal’s properties and bears on its environmental impacts. (g)\xa0The United States Environmental Protection Agency found that PM2.5 poses the greatest risk to health of particulate matter pollutants. SEC. 2. Section 21080.52 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read: 21080.52. (a)\xa0For purposes of this section, both of the following definitions apply: (1)\xa0“Large-volume bulk coal facility” means a facility with a design capacity exceeding 5,000,000 short tons per year of coal handling, storage, or export. “Large-volume bulk coal facility” does not include a building, use, or infrastructure located at the same site, located within the same specific plan or redevelopment area, or covered by the same environmental impact report as a large-volume bulk coal facility, if that building, use, or infrastructure does not\n\t\t\t\t\t\thandle, store, transport, or export coal, even if the building, use, or infrastructure was considered to be part of an overall project previously evaluated in an environmental impact report that also addressed the large-volume bulk coal facility. (2)\xa0“Type of coal” refers to the classification of coal as lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, or anthracite. (b)\xa0Before issuing the initial discretionary approval for a large-volume bulk coal facility, a lead agency shall prepare or cause to be prepared an environmental impact report pursuant to this division. (c)\xa0Issuance of any permit by an air pollution control district or air quality management district that authorizes construction, or increases potential emissions, of a\n\t\t\t\t\t\tlarge-volume bulk coal facility shall be considered a discretionary approval, as that term is used in subdivision (a) of Section 21080, and shall not be exempt from this division. (d)\xa0Independent of the conditions for a subsequent environmental impact report set forth in Section 21166 and guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 21083, a lead agency, air pollution control district, or air quality management district shall not rely on an existing environmental impact report to issue a discretionary approval for or to a large-volume bulk coal facility, and a subsequent environmental impact report, or a new environmental impact report pursuant to subdivision (e), shall be\n\t\t\t\t\t\trequired, if any of the following conditions are met: (1)\xa0There is a change in the type of coal handled, stored, or exported, or the environmental impact report did not explicitly address the type of coal to be handled, stored, or exported. (2)\xa0There is a significant increase in the quantity of coal handled, stored, or exported, or the environmental impact report did not explicitly disclose the quantity of coal to be handled, stored, or exported. (3)\xa0There is an increase in the design capacity of a project that did not previously meet the definition of a large-volume bulk coal facility so that the total amount of coal handled, stored, or exported exceeds 5,000,000 short tons per year. (e)\xa0(1)\xa0If a previously certified environmental impact report for a large-volume bulk coal facility did not specifically analyze the environmental impacts of coal handling, storage, and\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttransportation, that environmental impact report does not retain informational value. (2)\xa0A lead agency, air pollution control district, or air quality management district shall not rely on an environmental impact report described in paragraph (1) and shall treat a large-volume bulk coal facility analyzed in that environmental impact report as a new project, independent of the project that was analyzed in that environmental impact report. (f)\xa0In addition to the other requirements of this division and guidelines adopted pursuant to Section 21083, an environmental impact report or subsequent environmental impact report prepared pursuant to this section shall\n\t\t\t\t\t\tnot be certified, and the project shall not be approved, unless the environmental impact report or subsequent environmental impact report does both of the following: (1)\xa0Identify the type or types of coal and potential volume of coal that may be handled, stored, or exported at a large-volume bulk coal facility, and evaluate the environmental impacts of, and mitigation for, the handling, storage, or export of the coal type or types and volume of coal. (2)\xa0(A)\xa0Evaluate the large-volume bulk coal facility’s potential to generate fugitive dust emissions\n\t\t\t\t\t\tof fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10) during construction and operations and require mitigation measures sufficient to prevent a significant increase in ambient concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 beyond the facility’s boundaries. (B)\xa0Where the local air pollution control district or air quality management district has adopted a numeric individual project threshold for increases in ambient concentrations of PM2.5 or PM10, those thresholds shall be used to determine significance for purposes of this paragraph. (g)\xa0Nothing in this section shall be\n\t\t\t\t\t\tconstrued to do any of the following: (1)\xa0Require a new, subsequent, or supplemental environmental impact report for a building, use, or infrastructure that is not a large-volume bulk coal facility. (2)\xa0Affect the validity of a previously certified environmental impact report or other determination made pursuant to this division for a building, use, or infrastructure that is not a large-volume bulk coal facility. (3)\xa0Affect the ability of a lead agency, air pollution control district, or air quality management district to rely on or tier from, a previously certified environmental impact report or other determination made pursuant to this division for a building, use, or infrastructure that is not a large-volume bulk coal facility. (h)\xa0This section shall apply retroactively to any discretionary approval for a large-volume bulk coal facility by a lead agency, air pollution control district, or air quality management district that is pending or made between June 4, 2026, and January 1, 2027. (i)\xa0The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII\u2009B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.", 'pages': None, 'doc_id': '3461284', 'truncated': False, 'extraction': 'source-html-text', 'source_url': 'https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB40#91CHP', 'observed_at': '2026-10-04T00:36:25.453897+00:00', 'content_hash': '06d139ea860ac12c60c6e5df4cea8ebe68ff50c80bc3ace228f7ae7a6d42aaec'}}

Collection history starts with our observations; it is not complete legislative amendment history.

Detail checked 2026-10-12T09:21:44.661162+00:00.

• 2026-09-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

• 2026-10-10 Introduced: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-12T09:21:58.640070+00:00.

II
119TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION S. 5576
To establish the Artificial Intelligence Safety Board, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
Mr. W ARNER (for himself, Mr. S CHATZ, and Mr. K IM) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To establish the Artificial Intelligence Safety Board, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Artificial Intelligence 4
Risk Management and Security Act of 2026’’. 5
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 6
In this Act: 7
(1) A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ; ARTIFICIAL IN -8
TELLIGENCE SYSTEM .—The terms ‘‘artificial intel-9
ligence’’ and ‘‘artificial intelligence system’’ has the 10
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2
•S 5576 IS
meaning given the term ‘‘artificial intelligence’’ in 1
section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence 2
Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401). 3
(2) A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AGENT .—The 4
term ‘‘artificial intelligence agent’’— 5
(A) means an artificial intelligence system 6
or process that, given an objective or instruc-7
tion— 8
(i) determines the action or sequence 9
of actions to be taken to accomplish that 10
objective; and 11
(ii) is capable of executing such ac-12
tions directly on information systems, data, 13
or external services; and 14
(B) does not include a system or process 15
that solely generates informational or advisory 16
output for a human operator to act upon. 17
(3) A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES 18
OR RISK ASSESSMENT .—The term ‘‘artificial intel-19
ligence capabilities or risk assessment’’ means infor-20
mation regarding an assessment performed by a de-21
veloper of an artificial intelligence system evaluating 22
the capabilities of, or risks posed by, such system, 23
including an assessment of the potential of the arti-24
ficial intelligence system— 25
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3
•S 5576 IS
(A) to materially assist in the design, de-1
velopment, acquisition, or use of a chemical, bi-2
ological, radiological, or nuclear weapon; 3
(B) to materially assist in the design, de-4
velopment, or production of munitions or other 5
weapons; 6
(C) to materially assist in the unlawful 7
manufacture, synthesis, or distribution of a con-8
trolled substance; 9
(D) to evade the control of, or act outside 10
the intended instructions of, its developer or op-11
erator; 12
(E) to facilitate a cybersecurity threat, in-13
cluding through the discovery or exploitation of 14
a security vulnerability; 15
(F) to be subject to the unauthorized 16
exfiltration of the weights of the artificial intel-17
ligence system, or unauthorized, deliberate, ma-18
licious modification of such weights; or 19
(G) to be transformed, stolen, reverse-engi-20
neered, or otherwise manipulated by an unau-21
thorized user or users acting outside of the 22
terms of service governing access to the artifi-23
cial intelligence system. 24
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4
•S 5576 IS
(4) A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FLAW .—The 1
term ‘‘artificial intelligence flaw’’ means a recurring 2
or reproducible characteristic, behavior, or failure 3
mode of an artificial intelligence system that causes, 4
or materially increases the risk of, an artificial intel-5
ligence safety incident absent any intentional act of 6
a user, including a characteristic, behavior, or failure 7
mode that may manifest across multiple systems or 8
providers. 9
(5) A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SAFETY INCI -10
DENT.—The term ‘‘artificial intelligence safety inci-11
dent’’ means an event that materially increases the 12
risk that operation of an artificial intelligence sys-13
tem leads to a state in which human life, health, 14
property, or the environment is endangered. 15
(6) A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SECURITY INCI -16
DENT.—The term ‘‘artificial intelligence security in-17
cident’’ means an event that materially increases— 18
(A) the risk that operation of an artificial 19
intelligence system occurs in a way that enables 20
the unauthorized extraction of information 21
about the behavior or characteristics of the sys-22
tem by an unauthorized party; or 23
(B) the ability to manipulate an artificial 24
intelligence system in order to subvert the con-25
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5
•S 5576 IS
fidentiality, integrity, or availability of the sys-1
tem or adjacent system. 2
(7) A RTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SECURITY VUL -3
NERABILITY.—The term ‘‘artificial intelligence secu-4
rity vulnerability’’ means a weakness in an artificial 5
intelligence system that could be exploited by a third 6
party to subvert, without authorization, the con-7
fidentiality, integrity, or availability of the system, 8
including through techniques such as— 9
(A) data poisoning; 10
(B) evasion attacks; 11
(C) privacy-based attacks; 12
(D) model theft or extraction attacks; 13
(E) attacks designed to circumvent or de-14
grade the safety, alignment, or access control 15
mechanisms of an artificial intelligence system; 16
and 17
(F) adversarial machine learning attacks 18
as described in National Institute of Standards 19
and Technology Trustworthy and Responsible 20
Artificial Intelligence 100–2e2025 (relating to 21
Adversarial Machine Learning), or successor 22
publication. 23
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•S 5576 IS
(8) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Ar-1
tificial Intelligence Safety Board established under 2
section 3. 3
(9) C RITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE .—The term 4
‘‘critical infrastructure’’ has the meaning provided in 5
section 1016(e) of the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (42 6
U.S.C. 5195c(e)). 7
(10) D EVELOPER.—The term ‘‘developer’’ 8
means a developer of a frontier artificial intelligence 9
model. 10
(11) F RONTIER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 11
MODEL.—The term ‘‘frontier artificial intelligence 12
model’’ means an artificial intelligence model, or sys-13
tem combining multiple artificial intelligence models, 14
that exhibits or could be modified to exhibit high lev-15
els of performance at tasks that pose a serious risk 16
to national security, national economic security, or 17
public health or safety. 18
(12) I NSTITUTE.—The term ‘‘Institute’’ means 19
the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 20
(13) S ECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 21
means the Secretary of Commerce. 22
SEC. 3. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SAFETY BOARD. 23
(a) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SAFETY BOARD.— 24
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 25
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•S 5576 IS
(A) I N GENERAL .—Not later than 30 days 1
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 2
Secretary shall establish within the Department 3
of Commerce a board to address artificial intel-4
ligence risks. 5
(B) DESIGNATION.—The board established 6
under subparagraph (A) shall be known as the 7
‘‘Artificial Intelligence Safety Board’’ (referred 8
to in this Act as the ‘‘Board’’). 9
(C) P ERMANENT STATUS .—The Board 10
shall be a permanent advisory committee, and 11
section 1013 of title 5, United States Code, 12
shall not apply to the Board. 13
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 14
(A) C OMPOSITION.—The Board shall be 15
composed of members who are appointed as fol-16
lows: 17
(i) One…

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-02-18: Read first time. To print.
• 2026-02-19: From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
• 2026-03-09: Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and E.M.
• 2026-04-14: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on E.M. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 13).
• 2026-04-15: Read second time and amended.
• 2026-04-16: Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
• 2026-04-23: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-05-06: In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
• 2026-05-14: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).
• 2026-05-18: Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
• 2026-05-19: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-05-27: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 1.)
• 2026-05-28: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
• 2026-06-10: Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and JUD.
• 2026-06-24: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
• 2026-07-01: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-07-29: In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
• 2026-08-03: From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-08-10: In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
• 2026-08-13: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
• 2026-08-13: Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
• 2026-08-17: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-21: Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-08-24: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-27: Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-08-28: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-30: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
• 2026-08-30: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
• 2026-08-30: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 1. Page 6917.).
• 2026-09-10: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
• 2026-09-29: Approved by the Governor.
• 2026-09-29: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 767, Statutes of 2026.

• 2026-02-18 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-04-15 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-05-18 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-03 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-13 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-21 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-27 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-09-03 Enrolled: Official bill text
• 2026-09-29 Chaptered: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:36:25.583992+00:00.

Assembly Bill

No. 2152 CHAPTER 767 An act to amend Sections 21189.81, 21189.81.1, and 21189.82 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2152, Mark González.
California Environmental Quality Act: essential local fire station projects: infrastructure project streamlining. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. Existing law authorizes the Governor to certify projects meeting certain requirements as infrastructure projects and provide those
certified projects with certain streamlining benefits, including requiring the lead agency to prepare the record of proceedings concurrently with the environmental review process and requiring the resolution of an action or proceeding challenging the certification of an EIR for certified projects or the granting of any project approvals, to the extent feasible, within 270 days of the filing of the record of proceedings with the court, as specified. Existing law requires the lead agency, within 10 days of the certification of an infrastructure project, to provide a public notice of the certification, as provided. If a lead agency fails to approve a project certified as an infrastructure project before January 1, 2033, existing law specifies that the certification is no longer valid. Existing law requires the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to make evidence and materials submitted for the certification of a project available to the public on its internet website at least 15 days
before the certification of the project. This bill would also authorize the Governor to certify an essential local fire station project for streamlining as an infrastructure project if the Governor ensures that the project meets specified requirements, including, among others, that the applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on the project, and the applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project, as specified. The bill would require a project to meet specified requirements to be eligible for certification as an essential local fire station project, including, among other things, (1) that the project is being undertaken by a city, county, city and county, or local fire agency, as provided, (2) that the project is not located on specified sensitive or hazardous sites, as described, and (3) that the project will employ best
practices to avoid or mitigate significant environmental effects, as provided. The bill would require the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, for an essential local fire station project, to provide the Governor’s office with evidence and materials to support consideration of the application no later than 45 days after the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation posts the evidence and materials submitted for certification on its internet website. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 21189.81 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 21189.81. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (a) “Applicant” means a public or private entity or its affiliates, or a person or entity that undertakes a public works project, that proposes a project and its successors, heirs, and assignees. (b) “Disadvantaged community” means an area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code or an area identified as a disadvantaged unincorporated community pursuant to Section 65302.10 of the Government Code. (c) “Electrical transmission facility project” means a
project for the construction and operation of an electrical transmission facility that meets either of the following: (1) An electrical transmission facility project identified by the Independent System Operator in its annual transmission planning process that meets either of the following criteria: (A) The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from renewable energy resources or zero-carbon resources. (B) The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from energy storage projects. (2) An electrical transmission facility project identified by a local publicly owned electric utility that would satisfy a transmission expansion need approved by the
governing body of the local publicly owned electric utility and that meets either of the following criteria: (A) The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from renewable energy resources or zero-carbon resources. (B) The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from energy storage projects. (d) (1) “Energy infrastructure project” means any of the following: (A) An eligible renewable energy resource, as defined in Section 399.12 of the Public Utilities Code, excluding resources that combust biomass fuels. (B) New energy storage systems of 20 megawatts or more,
that are capable of discharging for at least two hours, provided that a pumped hydro facility may qualify only if it is less than or equal to 500 megawatts and has been directly appropriated funding by the state before January 1, 2023. (C) A project for which the applicant has certified that a capital investment of at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) made over a period of five years and the project is for either of the following: (i) The manufacture, production, or assembly of an energy storage system or component manufacturing, wind system or component manufacturing, and solar photovoltaic energy system or component manufacturing. (ii) The manufacture, production, or assembly of specialized products,
components, or systems that are integral to renewable energy or energy storage technologies. (D) An electrical transmission facility project, provided that nothing in this chapter affects the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission pursuant to Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) to regulate such projects if located in the coastal zone. (E) A hydrogen production facility and associated onsite storage and processing facilities that do not derive hydrogen from a fossil fuel feedstock and that receive funding from any of the following: (i) The Hydrogen Program established pursuant to Section 25664.1. (ii) Section 91530, as added by the Safe
Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Section 2 of Chapter 83 of the Statutes of 2024 (Senate Bill No. 867)), if that act is approved by the voters at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election. (iii) The Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) authorized by Article 15 (commencing with Section 12100.160) of Chapter 1.6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, as awarded by the United States Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. (2) Any project to develop a facility within the meaning of subdivision (b) of Section 25545 shall meet the requirements of Sections 25545.3.3 and 2…

Oct. 4, 2026, 12:36 a.m.: selected_text changed since Oct. 4, 2026, 12:16 a.m..

{'selected_text': None}

{'selected_text': {'text': "Assembly Bill\n              \n                        No. 2152 CHAPTER 767 An act to amend Sections 21189.81, 21189.81.1, and 21189.82 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. [ Approved  by Governor September\xa029,\xa02026. Filed with Secretary of State September\xa029,\xa02026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2152, Mark\xa0González.\n                          California Environmental Quality Act: essential local fire station projects: infrastructure project streamlining. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. Existing law authorizes the Governor to certify projects meeting certain requirements as infrastructure projects and provide those\n\t\t\t certified projects with certain streamlining benefits, including requiring the lead agency to prepare the record of proceedings concurrently with the environmental review process and requiring the resolution of an action or proceeding challenging the certification of an EIR for certified projects or the granting of any project approvals, to the extent feasible, within 270 days of the filing of the record of proceedings with the court, as specified. Existing law requires the lead agency, within 10 days of the certification of an infrastructure project, to provide a public notice of the certification, as provided. If a lead agency fails to approve a project certified as an infrastructure project before January 1, 2033, existing law specifies that the certification is no longer valid. Existing law requires the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to make evidence and materials submitted for the certification of a project available to the public on its internet website at least 15 days\n\t\t\t before the certification of the project. This bill would also authorize the Governor to certify an essential local fire station project for streamlining as an infrastructure project if the Governor ensures that the project meets specified requirements, including, among others, that the applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on the project, and the applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project, as specified. The bill would require a project to meet specified requirements to be eligible for certification as an essential local fire station project, including, among other things, (1) that the project is being undertaken by a city, county, city and county, or local fire agency, as provided, (2) that the project is not located on specified sensitive or hazardous sites, as described, and (3) that the project will employ best\n\t\t\t practices to avoid or mitigate significant environmental effects, as provided. The bill would require the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, for an essential local fire station project, to provide the Governor’s office with evidence and materials to support consideration of the application no later than 45 days after the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation posts the evidence and materials submitted for certification on its internet website. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 21189.81 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 21189.81. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (a)\xa0“Applicant” means a public or private entity or its affiliates, or a person or entity that undertakes a public works project, that proposes a project and its successors, heirs, and assignees. (b)\xa0“Disadvantaged community” means an area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code or an area identified as a disadvantaged unincorporated community pursuant to Section 65302.10 of the Government Code. (c)\xa0“Electrical transmission facility project” means a\n\t\t\t\t\t\tproject for the construction and operation of an electrical transmission facility that meets either of the following: (1)\xa0An electrical transmission facility project identified by the Independent System Operator in its annual transmission planning process that meets either of the following criteria: (A)\xa0The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from renewable energy resources or zero-carbon resources. (B)\xa0The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from energy storage projects. (2)\xa0An electrical transmission facility project identified by a local publicly owned electric utility that would satisfy a transmission expansion need approved by the\n\t\t\t\t\t\tgoverning body of the local publicly owned electric utility and that meets either of the following criteria: (A)\xa0The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from renewable energy resources or zero-carbon resources. (B)\xa0The project will facilitate delivery of electricity from energy storage projects. (d)\xa0(1)\xa0“Energy infrastructure project” means any of the following: (A)\xa0An eligible renewable energy resource, as defined in Section 399.12 of the Public Utilities Code, excluding resources that combust biomass fuels. (B)\xa0New energy storage systems of 20 megawatts or more,\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthat are capable of discharging for at least two hours, provided that a pumped hydro facility may qualify only if it is less than or equal to 500 megawatts and has been directly appropriated funding by the state before January 1, 2023. (C)\xa0A project for which the applicant has certified that a capital investment of at least two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) made over a period of five years and the project is for either of the following: (i)\xa0The manufacture, production, or assembly of an energy storage system or component manufacturing, wind system or component manufacturing, and solar photovoltaic energy system or component manufacturing. (ii)\xa0The manufacture, production, or assembly of specialized products,\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcomponents, or systems that are integral to renewable energy or energy storage technologies. (D)\xa0An electrical transmission facility project, provided that nothing in this chapter affects the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission pursuant to Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) to regulate such projects if located in the coastal zone. (E)\xa0A hydrogen production facility and associated onsite storage and processing facilities that do not derive hydrogen from a fossil fuel feedstock and that receive funding from any of the following: (i)\xa0The Hydrogen Program established pursuant to Section 25664.1. (ii)\xa0Section 91530, as added by the Safe\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDrinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Section 2 of Chapter 83 of the Statutes of 2024 (Senate Bill No. 867)), if that act is approved by the voters at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election. (iii)\xa0The Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) authorized by Article 15 (commencing with Section 12100.160) of Chapter 1.6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, as awarded by the United States Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. (2)\xa0Any project to develop a facility within the meaning of subdivision (b) of Section 25545 shall meet the requirements of Sections 25545.3.3 and 25545.3.5, except that those requirements shall also apply to solar photovoltaic and\n\t\t\t\t\t\tterrestrial wind electrical generating power plants with a generating capacity of between 20 and 50 megawatts and energy storage projects capable of storing between 80 and 200 megawatt hours of electrical energy. (e)\xa0“Essential local fire station project” means a project that meets all of the following requirements: (1)\xa0The project is being undertaken by a city, county, city and county, or local fire agency to plan, design, acquire property for, and construct or replace a fire station. (2)\xa0The project is not located on any of the following sites: (A)\xa0Prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, or unique farmland as designated by the Department of\n\t\t\t\t\t\tConservation. (B)\xa0Wetlands, as defined in Section 328.3(c)(1) of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (C)\xa0A hazardous waste site that is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code. (D)\xa0A floodplain, as mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, unless the lead agency determines that the project includes adequate flood protection. (E)\xa0Within a delineated earthquake fault zone, as determined by the State Geologist, in any official maps published by the State Geologist, unless the development complies with applicable seismic protection building code standards adopted by the California Building Standards\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCommission under the California Building Standards Law (Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18901) of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code), and by any local building department under Chapter 12.2 (commencing with Section 8875) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (F)\xa0Lands identified for conservation in an adopted natural community conservation plan pursuant to the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code), a habitat\n\t\t\t\t\t\tconservation plan pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.), or other adopted natural resource protection plan. (G)\xa0Habitat for protected species identified as candidate species, sensitive species, or species of special status by state or federal agencies, fully protected species, or species protected by the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.), the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code), or the Native Plant Protection Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1900) of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code). (H)\xa0Lands under conservation easement. (3)\xa0The\n\t\t\t\t\t\tproject will employ best practices, as compared to similar fire station projects previously reviewed under this division, to avoid or mitigate significant environmental effects, including those environmental effects from noise, traffic, and hazardous materials. (4)\xa0The project’s construction contracts are covered by a project labor agreement, as that term is defined in Section 2500 of the Public Contract Code. (f)\xa0“Infrastructure project” means a project that is certified pursuant to Sections 21189.82 and 21189.83 as any of the following: (1)\xa0An energy infrastructure project. (2)\xa0A semiconductor or microelectronic project. (3)\xa0A transportation-related project. (4)\xa0A water-related project. (5)\xa0An essential local fire station project. (g)\xa0“Semiconductor or microelectronic project” means a project that meets the requirements related to investment in new or expanded facilities and is awarded funds under the federal Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167), commonly known as the CHIPS Act of 2022, and the requirements of Section 21183.5. (h)\xa0(1)\xa0“Transportation-related project” means a transportation infrastructure project that advances one or more of, and does\n\t\t\t\t\t\tnot conflict with, the following goals related to the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure adopted by the Transportation Agency: (A)\xa0Build toward an integrated, statewide rail and transit network. (B)\xa0Invest in networks of safe and accessible bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. (C)\xa0Include investments in light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicle infrastructure. (D)\xa0Develop a zero-emission freight transportation system. (E)\xa0Reduce public health and economic harms and maximize community benefits. (F)\xa0Make safety improvements to reduce fatalities and severe injuries of all users towards zero. (G)\xa0Assess and integrate assessments of physical climate risk. (H)\xa0Promote projects that do not significantly increase passenger vehicle travel. (I)\xa0Promote compact infill development while protecting residents and businesses from displacement. (J)\xa0Protect natural and working lands. (2)\xa0Transportation-related projects are public works for the purposes of Section 1720 of the Labor Code and shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720) of Part 7 of\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDivision 2 of the Labor Code. (i)\xa0(1)\xa0“Water-related project” means any of the following: (A)\xa0A project that is approved to implement a groundwater\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsustainability plan that the Department of Water Resources has determined is in compliance with Sections 10727.2 and 10727.4 of the Water Code or to implement an interim groundwater sustainability plan adopted pursuant to Section 10735.6 of the Water Code. (B)\xa0(i)\xa0A water storage project funded by the California Water Commission pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 79750) of Division 26.7 of the Water Code. (ii)\xa0In addition to clause (i), the applicant shall demonstrate that the project will minimize the intake or diversion of water except during times of surplus water and prioritizes the discharge of water for ecological benefits or to mitigate an emergency, including, but not limited to, dam repair, levee repair, wetland restoration, marshland\n\t\t\t\t\t\trestoration, or habitat preservation, or other public benefits described in Section 79753 of the Water Code. (C)\xa0Projects for the development of recycled water, as defined in Section 13050 of the Water Code. (D)\xa0Contaminant and salt removal projects, including groundwater desalination and associated treatment, storage, conveyance, and distribution facilities. This shall not include seawater desalination. (E)\xa0Projects exclusively for canal or other conveyance maintenance and repair. (2)\xa0Water-related projects are public works for purposes of Section 1720 of the Labor Code and shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720)\n\t\t\t\t\t\tof Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code. (3)\xa0“Water-related project” does not include the design or construction of through-Delta conveyance facilities of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. SEC. 2. Section 21189.81.1 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 21189.81.1. (a)\xa0For purposes of subdivision (d) of Section 21189.81, an “energy infrastructure project” includes the San Vicente Energy Storage Facility project proposed by the San Diego County Water Authority for pumped energy storage located in the eastern portion of the County of San Diego. (b)\xa0For purposes of subdivision (i) of Section 21189.81, a “water-related project” includes a project for the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of the South Bay Sewage Treatment Plant in the County of San Diego, operated by the International Boundary and Water Commission. SEC. 3. Section 21189.82 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 21189.82. (a)\xa0(1)\xa0(A)\xa0The Governor may certify a project as an energy infrastructure project for purposes of this chapter if the project meets the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section 21189.81. (B)\xa0In addition to subparagraph (A), if the applicant is not the lead agency, the Governor shall ensure all of the following: (i)\xa0The applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on a certified project under this division, including payment of the costs for the appointment of a special master if deemed\n\t\t\t\t\t\tappropriate by the court, in a form and manner as provided in the rule of court adopted by the Judicial Council under Section 21189.85. (ii)\xa0The applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with the review and consideration of the project under this division, in a form and manner specified by the lead agency for the project. (iii)\xa0For a project for which environmental review has commenced, the applicant demonstrates that the record of proceedings is being prepared in accordance with Section 21189.86. (2)\xa0(A)\xa0The Governor may certify a project as a semiconductor or microelectronic project for purposes of this chapter if the project meets the\n\t\t\t\t\t\trequirements of subdivision (g) of Section 21189.81. (B)\xa0In addition to subparagraph (A), if the applicant is not the lead agency, the Governor shall ensure all of the following: (i)\xa0The applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on a certified project under this division, including payment of the costs for the appointment of a special master if deemed appropriate by the court, in a form and manner as provided in the rule of court adopted by the Judicial Council under Section 21189.85. (ii)\xa0The applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with the review and consideration\n\t\t\t\t\t\tof the project under this division, in a form and manner specified by the lead agency for the project. (iii)\xa0For a project for which environmental review has commenced, the applicant demonstrates that the record of proceedings is being prepared in accordance with Section 21189.86. (3)\xa0The Governor may certify up to 20 transportation-related projects for purposes of this chapter, including up to 10 state projects proposed by the Department of Transportation and up to 10 local or regional projects, that meet the requirements of subdivision (h) of Section 21189.81. (4)\xa0(A)\xa0The Governor may certify a project as a water-related project for purposes of this chapter if the project meets the requirements of\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsubdivision (i) of Section 21189.81. (B)\xa0In addition to subparagraph (A), the Governor shall ensure all of the following: (i)\xa0The applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on a certified project under this division, including payment of the costs for the appointment of a special master if deemed appropriate by the court, in a form and manner as provided in the rule of court adopted by the Judicial Council under Section 21189.85. (ii)\xa0The applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with the review and consideration of the project under this division, in a form and manner\n\t\t\t\t\t\tspecified by the lead agency for the project. (iii)\xa0For a project for which environmental review has commenced, the applicant demonstrates that the record of proceedings is being prepared in accordance with Section 21189.86. (C)\xa0In addition to subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Governor may certify a project as a water-related project for purposes of this chapter only if the Governor finds that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the project will be mitigated to the extent feasible. (5)\xa0(A)\xa0The Governor may certify a project as an essential local fire station project for purposes of this chapter if the project meets the requirements of subdivision (e) of Section 21189.81. (B)\xa0In addition to subparagraph (A), the Governor shall ensure all of the following: (i)\xa0The applicant agrees to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any case challenging a lead agency’s action on a certified project under this division, including payment of the costs for the appointment of a special master if deemed appropriate by the court, in a form and manner as provided in the rule of court adopted by the Judicial Council under Section 21189.85. (ii)\xa0The applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with the review and consideration of the project\n\t\t\t\t\t\tunder this division, in a form and manner specified by the lead agency for the project. (iii)\xa0For a project for which environmental review has commenced, the applicant demonstrates that the record of proceedings is being prepared in accordance with Section 21189.86. (b)\xa0The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may consult with other state agencies on and may issue guidelines regarding applications for and the certification of projects under this chapter. Any guidelines issued under this subdivision are not subject to the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). (c)\xa0An applicant for\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcertification of an infrastructure project under this chapter shall do all of the following: (1)\xa0Avoid or minimize significant environmental impacts in any disadvantaged community. (2)\xa0If measures are required pursuant to this division to mitigate significant environmental impacts in a disadvantaged community, mitigate those impacts consistent with this division, including Section 21002. Mitigation measures required under this subdivision shall be undertaken in, and directly benefit, the affected community. (3)\xa0Enter into a binding and enforceable agreement to comply with this subdivision in its application to the Governor and to the lead agency prior to the agency’s certification of the environmental impact report\n\t\t\t\t\t\tfor the project. (d)\xa0The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall make evidence and materials submitted for the certification of a project available to the public on its internet website at least 15 days before the certification of the project. (e)\xa0The Governor’s decision to certify a project shall not be subject to judicial review. (f)\xa0For projects described in subdivision (e) of Section 21189.81, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall provide the Governor’s office with evidence and materials to support consideration of the application no later than 45 days after the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation posts the evidence and materials on its internet website pursuant to subdivision\n\t\t\t\t\t\t(d).", 'pages': None, 'doc_id': '3461034', 'truncated': False, 'extraction': 'source-html-text', 'source_url': 'https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2152#91CHP', 'observed_at': '2026-10-04T00:36:25.583992+00:00', 'content_hash': 'e87a1e7c67941420751a62a5bf8bcfcc34c3f14a96934236fc15ed19ba6d534d'}}

Collection history starts with our observations; it is not complete legislative amendment history.

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-02-09: Read first time. To print.
• 2026-02-10: From printer. May be heard in committee March 12.
• 2026-02-23: Referred to Coms. on E.M and JUD.
• 2026-03-02: From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
• 2026-03-03: Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
• 2026-03-19: From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
• 2026-03-23: Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
• 2026-03-24: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 23). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
• 2026-04-03: In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
• 2026-04-15: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-04-29: In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
• 2026-05-14: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
• 2026-05-18: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-05-27: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)
• 2026-05-28: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
• 2026-06-10: Referred to Coms. on E.M. and JUD.
• 2026-06-17: From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.M.
• 2026-06-24: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
• 2026-07-01: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-08-03: In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
• 2026-08-13: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
• 2026-08-13: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-18: Ordered to special consent calendar.
• 2026-08-20: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
• 2026-08-20: In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
• 2026-08-24: Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6402.).
• 2026-08-28: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
• 2026-09-29: Approved by the Governor.
• 2026-09-29: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 762, Statutes of 2026.

• 2026-02-09 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-03-02 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-03-19 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-06-17 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-26 Enrolled: Official bill text
• 2026-09-29 Chaptered: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:36:25.709113+00:00.

Assembly Bill

No. 1749 CHAPTER 762 An act to add Section 1714.57 to the Civil Code, relating to civil law. [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1749, Dixon.
Interfering with wildfire suppression and emergency responses with drone. Existing law makes it a crime for a person to operate or use an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone at the scene of an emergency for the purpose of viewing the scene or emergency or military personnel, and thereby impede the emergency or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency. Existing law excuses a local public entity or public employee from liability for damage to an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system, if the damage was caused while the local public entity or public employee of a local public entity was providing, and the unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system was interfering with, the operation, support, or enabling of any emergency service, as specified. Existing law makes everyone responsible for an injury occasioned to another by their want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their
property or person, as provided. This bill would prohibit a person from operating or using an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone to knowingly or recklessly interfere with, among other things, a wildfire suppression or law enforcement or emergency response efforts related to a wildfire suppression. The bill would authorize the Attorney General or a county counsel or city attorney to bring civil action to enforce the prohibition and authorize a prevailing plaintiff to recover civil penalties, injunctive relief, or reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, as specified. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 1714.57 is added to the Civil Code, to read: 1714.57. (a) A person shall not operate or use an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone to knowingly or recklessly interfere with either of the following: (1) A wildfire suppression, or law enforcement or emergency response efforts related to a wildfire suppression. (2) An emergency response related to an incident for which a temporary flight restriction has been issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. (b) The Attorney General or a county counsel or city attorney may bring a civil action to enforce subdivision (a). The prevailing plaintiff in an action may recover any of the following in any court of competent jurisdiction: (1) A civil penalty not exceeding seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) for each violation. (2) Injunctive relief. (3) Reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

Oct. 4, 2026, 12:36 a.m.: selected_text changed since Oct. 4, 2026, 12:16 a.m..

{'selected_text': None}

{'selected_text': {'text': "Assembly Bill\n              \n                        No. 1749 CHAPTER 762 An act to add Section 1714.57 to the Civil Code, relating to civil law. [ Approved  by Governor September\xa029,\xa02026. Filed with Secretary of State September\xa029,\xa02026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1749, Dixon.\n                          Interfering with wildfire suppression and emergency responses with drone. Existing law makes it a crime for a person to operate or use an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone at the scene of an emergency for the purpose of viewing the scene or emergency or military personnel, and thereby impede the emergency or military personnel, in the performance of their duties in coping with the emergency. Existing law excuses a local public entity or public employee from liability for damage to an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system, if the damage was caused while the local public entity or public employee of a local public entity was providing, and the unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system was interfering with, the operation, support, or enabling of any emergency service, as specified. Existing law makes everyone responsible for an injury occasioned to another by their want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their\n\t\t\t property or person, as provided. This bill would prohibit a person from operating or using an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone to knowingly or recklessly interfere with, among other things, a wildfire suppression or law enforcement or emergency response efforts related to a wildfire suppression. The bill would authorize the Attorney General or a county counsel or city attorney to bring civil action to enforce the prohibition and authorize a prevailing plaintiff to recover civil penalties, injunctive relief, or reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, as specified. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 1714.57 is added to the Civil Code, to read: 1714.57. (a)\xa0A person shall not operate or use an unmanned aerial vehicle, remote-piloted aircraft, or drone to knowingly or recklessly interfere with either of the following: (1)\xa0A wildfire suppression, or law enforcement or emergency response efforts related to a wildfire suppression. (2)\xa0An emergency response related to an incident for which a temporary flight restriction has been issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. (b)\xa0The Attorney General or a county counsel or city attorney may bring a civil action to enforce subdivision (a). The prevailing plaintiff in an action may recover any of the following in any court of competent jurisdiction: (1)\xa0A civil penalty not exceeding seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) for each violation. (2)\xa0Injunctive relief. (3)\xa0Reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.", 'pages': None, 'doc_id': '3460937', 'truncated': False, 'extraction': 'source-html-text', 'source_url': 'https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1749#94CHP', 'observed_at': '2026-10-04T00:36:25.709113+00:00', 'content_hash': '988676a148d5deaf4f2a6cc9099cdbcb397c508e06f18388783aa7e682ff7055'}}

Collection history starts with our observations; it is not complete legislative amendment history.

Detail checked 2026-10-03T23:54:21.904362+00:00.

• 2026-02-04: Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
• 2026-02-05: From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 7.
• 2026-02-18: Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.M.
• 2026-03-11: Set for hearing March 24.
• 2026-03-24: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3660.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
• 2026-04-10: Set for hearing April 21.
• 2026-04-13: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
• 2026-04-22: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3972.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-04-24: Set for hearing May 4.
• 2026-05-04: May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
• 2026-05-08: Set for hearing May 14.
• 2026-05-14: From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 4259.) (May 14).
• 2026-05-14: Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-05-18: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-05-26: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 4448.) Ordered to the Assembly.
• 2026-05-26: In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
• 2026-06-01: Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and E.M.
• 2026-06-09: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
• 2026-06-23: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
• 2026-06-30: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
• 2026-08-05: August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
• 2026-08-13: Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
• 2026-08-13: From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).
• 2026-08-13: Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
• 2026-08-17: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
• 2026-08-24: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6422.) Ordered to the Senate.
• 2026-08-24: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
• 2026-08-26: Ordered to special consent calendar.
• 2026-08-27: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
• 2026-09-02: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
• 2026-09-29: Approved by the Governor.
• 2026-09-29: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 772, Statutes of 2026.

• 2026-02-04 Introduced: Official bill text
• 2026-04-13 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-05-14 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-06-09 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-13 Amended: Official bill text
• 2026-08-30 Enrolled: Official bill text
• 2026-09-29 Chaptered: Official bill text

Observed 2026-10-04T00:36:25.834424+00:00.

Senate Bill

No. 973 CHAPTER 772 An act to add Article 13 (commencing with Section 4774) to Chapter 10 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, relating to wildfire mitigation. [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 973, Becker.
Wildfire County Coordinator Program. Existing law establishes the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force and requires the task force to develop a comprehensive implementation strategy to track and ensure the achievement of the goals and key actions identified in the state’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as provided. Existing law requires, on or before March 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, the task force to update the action plan. The Budget Act of 2025 provided for a community hardening program in the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection that includes home hardening certification and a wildfire county coordinator program, appropriated $9,500,000 to the department to make available to the California Fire Safe Council for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, and required the county coordinators to prioritize home hardening, defensible space,
planning, and education for community-level wildfire mitigation efforts. This bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish the California Wildfire Preparedness Program to (1) establish recommended guidance for the use of available wildfire risk modeling and analysis tools by organizations, as specified, (2) develop guidance and tools related to wildfire risk assessments, (3) support the development or updating of county-level wildfire risk assessments, (4) maintain oversight authority for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, as provided, and (5) develop guidance and templates for the creation or
revision of county-level wildfire preparedness prioritization and implementation plans, and accompanying guidance for integrating these plans with related wildfire resilience programs, as provided. This bill would provide in code for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program to support countywide coordination of and capacity for community wildfire mitigation, prevention, preparedness, and recovery activities, as specified. The bill would require the department
to enter into an agreement with the California Fire Safe Council to administer and deliver the program. The bill would require the program to, among other things, establish capacity in participating counties to plan and execute specified activities in support of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and collect data on local mitigation and preparedness activities, including costs and outcomes, as provided. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) Wildfires pose an ongoing and increasing threat to life, property, public health, and the economy of the state. (2) Proactive wildfire prevention, preparedness, and mitigation measures, including home hardening and defensible space, fuels management, evacuation and wildfire planning, and community education, reduce wildfire risk and improve community resilience. (3) Effective wildfire risk reduction requires locally informed risk assessment, planning, prioritization, and implementation, in alignment with state strategy and supported by adequate local technical
and administrative capacity. (4) Established in 2021, the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, developed and delivered by the California Fire Safe Council in partnership with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Office of the State Fire Marshal, has substantially increased local capacity to plan and implement critical wildfire prevention, preparedness, and mitigation activities. Already the small investment in community capacity has produced substantial resiliency benefits to the state. (5) The Wildfire County Coordinators have served as vital local resources to secure funding, implement mitigation projects, engage vulnerable populations, and build resilience in high-risk communities. (6) Funds were appropriated to the California Fire Safe Council for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program in the Budget Act of 2025 for the purpose of supporting local capacity to prioritize home hardening, defensible space, planning, and
education for community-level wildfire mitigation efforts. (7) It is in the interest of our state to support the Wildfire County Coordinators and further enhance capacity to enable communities to proactively reduce their wildfire risk and thereby improve public safety and community insurability. (8) The Wildfire County Coordinator Program is a cornerstone of the community wildfire preparedness strategy outlined in the 2026 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Action Plan Update, and the Wildfire County Coordinators serve as the crucial link between state strategy and local planning, coordination, and execution to ensure California communities are better prepared and more resilient to wildfire. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to advance the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan by expanding county-level capacity to reduce wildfire and smoke risk. SEC. 2. Article 13 (commencing with Section 4774) is added to Chapter 10 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, to read: Article
 13. Wildfire County Coordinator Program 4774. For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (a) “CFSC” means the California Fire Safe Council, a nonprofit entity that supports communities across the state in wildfire preparedness and resiliency through grant funding, programmatic support, and technical assistance. (b) “Community Wildfire Protection Plan” has the same meaning as defined in 16 U.S.C. Section 6511(3). (c) “Wildfire County Coordinator Program” or “program”
means the program established pursuant to Section 4774.2. 4774.1. The department shall establish the California Wildfire Preparedness Program to do all of the following: (a) (1) Establish recommended guidance for the use of available wildfire risk modeling and analysis tools, including data quality, interoperability, and quality assurance principles, by organizations, including, but not limited to, fire departments, local department units, local fire safe councils, resource
conservation districts, tribal entities, counties, cities, special districts, communities, and mitigation practitioners engaged in community wildfire preparedness planning and implementation, in consultation with the Risk Modeling Advisory Workgroup or the appropriate interagency technical advisory body within the department. (2) The guidance established under this subdivision shall not apply to, or affect the regulation or use of, catastrophe or wildfire risk models used by insurers for
ratemaking filings under Section 1861.05 of the Insurance Code. (b) Develop guidance and tools to support county-level wildfire risk assessments, the identification of high-risk communities, prioritization of mitigation activities, and evaluation of quantifiable risk reduction outcomes. (c) Support the
development or updating of county-level wildfire risk assessments. (d) Maintain oversight authority for Wildfire County Coordinator Program implementation, performance, and alignment with county-level Community Wildfire Protection Plans and the department’s unit fire plans, and ensure, to the extent feasible, that the activities conducted align with those relevant plans and existing applicable state and local fire agency
standards in order to avoid duplicative planning and reporting requirements, reduce administrative burden, and improve coordination. (e) In coordination wit…

Oct. 4, 2026, 12:36 a.m.: selected_text changed since Oct. 4, 2026, 12:16 a.m..

{'selected_text': None}

{'selected_text': {'text': "Senate Bill\n              \n                        No. 973 CHAPTER 772 An act to add Article 13 (commencing with Section 4774) to Chapter 10 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, relating to wildfire mitigation. [ Approved  by Governor September\xa029,\xa02026. Filed with Secretary of State September\xa029,\xa02026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 973, Becker.\n                          Wildfire County Coordinator Program. Existing law establishes the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force and requires the task force to develop a comprehensive implementation strategy to track and ensure the achievement of the goals and key actions identified in the state’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as provided. Existing law requires, on or before March 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, the task force to update the action plan. The Budget Act of 2025 provided for a community hardening program in the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection that includes home hardening certification and a wildfire county coordinator program, appropriated $9,500,000 to the department to make available to the California Fire Safe Council for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, and required the county coordinators to prioritize home hardening, defensible space,\n\t\t\t planning, and education for community-level wildfire mitigation efforts. This bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish the California Wildfire Preparedness Program to (1) establish recommended guidance for the use of available wildfire risk modeling and analysis tools by organizations, as specified, (2) develop guidance and tools related to wildfire risk assessments, (3) support the development or updating of county-level wildfire risk assessments, (4) maintain oversight authority for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, as provided, and (5) develop guidance and templates for the creation or\n\t\t\t revision of county-level wildfire preparedness prioritization and implementation plans, and accompanying guidance for integrating these plans with related wildfire resilience programs, as provided. This bill would provide in code for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program to support countywide coordination of and capacity for community wildfire mitigation, prevention, preparedness, and recovery activities, as specified. The bill would require the department\n\t\t\t to enter into an agreement with the California Fire Safe Council to administer and deliver the program. The bill would require the program to, among other things, establish capacity in participating counties to plan and execute specified activities in support of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and collect data on local mitigation and preparedness activities, including costs and outcomes, as provided. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. (a)\xa0The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1)\xa0Wildfires pose an ongoing and increasing threat to life, property, public health, and the economy of the state. (2)\xa0Proactive wildfire prevention, preparedness, and mitigation measures, including home hardening and defensible space, fuels management, evacuation and wildfire planning, and community education, reduce wildfire risk and improve community resilience. (3)\xa0Effective wildfire risk reduction requires locally informed risk assessment, planning, prioritization, and implementation, in alignment with state strategy and supported by adequate local technical\n\t\t\t\tand administrative capacity. (4)\xa0Established in 2021, the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, developed and delivered by the California Fire Safe Council in partnership with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Office of the State Fire Marshal, has substantially increased local capacity to plan and implement critical wildfire prevention, preparedness, and mitigation activities. Already the small investment in community capacity has produced substantial resiliency benefits to the state. (5)\xa0The Wildfire County Coordinators have served as vital local resources to secure funding, implement mitigation projects, engage vulnerable populations, and build resilience in high-risk communities. (6)\xa0Funds were appropriated to the California Fire Safe Council for the Wildfire County Coordinator Program in the Budget Act of 2025 for the purpose of supporting local capacity to prioritize home hardening, defensible space, planning, and\n\t\t\t\teducation for community-level wildfire mitigation efforts. (7)\xa0It is in the interest of our state to support the Wildfire County Coordinators and further enhance capacity to enable communities to proactively reduce their wildfire risk and thereby improve public safety and community insurability. (8)\xa0The Wildfire County Coordinator Program is a cornerstone of the community wildfire preparedness strategy outlined in the 2026 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Action Plan Update, and the Wildfire County Coordinators serve as the crucial link between state strategy and local planning, coordination, and execution to ensure California communities are better prepared and more resilient to wildfire. (b)\xa0It is the intent of the Legislature to advance the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan by expanding county-level capacity to reduce wildfire and smoke risk. SEC. 2. Article 13 (commencing with Section 4774) is added to Chapter 10 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, to read: Article\n              \xa013.\xa0Wildfire County Coordinator Program 4774. For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (a)\xa0“CFSC” means the California Fire Safe Council, a nonprofit entity that supports communities across the state in wildfire preparedness and resiliency through grant funding, programmatic support, and technical assistance. (b)\xa0“Community Wildfire Protection Plan” has the same meaning as defined in 16 U.S.C. Section 6511(3). (c)\xa0“Wildfire County Coordinator Program” or “program”\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  means the program established pursuant to Section 4774.2. 4774.1. The department shall establish the California Wildfire Preparedness Program to do all of the following: (a)\xa0(1)\xa0Establish recommended guidance for the use of available wildfire risk modeling and analysis tools, including data quality, interoperability, and quality assurance principles, by organizations, including, but not limited to, fire departments, local department units, local fire safe councils, resource\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  conservation districts, tribal entities, counties, cities, special districts, communities, and mitigation practitioners engaged in community wildfire preparedness planning and implementation, in consultation with the Risk Modeling Advisory Workgroup or the appropriate interagency technical advisory body within the department. (2)\xa0The guidance established under this subdivision shall not apply to, or affect the regulation or use of, catastrophe or wildfire risk models used by insurers for\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  ratemaking filings under Section 1861.05 of the Insurance Code. (b)\xa0Develop guidance and tools to support county-level wildfire risk assessments, the identification of high-risk communities, prioritization of mitigation activities, and evaluation of quantifiable risk reduction outcomes. (c)\xa0Support the\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  development or updating of county-level wildfire risk assessments. (d)\xa0Maintain oversight authority for Wildfire County Coordinator Program implementation, performance, and alignment with county-level Community Wildfire Protection Plans and the department’s unit fire plans, and ensure, to the extent feasible, that the activities conducted align with those relevant plans and existing applicable state and local fire agency\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  standards in order to avoid duplicative planning and reporting requirements, reduce administrative burden, and improve coordination. (e)\xa0In coordination with the Office of Land Use and Climate\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  Innovation, develop guidance and templates for the creation or revision of county-level wildfire preparedness prioritization and implementation plans, along with accompanying guidance for integrating these plans with county and local Community Wildfire Protection Plans, regional resilience plans, and related wildfire resilience programs. 4774.2. (a)\xa0The department shall establish the Wildfire County Coordinator Program and shall enter into an agreement with the CFSC to administer and deliver the program. (b)\xa0The purpose of the program is to support countywide coordination of and capacity for\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  community wildfire mitigation, prevention, preparedness, and recovery activities, including, but not limited to, evacuation and resilience planning, data collection, public education and outreach, smoke mitigation, home hardening, defensible space, fuels reduction, and community-scale mitigation, in alignment with the department’s statewide community wildfire preparedness strategy. 4774.3. The Wildfire County Coordinator Program shall do all of the following: (a)\xa0Establish capacity in participating counties to plan and execute community- and county-level wildfire prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and recovery activities in support of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan described in Article 11 (commencing with Section 4770). (b)\xa0Support the use of the risk assessment tools and guidance developed pursuant to Section 4774.1 to enhance county-level risk assessment, wildfire planning, and project prioritization, including the integration with\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  Community Wildfire Protection Plans. (c)\xa0Facilitate local coordination on priority wildfire preparedness planning and implementation with federal, state, tribal, local, and regional wildfire resilience partners, including, but not limited to, fire departments, local department units, local fire safe councils, resource conservation districts, tribal entities, counties, cities, special districts, communities, and mitigation practitioners. (d)\xa0Facilitate coordination between county-level community wildfire preparedness efforts, regional landscape resilience efforts, and other applicable federal, state, tribal, and local planning efforts, to improve information sharing, identify shared implementation opportunities, and strengthen alignment across jurisdictions and planning scales. (e)\xa0Develop and disseminate educational materials and programming on wildfire and smoke mitigation and preparedness, including targeted outreach to high-risk communities and populations. (f)\xa0Provide information on available local, state, and federal financial resources to support wildfire preparedness planning and implementation. (g)\xa0Support local capacity to access and implement state or federal wildfire resilience funding programs. (h)\xa0Support the planning and implementation of home hardening,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  defensible space, and related mitigation activities, through activities such as the following: (1)\xa0Implementing cost-reduction strategies, standardized implementation practices, contractor or workforce development, and data collection to evaluate program effectiveness. (2)\xa0Implementing strategies to lower the cost of home hardening and defensible space, including bulk-purchasing agreements, shared procurement, and other logistical efficiencies. (3)\xa0Establishing clear guidelines, standardized scopes of work, and cost estimates for common retrofits. (4)\xa0Identifying, training, and creating a centralized list of wildfire mitigation practitioners. (i)\xa0Coordinate with the California Wildfire Mitigation Program Joint Powers Authority established pursuant to Article 16.5 (commencing with Section 8654.2) of Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code to improve access to and streamline financial assistance for home hardening and defensible space in high-risk communities. (j)\xa0Support activities to increase community\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  preparedness to smoke, including, but not limited to, increasing community access to indoor clean air spaces, distribution of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, educational initiatives, and improved communication of planned prescribed burns. County coordinators may disseminate the latest information from air districts, public health departments, and other partners to support outreach and education efforts. (k)\xa0Collect data on local mitigation and preparedness activities, including costs and quantifiable risk reduction\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  outcomes in alignment with department data collection standards.", 'pages': None, 'doc_id': '3460917', 'truncated': False, 'extraction': 'source-html-text', 'source_url': 'https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB973#93CHP', 'observed_at': '2026-10-04T00:36:25.834424+00:00', 'content_hash': '04761b04a5714d774a93755a5c1e229a11fbd5ee67c1e54b5ccc11fdc682bae6'}}

Collection history starts with our observations; it is not complete legislative amendment history.