California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law on Sept. 9 that establish artificial intelligence (AI) safeguards. According to the governor’s office, the bills create a framework for independent third-party evaluation and audits of AI systems and establish a foundation for greater transparency and accountability as AI becomes increasingly embedded in critical sectors of California’s economy and public life.
The new laws – Senate Bill 813 and Assembly Bill 1405 – place the California Government Operations Agency at the center of the state’s AI auditing framework.
SB 813, authored by state Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, directs the Government Operations Agency to develop requirements by Jan. 1, 2028, for designating independent verification organizations that can assess AI systems and models for compliance with state law. Those organizations must demonstrate expertise in assessing risks from AI systems or models and identifying the metrics and methodologies underlying those assessments.
The law directs the agency to convene working groups to help identify standards and develop criteria for the verification organizations.
AB 1405, authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, requires the Government Operations Agency to establish an AI Auditor Registry by Jan. 1, 2029. As of that date, individuals or organizations will be prohibited from offering, selling, or conducting covered AI audits in California unless they are registered.
Registered auditors will have to disclose information about their qualifications, services, relevant certifications or accreditations, and the state laws or regulations under which they conduct covered audits. The law also establishes standards governing auditor independence, objectivity, and integrity, including restrictions intended to prevent financial or employment conflicts of interest.
“California has taken nation-leading action to advance AI safety, transparency, accountability, and responsible innovation, but the scale and potential consequences of this technology demand sustained action from every level of government. The federal government must step forward with robust, national regulations that match the urgency of this moment,” Newsom said when announcing the two new laws.
The laws build on California’s existing AI regulations. Newsom signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act in 2025, which requires large frontier AI developers to publish safety frameworks, creates a mechanism for reporting critical safety incidents, and protects whistleblowers who disclose significant health and safety risks posed by frontier models.
In addition, this year Newsom directed state officials to strengthen AI-related procurement standards, including privacy, security, and civil rights protections for technology purchased by the state.
