RismadarVoice Reporters
September 2, 2026
California’s Democratic-controlled Legislature has passed 26 bills targeting artificial intelligence and social media, including measures aimed at protecting children from potentially addictive online features and regulating the use of AI in healthcare, education and workplaces.
The bills, passed during the final week of the legislative session, now await decisions by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until the end of September to sign or veto them.
One measure would prohibit social media platforms from offering “addictive features,” such as autoplay videos, to users under 16. Another would introduce stricter age-verification requirements for AI chatbots and regulate the advertising minors can see online.
Some of the measures would also expose social media companies and AI chatbot operators to financial liability if they fail to take adequate steps to protect children from harm.
The package further seeks to limit AI in several areas. One bill would require instructors in the California State University system to be human beings, while another would prohibit employers from using AI surveillance tools that collect neural data to assess workers’ emotional states.
In healthcare, proposed restrictions would bar chatbots from providing psychotherapy and strengthen confidentiality requirements for medical information handled by AI systems.
State Senator Steve Padilla, who sponsored one of the measures, said California was stepping in where Washington had failed to regulate the rapidly evolving technology.
The legislation could also test Newsom’s evolving position on AI. Although the governor has traditionally maintained close ties with the technology industry, he has recently embraced a more populist approach as speculation grows over a possible 2028 presidential bid.
Newsom has yet to publicly indicate which of the bills he intends to sign.
The sweeping package could make California a national testing ground for AI and social-media regulation, with supporters hoping its rules will eventually serve as a model for other states.
