Companion chatbots.

Legislative status

1. Introduced
2. In Committee
3. Reported by Committee
4. Floor Vote Scheduled
5. Passed One Chamber
6. Passed Both Chambers
7. Sent to Executive
8. Signed into Law

Summary

The bill forces operators of companion chatbots to clearly tell users they are interacting with artificial intelligence, to publish safety protocols for suicide prevention, and to protect minors from sexual content. It also creates an exception to California’s conflict‑of‑interest rules for public officials dealing with specific nonprofit groups when the decision only affects membership dues. These changes aim to increase transparency for AI users and clarify financial‑interest rules for elected officials.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Vote

Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 3279.) Ordered to the Assembly. · Jan 26, 2026

Hearings

• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 13, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 5, 2026
• Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Hearing
  Privacy and Consumer Protection · Jul 1, 2026
• Judiciary Committee Hearing
  Judiciary · Jan 13, 2026

History

1. May 11, 2026Referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2. Jan 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 3279.) Ordered to the Assembly.
3. Jan 26, 2026In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
4. Jan 21, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
5. Jan 20, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
6. Jan 15, 2026Set for hearing January 20.
7. Jan 14, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 3213.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
8. Jan 6, 2026Set for hearing January 13.
9. Jan 5, 2026Withdrawn from committee.
10. Jan 5, 2026Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
11. Jan 5, 2026Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
12. Jan 5, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

The 12 most recent of 18 recorded actions.

Sponsors

• Steve Padilla (D) · sponsor
• Padilla

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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