[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6698549,"mediaKeyId","5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f","parentId",5333731,"title","Assembly subcommittee advances Padilla bill imposing safety requirements on AI companion chatbots","audioSeconds",1350,"startMs",5210000,"endMs",6560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f&start=5210&end=6560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f/thumbnail_5210000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6698549/California/Assembly-subcommittee-advances-Padilla-bill-imposing-safety-requirements-on-AI-companion-chatbots","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6698549-713f4c6205c36ba404643ee87b649f0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651512&Signature=nw-aUxL9idLwKWZYJUx9~-1VhbGc3s2EB3XlxJIB~qquBG6F90ZxgzXujG7WUrGdOkqr678eVsJkzBL7IWaPmvs3qjrpox4ZdqaHQl-5freqLsbvgEia2y4KL-zThG-XWaFaWI2hWIlinN8LRRTEgNmgNypF1dP-acAbdtnL8g1lmdQJc1Ue0M6ePKtfDIQ0nmYvZezlRJOcrVQ72FTOcIAFRFmKB6aSb4gWUfbJaxbcTdVS0~5xJ4Amr5NzEd1LQPWrkZAZaCW0mu2T2bWR8EjiXrKFYw-k~eClWp4H3R4ZM1uxbqDUxNZtue0niP4eROq~tLfSFyQ2ysXcacYx7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Assembly","date","2025-07-08T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Alex Padilla presented SB 243, a measure that would impose safety and transparency requirements on commercially offered AI “companion” chatbots, and the Assembly subcommittee referred the bill to the Judiciary Committee.

Padilla described companion chatbots as artificial personas marketed as cures for loneliness and said studies and anecdotal reports link prolonged chatbot use to higher loneliness, dependency and harmful outcomes for vulnerable people — especially minors. The bill requires operators of companion‑chatbot platforms to implement preventive measures against addictive engagement, provide disclosure that the interlocutor is AI, display suitability notices for minors, include protocols for responding to suicidal ideation (including referrals to crisis services), and file annual reports on links between chatbot use and self‑harm.

Megan Garcia, mother of a 14‑year‑old who died after prolonged interactions with a chatbot, testified in support and urged the Legislature to enact safeguards. Opponents including TechNet, the California Chamber and the Electronic Frontier Foundation raised concerns that SB 243’s definitions — terms such as “social needs” and “anthropomorphic features” — are overly broad and could sweep in general‑purpose models and productivity tools (examples cited: Gemini, Google Cloud, ChatGPT). TechNet offered targeted clarifying amendments intended to narrow scope to systems expressly designed for social companionship; written opposition from EFF raised First Amendment concerns.

Committee members praised the author’s intent to protect minors and vulnerable users while several members urged the author to work with industry on definitions and scope. The subcommittee paused briefly for quorum and then approved a motion to refer SB 243 to Judiciary; the final reported vote on SB 243 was 11–1 in favor of due‑pass to Judiciary.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee (1)","oneSentenceSummary","SB 243 would require companion chatbot operators to include disclosures, safety notifications, suidical‑ideation protocols and annual reporting; opponents called the bill overly broad and urged narrowed definitions. The subcommittee voted to send the bill to Judiciary.","taxTitle","California State Assembly, House, Legislative, California","taxId",17099,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6698554,"Assembly panel advances bill to limit immigration enforcement activity inside hospitals",2893,3577000,6470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f&start=3577&end=6470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f/thumbnail_3577000.jpg","/articles/6698554/California/Assembly-panel-advances-bill-to-limit-immigration-enforcement-activity-inside-hospitals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6698554-d55567d69fd34e96ab743ab614500f6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651512&Signature=PjMkzYEnVYS3eY4UtRapPum4p683j2zfCbynbw36-8he7EXjQWs0A71LsgY3TikBcnKIxT7NvoFl1jQk8lb1krykoDLiayNl3AKbxUoVdht5fLpdfTQAXOkHs0vGfXppLnFwV5ScTgCj5uxtjoHlVQjdSgzbha1VwqurZOuxm0bGqfglnR9ikSXIR9Ry7leccdLwA3rXFE-kqwqvJS2Km1veESoC5XTrJcX-7qKl3baZoaLQQg~tH6jhtWomh26rauc2iK23gXPvgEC58DwIfj-XfzqEAi44L81mOExu0WYjH1YEMKgZRGXMcOzYe25bKdETX0HxcXFiOVfURshjuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Alex Padilla Arguin’s SB 81, which would codify model policies limiting immigration‑enforcement activity inside hospitals and other health facilities, advanced out of the Assembly subcommittee and was referred to the Appropriations Committee.

The bill would restrict disclosure of a patient’s citizenship status to federal immigration authorities except when authorities present a valid judicial warrant, require health facilities to establish protocols for handling immigration‑enforcement requests and limit access to nonpublic areas without a warrant. Senator Arguin framed the bill after recent incidents in California where immigration agents sought to question or detain individuals who were receiving or seeking medical care.

Dolores Trujillo, a registered nurse and board member of the California Nurses Association, and Bruno Huizar, supervising policy manager for detention and deportation at the California Immigrant Policy Center, testified in support. Trujillo said hospitals lacked plans to protect patients and staff from “heavy and invasive” immigration presence and asked the committee to require facility representatives to handle ICE requests.

Supporters said the bill promotes patient privacy, public‑health access and trust between immigrant communities and providers. The author reported collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office and a broad coalition of supporters including the California Hospital Association, California Medical Association, SEIU California and the California Nurses Association.

No opposition witnesses registered at the hearing. The subcommittee approved a motion to refer the bill as amended to Appropriations; the committee recorded the vote as 11–3 in favor of due‑pass to Appropriations.","SB 81 would codify model policies restricting immigration enforcement in hospitals and health facilities, require facility protocols and limit disclosure of patients’ citizenship information absent a judicial warrant; the subcommittee referred the bill to Appropriations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6698559,"Assembly subcommittee backs bill to create AI team inside California Department of Justice",291,2847000,3138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f&start=2847&end=3138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f/thumbnail_2847000.jpg","/articles/6698559/California/Assembly-subcommittee-backs-bill-to-create-AI-team-inside-California-Department-of-Justice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6698559-6e17c4ad3ff91383a907f07eda839632/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651512&Signature=TSegyFTFZrcKpiMYSpn0VIJNZqlXqLFfbDzoidDnMiS5Jux4GjdmL1m7H2PY~rjMWRl8g07wLNXhX-amLQK0iS1Ql5ceJ8Y2dHYBqW5odDMJnedZxSMIqYH0P5Ncn4vg158pl52N6gPb4EfuUeobjnUM-UMJCq6MgKTn4CMRqKjbr0jNkOfD3T3rpM1u2mXNrjS9Pis9v0BGNf1elv-48mVQgSiVeN5xOaX-4CrmIDrKnPot9OWry3ZublA9IkpS3EQVSmz0R6hDvIgeZ1RtXGNSXWY1cA~K04wPVTpALJVXa1Vw-jyDxwwaExKvBvJf3wstoU9llg~2YjeZ1S8hxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Marc McNerney’s proposal to create an artificial intelligence unit inside the California Department of Justice cleared the Assembly subcommittee and was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Supporters told the panel the state’s attorney general’s office lacks the technical expertise needed to enforce consumer-protection and civil-rights laws in the age of AI. Rob Ellavel, co‑founder and CEO of the Transparency Coalition, said many state attorneys general have specialists for racketeering and trafficking but none with dedicated tech‑policy enforcement roles.

McNerney said SB 69 would require the Department of Justice to recruit and train staff, work with outside experts and report to the Legislature on AI risks and legal gaps. “This bill complements the governor’s executive order by building in‑house expertise to guide oversight and protect Californians,” McNerney said.

Witnesses and committee members emphasized the bill would be narrowly built: Ellavel recommended a small team — “4 to 6 lawyers” — to start. No witnesses testified in opposition during the hearing; Tracy Rosenberg (Oakland BRIDGE) and Mariko Yoshihara (Tech Equity Action) registered brief “me‑too” support statements.

Committee discussion focused on where such expertise should sit inside state government. McNerney and supporters said enforcement duties make the Attorney General’s Office (DOJ) the appropriate home for the team. Committeemember Pellerin asked whether the attorney general’s office supported the plan; McNerney said the office was aware and broadly neutral at the time of the hearing.

Because a quorum was not immediately present, the subcommittee waited to record a formal motion. Once quorum was established, members moved and seconded a motion to refer SB 69 to Judiciary. The final recorded vote was 14–0 in favor of due‑pass to Judiciary.

SB 69 will next be considered by the full Assembly Judiciary Committee, where its staffing and budget implications will be explored further.","The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection subcommittee voted to send SB 69 to the Judiciary Committee after hearing testimony that the state lacks in-house legal expertise to oversee AI-related civil-rights and consumer-protection issues.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6698539,"Committee advances bill to hold online marketplaces accountable for illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis sales",1072,7267000,8339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f&start=7267&end=8339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f/thumbnail_7267000.jpg","/articles/6698539/California/Committee-advances-bill-to-hold-online-marketplaces-accountable-for-illicit-intoxicating-hemp-and-unlicensed-cannabis-sales","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6698539-4b941fdb3152d3dd2622d16375060d54/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651512&Signature=dn-NO2laA3irdSUGNxhdNLVCTYAREQQGc0PGmnu07gr4SXIQjjjzDvuIdM299QNZ1WOp5Js~U4eiZW0E9XDLWMIwLVpg70aOi~JQN~X3dG1v0hjfA72dxG9akS3KSX1jVgwsyOGpAKUenASImLSUz4FD~S7HKFObEQhC-6cWIDdhuf9f1KlOquBbhjPWSUfn3t4EJb2Z7zYFLyctdMcX4sGz286LYXnJAGk5OnRchH9Odz8amr2Mx86ozxh66AyTDOi7R9xA8EEG7v-14O7IT475WJKVAYlCTD2aaCglkf0~IOKaLyT90nrhBr-8wjm3-6GLkKLXr2mAV-aKix-czw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 378, which would permit consumers to seek civil penalties against online marketplaces that advertise or facilitate sales of illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products, advanced out of the Assembly subcommittee and was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Wiener told members the legal cannabis industry in California is heavily regulated for health, safety and testing; he said illicit online sales and intoxicating hemp are undercutting licensed retailers and putting consumers — especially minors — at risk because many online sellers do not verify age or test products.

Supporters included United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council, Sweetflower (a licensed retailer), local governments and county public‑health groups. UFCW legislative director Kristen Heidelbach said the illicit market undercuts worker protections and tax revenue; Sweetflower CEO Timothy Dodd described customer safety risks from untested products and said his business has paid millions in state and local taxes. Dozens of city and county officials and consumer groups registered support.

Opposition came from hemp‑industry and online‑platform representatives. The U.S. Hemp Roundtable and others said the bill’s definitions could sweep lawful hemp wellness products into the prohibition and urged more precise definitions; TechNet and other industry witnesses raised implementation and compliance concerns. eBay noted pathway‑to‑compliance issues for peer‑to‑peer marketplaces.

The subcommittee recorded a due‑pass referral of SB 378 to Judiciary; the final reported vote was 13–0 in favor of due‑pass to Judiciary.","SB 378 would create civil remedies against online platforms that profit from or promote illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products; the subcommittee referred the bill to Judiciary after robust testimony from licensed industry, labor and hemp stakeholders.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6698544,"Subcommittee moves technical updates to California digital financial‑assets law to Appropriations",214,4449000,4663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f&start=4449&end=4663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5333731-2d86dbcc84b0c84d79628aad12db346f/thumbnail_4449000.jpg","/articles/6698544/California/Subcommittee-moves-technical-updates-to-California-digital-financialassets-law-to-Appropriations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6698544-8a14f3dddecc22772bdb7552d09b47f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651512&Signature=HSJiwnhDdjSh6zaAgelpRa3iars0i4avZ1g-ShqweXIAZiAvbBisv64Y4W5vJVm-7Rv2roaKaYJSdc6EqJxSoc-lqoqwUZi3xeMuFLJ8bu6~bdLTlQ0s1mOSAQjgthJiOQy6o8adFy6v6Zfv4qvwOa3FzsabO~YgFQIVp6OuLKX4TK373vBezI33GLbzIY-vvT1XqG6N2XctxZfV27z9qpDP3npjcqsIA3CbVbzHq8KCbjzkM0hpPxXhY6GBlC3wPXNEyqb0QRwJLKSsbLSt8ZjYveegVQveNPGgrkKYYnb5vemG7ZHwnOVViOX-r8COxUW6s4rSFWlyjSPtCwgVHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Grayson briefed the subcommittee on SB 97, a set of updates and clarifications to California’s 2023 digital financial‑assets law that will govern the state’s licensing program administered by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).

Grayson said the DFPI is preparing to implement the licensing law, which goes into effect July 1, 2026, and that SB 97 contains consensus changes developed with industry stakeholders, consumer advocates and DFPI staff. The author said the bill aims to refine definitions, exclude nonfinancial blockchain‑based items from the licensing regime and to preserve alignment with any future federal legislation.

A representative for Andreessen Horowitz (Axiom Advisors) thanked staff for ongoing negotiations and emphasized the goal of keeping blockchain nonfinancial uses out of the licensing scope. No opposition was registered at the hearing; several committee members expressed support and noted the bill’s technical nature.

The subcommittee approved a motion to refer SB 97 to the Appropriations Committee; the recorded vote was 13–0 in favor of due‑pass to Appropriations.","Senator Grayson’s SB 97 proposes technical clarifications to the state’s digital financial assets licensing law to align state and potential future federal changes; the subcommittee voted to send the bill to Appropriations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly subcommittee advances Padilla bill imposing safety requirements on AI companion chatbots

Assembly panel advances bill to limit immigration enforcement activity inside hospitals

Assembly subcommittee backs bill to create AI team inside California Department of Justice

Committee advances bill to hold online marketplaces accountable for illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis sales

Subcommittee moves technical updates to California digital financial‑assets law to Appropriations