Overview

• The law, known as SB 53, has been signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and takes effect January 1, 2026, focusing on large developers of advanced frontier models.
• Covered companies must publish a public frontier AI risk-management framework and file pre-deployment transparency reports that include independent third-party evaluations.
• Developers must report critical safety incidents within fifteen days, with a 24-hour deadline for issues posing imminent risk of death or serious injury.
• Violations can draw civil penalties of up to $1 million per instance enforced by the California Attorney General, and the statute preempts conflicting local rules.
• SB 53 adds robust whistleblower protections and outlines CalCompute to offer public cloud capacity for startups, reflecting an effort to balance safety with innovation.