Overview

• SB 53 would require major AI developers to disclose and certify safety testing, add whistleblower protections, and launch a state-run CalCompute cloud.
• The bill targets frontier model developers while giving smaller firms lighter obligations, with basic disclosures for companies under $500 million in annual revenue.
• The measure cleared the legislature and now awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision, which remains undisclosed following his 2024 veto of a broader proposal.
• Industry reaction is split, with Anthropic endorsing the framework and OpenAI, Andreessen Horowitz, the California Chamber of Commerce, and TechNet opposing it.
• Supporters say California’s rules could become a de facto standard if federal action lags, positioning the state to shape national AI governance.