California Signs Landmark AI Safety Bills SB 813 & AB 1405, Explained
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 813 and AB 1405, announced on September 9, 2026. The two laws set up independent verification of AI systems and a state registry of AI auditors. This explainer covers what each does, why AI companies backed them, and what is still to be defined.
⚡ Quick facts
- Signed: by Governor Gavin Newsom, announced September 9, 2026
- SB 813: Sen. Jerry McNerney: a framework for independent verification organizations that assess AI systems
- AB 1405: Asm. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan: a state registry of AI auditors with independence and transparency standards
- Industry view: Anthropic and OpenAI both publicly supported the bills before signing
- Still open: key definitions, such as what counts as a covered AI audit, are left to state agencies
What was signed
Governor Gavin Newsom signed two AI bills, announced on September 9, 2026, which his office called "first-in-the-nation" AI safeguards (Benton Institute). Neither bans a technology. Both are about who checks AI systems and how much those checkers can be trusted.
SB 813: independent verification organizations
Sen. Jerry McNerney's SB 813 sets up a framework for third-party independent verification organizations (IVOs) that assess AI systems and models for compliance with state law and for safety (Transparency Coalition). Think of it as an accreditation system: the state sets requirements for the assessors, and AI developers can use those assessors to show their systems meet the rules. Coverage has described the structure differently. Gizmodo described a new state AI standards and safety commission writing voluntary standards. The enrolled bill text is the authority on the details.
AB 1405: a registry for AI auditors
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan's AB 1405 directs the state's Government Operations Agency to create an AI Auditor Registry, with standards for auditors' independence, transparency and integrity. Once it is in force, an unregistered person or organization may not offer, sell or conduct an AI audit (Transparency Coalition). The goal is to stop "AI audits" from becoming a marketing label that anyone can sell.
Why the AI industry backed them
Unusually for AI regulation, the labs supported these bills. According to Gizmodo, Anthropic endorsed them, as Politico reported the month before, and OpenAI announced its support hours before the signing. Verification and audit frameworks give companies a recognised way to show compliance, which is easier to work with than open-ended liability. On signing, Newsom urged the federal government to "step forward with robust, national regulations that match the urgency of this moment."
Our take: what to do if you build or buy AI in California
- Check your auditor. If you hire anyone to audit an AI system, ask whether they plan to register under AB 1405. After the registry exists, an unregistered auditor's report may not count.
- Map your evidence. List the documents you already have, such as model cards, evaluations and incident logs. An IVO assessment will ask for them.
- Watch the rulemaking. The definitions that decide who is covered, such as "covered AI audit", come from state agencies after signing. Those rules matter more than the bill headlines.
- Plan for more than one state. Other states are writing their own AI laws, so build compliance evidence once and reuse it.
Sources
- Benton Institute: Governor Newsom signs first-in-the-nation AI safeguards
- Transparency Coalition: AI legislative update, October 2, 2026
- Gizmodo: Newsom signs AI-industry-approved AI regulation bills
Frequently asked questions
What are California SB 813 and AB 1405?
Two AI bills that Governor Newsom signed, announced on September 9, 2026. SB 813 creates a framework for independent organizations that verify AI systems. AB 1405 creates a state registry of AI auditors.
What does SB 813 do?
SB 813, by Sen. Jerry McNerney, sets requirements for third-party independent verification organizations that assess AI systems and models for compliance with state law and for safety.
What does AB 1405 do?
AB 1405, by Asm. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, directs the Government Operations Agency to create an AI Auditor Registry with standards for independence, transparency and integrity, and bars unregistered people or organizations from offering or conducting AI audits.
Did AI companies support the laws?
Yes. Anthropic endorsed the bills, and OpenAI announced its support shortly before the signing.
Do these laws ban any AI systems?
No. They regulate who verifies and audits AI systems, not which systems can be built or sold.
What is still undecided?
Key definitions, such as what counts as a covered AI audit, and how verification organizations are approved, depend on state agency rules written after signing.