Gavin Newsom Signs Weakened California AI Safety Regulations

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of technology regulations in late 2025, though several key measures were significantly weakened following aggressive lobbying from tech companies. The centerpiece of the legislation, a revised version of Senator Scott Weiner's AI safety bill, now requires large AI companies to publish safety frameworks and report incidents. This version replaces the original proposal, which would have mandated strict safeguards and established developer liability to prevent catastrophes like biological weapons attacks.

Newsom also approved laws requiring specific protocols for AI chatbots assisting users experiencing suicidal ideation and a prohibition against tech platforms forcing business customers to adopt algorithmic pricing recommendations. Other proposed regulations targeting water and power disclosures for data centers were either diluted or failed to pass.