Gavin Newsom Signs No Robo Bosses Act to Protect Workers

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of laws and executive orders on September 30, 2026, designed to shield workers from the risks of artificial intelligence. The centerpiece of the package is SB 947, known as the No Robo Bosses Act, which bans employers from relying exclusively on automated decision-making systems to discipline or terminate employees. The law mandates that such actions require human corroboration and that affected workers be provided with written notice.

Newsom had previously vetoed the act in 2025, but he signed the revised version after legislators removed protections for gig workers and specific pre-notification mandates. Alongside the No Robo Bosses Act, the governor signed legislation banning the use of biometric data to predict employee emotional states and requiring risk assessments for AI chatbots. An accompanying executive order prohibits California state agencies from using the term super intelligence, a phrase Newsom noted President Donald Trump has ordered diplomats to use.

During the signing event, Newsom criticized the lack of federal AI regulation. The legislation received support from State Senator Jerry McNerney and Republican gubernatorial nominee Steve Hilton, while the business advocacy group Chamber of Progress had urged a veto, arguing the law's terminology was too vague.