California Governor Newsom signs 13 AI bills, bars employers from firing by AI alone

What Governor Newsom signed

The governor's office announced on 30 September 2026 that Gavin Newsom had signed 13 bills on AI and related technology. The core is a worker package. SB 947 by Senator Jerry McNerney prohibits employers from relying only on AI when making a disciplinary action or termination decision. SB 951 by Senator Eloise Gomez Reyes requires employers to say if a mass layoff, relocation or termination is caused by an AI system. AB 1331 by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary and AB 1883 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan deal with workplace surveillance, including a ban on surveillance tools in workplace bathrooms.

The rest of the list covers other areas. AB 1979 and SB 503, both on AI in health care services, come under the release's promises that clinicians keep their own judgment when clinical decision tools are used and that developers reduce known bias. AB 2713 and SB 1000 amend the California AI Transparency Act, and the release says the package bans deleting digital watermarks. SB 1111 covers digital replicas. SB 574 stops lawyers from fully handing core legal work to AI. AB 2392 requires AI training and procurement standards at public colleges. AB 1864 sets safety rules for gene synthesis providers, and SB 1159 covers AI transparency and governance.

What the governor and labour said

Newsom said AI should expand opportunity and not come at the expense of workers and families. California Federation of Labor Unions president Lorena Gonzalez said the four worker bills, SB 947, SB 951, AB 1331 and AB 1883, show how to put guardrails on AI at work. Newsom also signed Executive Order N-10-26, which the governor's office says permanently keeps the name artificial intelligence in California. The release frames it as a reply to the White House, quoting Newsom that super intelligence is clearly not coming from there.

What changes for employers

For California employers, the practical change is that automated tools can inform but not decide firing or discipline on their own, and AI-driven mass layoffs carry a disclosure duty. Effective dates, penalties and the exact definition of an automated decision system are not stated in the announcement, so employers will need the chaptered bill texts. The package adds to the state's verifier and auditor laws signed on 9 September and to SB 53.

What to watch next

The open questions are start dates and how state agencies will enforce the worker rules. The announcement does not list any vetoed AI bills. More state and federal rules are tracked under AI Policy & Regulation.

Questions people ask

What does California SB 947 do?

It prohibits employers from relying only on AI when making a disciplinary action or termination decision, so real people review automated employment actions, according to the governor's office.

How many AI bills did Newsom sign on 30 September 2026?

The governor's office lists 13 bills signed that day, covering workers, health care, AI transparency, digital replicas, lawyers' use of AI, AI training in higher education and gene synthesis.

What is Executive Order N-10-26?

An order Newsom signed the same day that, according to his office, permanently keeps the term artificial intelligence in California, in contrast to the federal switch to Super Intelligence.

Sources

1. California's nation-leading AI framework just got stronger, Governor Newsom signs more first-in-the-nation worker protections and more (Office of the Governor of California, 30 Sep 2026)
2. Executive Order N-10-26 (Office of the Governor of California, 30 Sep 2026)