In the final days of the legislative session, a number of bills supported by the California Chamber of Commerce passed the Legislature and now await action by the Governor.
AI Literacy
• CalChamber-sponsored AB 2876 (Berman; D-Palo Alto) allows California to take a step forward in fostering an artificial intelligence-literate population and future workforce by teaching artificial intelligence (AI) literacy in schools. The bill requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to consider adding media literacy and AI literacy the next time the State Board of Education adopts the instructional materials for the English language arts/English language development curriculum framework.
Health Care
• SB 1432 (Caballero; D-Merced) gives hospitals more time to comply with California’s seismic safety mandate. The bill extends the January 1, 2030 deadline by which hospitals are required to be capable of continued operations following a major earthquake, until January 1, 2035. SB 1432 gives hospitals an abeyance from this same seismic compliance deadline until such time that adequate funding is made available to these hospitals.
Protects Against Theft
• AB 2371 (J. Carrillo; D-Palmdale) streamlines local permitting processes for electrified security fences, assisting businesses in being able to quickly install devices that protect against loss.
Benefits Emergency Response
• SB 1152 (Limón; D-Goleta) helps to deploy newest technology of backup generators so Californians can remain connected during emergencies.
Energy Resiliency
• SB 1420 (Caballero; D-Merced) Increases Hydrogen Deployment. Hastens the deployment of important hydrogen technology, which will allow California to meet its clean energy goals.
• SB 1418 (Archuleta; D-Pico Rivera) Hydrogen Fueling Stations: Expedited Review: Requires cities and counties to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for hydrogen-fueling stations.
• SB 983 (Wahab; D-Hayward) Alternative Fuels Task Force. Helps the state research how best to incentivize and deploy alternative fuels.
Protecting Children
• SB 764 (Padilla; D-Chula Vista) Requires parents to establish a trust to ensure minors who are entertainers receive percentage of their income. Provides needed protections for children who are filmed and posted on social media without access to the profits that were generated by their likeness and participation.
• AB 1831 (Berman; D-Palo Alto) AI Child Pornography. Creates a new crime for using AI to create child pornography.
Education Access
• SB 1244 (Newman; D-Fullerton) Expands College Access Program. Allows more school districts to operate dual enrollment programs with local community colleges, easing the pathway for more students to pursue career technical education or transfer to a four-year college via California’s existing community colleges.
