CA Governor Weighs Bills on AI, Leave, Pay Equity
California's governor has until September 30 to sign or veto a raft of employment-related bills, including several that would impose significant new restrictions on employers' use of AI and workplace surveillance.
The California legislature has passed and sent to Governor Gavin Newsom numerous employment bills creating new compliance duties and litigation risks. Several bills target artificial intelligence in the workplace, including the "No Robo Bosses Act," which would require a human to independently corroborate any AI-based termination decision. Another would amend the Cal/WARN Act to require specific notice for mass layoffs caused by AI. Other measures would prohibit employers from using AI to collect neural data or recognize employees' emotional states and would bar surveillance in private areas like bathrooms.
Beyond technology, other bills would expand the Fair Employment and Housing Act to protect against discrimination based on menopause, broaden bereavement leave to include a "designated person," and increase penalties for immigration-related retaliation against workers exercising their rights. The governor has until September 30, 2026, to sign or veto the bills, which will otherwise become law automatically. Employers in California should monitor the outcome and prepare for significant policy updates.