SB 1159 California Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Artificial intelligence: transparency and governance.

Summary

The California Constitution provides that people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people's business. Various provisions of existing law, including the California Public Records Act, the Legislative Open Records Act, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, and the Ralph M. Brown Act, provide, with some exceptions, for public access to government records and meetings of government bodies. Among those acts, the California Public Records Act defines "person" to include any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, or association. Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, governs, among other things, the procedures for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulations by state agencies and for the review of those regulatory actions by the Office of Administrative Law. Existing law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) , requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA defines "person" to include any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business, trust, corporation, limited liability company, company, district, county, city and county, city, town, and, among other things, the state. Existing law, the California Coastal Act of 1976, establishes the California Coastal Commission and prescribes procedures for the preparation, approval, and certification of local coastal programs that regulate development in the coastal zone, as defined, in jurisdictions that have a certified local coastal program. This bill would specify that, for purposes of the California Public Records Act, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Legislative Open Records Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the California Coastal Act of 1976, and CEQA, "person," "interested person," "participant," "member of the public," as applicable, and any other similar terms under each act referring to those who may engage with governmental agencies, do not include artificial intelligence, as defined, systems, autonomous agents, or robots, whether physical or digital. The bill would authorize governmental agencies to use a disclosure verification tool to determine if artificial intelligence is present. The bill would make findings and declarations related to these provisions. The bill would prohibit a person from knowingly using artificial intelligence to falsely represent that a natural person appeared before, submitted information to, or otherwise engaged with a governmental agency. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Jul 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Assembly Passage

Aug 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Last action Aug 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

08/24/26 - Enrolled → SB1159 · 2 edits

MINOR

No substantive policy changes occurred between these two versions. The diff reflects a transition from the formal enrolled bill document format (with signature blocks, chapter designation, and page numbers) to a web-based presentation of the same bill on the California Legislature website, which adds navigation elements, version history metadata, and status panels while preserving identical statutory text.

TECHNICAL

Removed formal enrolled bill formatting including the Senate Bill header, passage date lines, Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk signature blocks, Governor receipt line, chapter number placeholder, and page number markers.

Added web page navigation elements (skip to content, home, accessibility, FAQ, feedback, sitemap, login, quick search) and metadata panels showing version history, bill status dates, and share options.

06/09/26 - Amended Assembly → 06/25/26 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · Jun 25, 2026

MODERATE

The June 25 amendment to SB 1159 makes several substantive changes: it removes the Political Reform Act of 1974 from the list of covered statutes, adds a new prohibition (Section 8319) against knowingly using AI to falsely impersonate a natural person before a government agency, adds an explicit exception allowing natural persons to use AI and assistive technologies for their own engagement with agencies (as long as volume and frequency are reasonable), defines 'assistive technology,' and renames the agency tool from an 'AI detection tool' to a 'disclosure verification tool.' These changes narrow the bill's scope slightly while adding both a new enforcement mechanism and important protections for individuals with disabilities.

SCOPE

The Political Reform Act of 1974 (Government Code Section 82047) is removed from the list of statutes being amended. The bill no longer excludes AI from the definition of 'person' under campaign finance and lobbying disclosure laws.

The phrase 'or other nonhuman entities' is removed from the list of excluded entities across all sections. The exclusion now specifically covers only 'artificial intelligence systems, autonomous agents, or robots, whether physical or digital' rather than a broader catch-all category.

ENFORCEMENT

New Government Code Section 8319 prohibits a person from knowingly using artificial intelligence to falsely represent that a natural person appeared before, submitted information to, or otherwise engaged with a governmental agency. This creates a specific legal prohibition with potential liability for deceptive AI impersonation.

ELIGIBILITY

A new exception is added throughout the bill stating that a natural person is not prohibited from using AI, autonomous agents, or robots to facilitate their own engagement with a governmental agency, including through assistive technologies, provided the volume and frequency are reasonably consistent with ordinary participation by a natural person.

DEFINITION

A new definition of 'assistive technology' is added: an item, piece of equipment, or product system (acquired commercially, modified, or customized) used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities, and any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in selecting, acquiring, or using such items.

TECHNICAL

The term 'artificial intelligence detection tool' is renamed to 'a disclosure verification tool' throughout the bill, shifting the framing from detecting AI presence to verifying disclosures about AI use.

03/25/26 - Amended Senate → 06/09/26 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Jun 9, 2026

MODERATE

The Assembly amendment significantly expands SB 1159 by adding two new statutes to its coverage (the Legislative Open Records Act and the California Coastal Act) and, most importantly, authorizing governmental agencies to use AI detection tools to identify whether artificial intelligence is present in public engagement. The bill also shifts from a single umbrella provision listing covered acts to direct amendments of each individual statute, embedding both the AI exclusion and the detection tool authorization in every affected law.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from six statutes (Public Records Act, Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, Administrative Procedure Act, Ralph M. Brown Act, Political Reform Act, CEQA) to eight statutes by adding the Legislative Open Records Act and the California Coastal Act. Additionally, the practical reach of the bill increased substantially because agencies are now explicitly authorized to deploy AI detection tools, giving them an enforcement mechanism that was previously absent.

SCOPE

The Legislative Open Records Act (Government Code Section 9072) is now covered. The bill amends this section to exclude AI systems from the definition of 'person' and authorizes legislative Rules Committees to use an AI detection tool meeting criteria in Business and Professions Code Section 22757.2.

The California Coastal Act (Public Resources Code Section 30111) is now covered. The bill amends this section to exclude AI systems from the definition of 'person' and authorizes agencies to use an AI detection tool.

ENFORCEMENT

Every affected statute now includes authorization for the relevant governmental body (public agency, state body, local agency, Office of Administrative Hearings, legislative Rules Committees) to use an artificial intelligence detection tool that meets criteria described in Business and Professions Code Section 22757.2 to determine if AI is present. This was entirely absent from the Senate version.

TECHNICAL

The Senate version used a single umbrella section (Section 17.5) that listed all covered acts in one place. The Assembly version removes this approach and instead embeds the AI exclusion language directly within each individual statute being amended, making each provision self-contained.

ELIGIBILITY

Senator Becker and Assembly Members Lowenthal, Pacheco, and Zbur were added as coauthors, indicating broader bipartisan support in both chambers.

02/18/26 - Introduced → 03/25/26 - Amended Senate · 11 edits · Mar 25, 2026

MAJOR

The Senate amendment to SB 1159 significantly expanded the bill's structure from a single omnibus provision (Section 17.5) that excluded AI systems from six transparency and governance laws, to a version that also amends or adds AI-exclusion language directly within each individual statute. A new limiting clause was added clarifying that the AI exclusion does not extend to any law beyond those specifically listed. The amendment makes the prohibition more legally robust by embedding it in each targeted act rather than relying solely on a cross-reference section.

Scope change

The bill's scope did not change in terms of which laws are covered (still the same six acts), but the legal mechanism was strengthened by embedding AI-exclusion language directly into each statute rather than relying only on a single omnibus Section 17.5 cross-reference. A new limiting clause was added to prevent the exclusion from being read as applying to other California laws not listed in the bill.

SCOPE

New subdivision (c) in Section 1 states that the act's changes should not be construed to imply that terms like 'person' or 'member of the public' in any law OTHER than those specifically listed include AI systems. This is a savings clause limiting the bill's reach to only the enumerated statutes.

Coauthors Senators Allen, Jones, Ochoa Bogh, and Weber Pierson were added to the bill.

REQUIREMENT

Section 7920.520 (California Public Records Act) is now amended to add a new subdivision (b) that explicitly excludes AI systems, autonomous agents, robots, and other nonhuman entities from the definition of 'person' and similar terms within that act.

New Section 11121.5 is added to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act to exclude AI systems from terms like 'person,' 'interested person,' 'participant,' and 'member of the public.'

New Section 11342.575 is added to the Administrative Procedure Act (rulemaking chapter) to exclude AI systems from participation terms.

New Section 11370.1.5 is added to the Administrative Procedure Act (contested cases chapter) to exclude AI systems from the definition of 'person.'

Section 11405.70 (Political Reform Act, lobbying definitions) is amended to add a new subdivision (b) excluding AI systems from 'person' and similar terms.

Section 11500 (Administrative Procedure Act, adjudication chapter definitions) is amended to insert a new subdivision (c) excluding AI systems from 'person' and 'participant,' with existing subdivisions re-lettered accordingly.

New Section 54951.5 is added to the Ralph M. Brown Act (local agency open meetings) to exclude AI systems from participation terms.

Section 82047 (Political Reform Act, lobbying definitions) is amended to add a new subdivision (b) excluding AI systems from 'person' and similar terms.

Section 21066 of the Public Resources Code (CEQA definitions) is amended to add a new subdivision (b) excluding AI systems from 'person' and similar terms.

Floor votes · Senate May 4, 2026 · Assembly Aug 13, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

May 4, 2026

D Democratic30

30 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

8 Yea 2

80% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Introduced

In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.

lower

Jul 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30).

lower

Jun 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

lower

Jun 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 23).

lower

Jun 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

lower

May 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.

lower

May 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4129.) Ordered to the Assembly.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3742.) (April 6). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 3659.) (March 24).

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on JUD. and P., D.T., & C.P.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Introduced

Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

upper

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors