California AB 2656 — Public employees: notice: artificial intelligence performing service within scope of work.

California, 20252026. AB 2656: Public employees: notice: artificial intelligence performing service within scope of work.

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

September 30, 2026 — Vetoed by Governor.

Summary

Executive Order No. N-12-23 requires specified state agencies, in collaboration with other state agencies and their workforce, to draft a report to the Governor examining the most significant, potentially beneficial use cases for deployment of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools by the state. The executive order requires the report to explain the potential risks to individuals, communities, and government and state government workers, and requires the report to be regularly assessed and updated in consultation with, among others, the state government workforce or organizations that represent state government employees, as specified. Chapter 928 of the Statutes of 2024, the Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act, requires specified state agencies to update the report, as needed, to respond to significant developments and to consult with specified parties, including organizations that represent state exclusive employee representatives. The act also requires state agencies to consider procurement and enterprise use opportunities for GenAI to improve efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility, and equity of government operations, as specified. This bill would require certain state and local public employers to provide written notice to a recognized employee organization at least 45 days before taking an action to develop, purchase, or require the use of GenAI to perform a service that is within the scope of work of the job classification represented by the recognized employee organization.

Sponsors

• Petrie-Norris — primary sponsor

Bill text

AB2656 Read version ↗

02/20/26 - Introduced Read version ↗

03/19/26 - Amended Assembly Read version ↗

04/14/26 - Amended Assembly Read version ↗

07/01/26 - Amended Senate Read version ↗

08/27/26 - Enrolled Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. September 30, 2026Vetoed by Governor.
2. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
3. August 25, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 2. Page 6490.).
4. August 24, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
5. August 24, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5704.).
6. August 13, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
7. August 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
8. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
9. July 1, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. June 30, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 29).
11. June 19, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
12. June 17, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.
13. June 10, 2026Referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and P., D.T., & C.P.
14. May 27, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
15. May 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 2. Page 5396.)
16. May 18, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
17. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 14).
18. May 6, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
19. April 22, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
20. April 16, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. E. & R. (Ayes 14. Noes 1.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on P. E. & R.
21. April 15, 2026Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
22. April 14, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
23. April 6, 2026Re-referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and P. E. & R. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
24. April 3, 2026In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
25. March 23, 2026Re-referred to Com. on P. E. & R.
26. March 19, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. E. & R. Read second time and amended.
27. March 19, 2026Referred to Coms. on P. E. & R. and P. & C.P.
28. February 21, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
29. February 20, 2026Read first time. To print.

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