California signs two laws setting up independent auditors to check AI systems

On September 9, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills designed to create a system for independently checking AI. His office also used the announcement to call on the federal government to do its part on AI. Senate Bill 813, by state Senator Jerry McNerney, sets up a framework for independent verification organizations, outside expert groups that can assess AI models and systems for compliance with state law. According to IAPP, a professional association focused on privacy, the state's Government Operations Agency must finish these rules by January 1, 2028. Assembly Bill 1405, by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, creates a state registry of AI auditors with standards for independence, transparency and integrity. IAPP reports that auditors conducting covered audits must be registered starting January 1, 2029. IAPP also points out that, for now, AI developers are not required to get audited. The new laws focus first on deciding who counts as a qualified, trustworthy checker. Why it matters: An audit is a review by an outsider, much like an accountant checking a company's books, and California calls these rules the first of their kind in the United States. Source: Office of the Governor of California — https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/09/governor-newsom-signs-first-in-the-nation-ai-safeguards-to-protect-californians-calls-on-the-federal-government-to-do-its-part/ Source: IAPP — https://iapp.org/news/a/a-view-from-dc-what-will-all-these-ai-auditors-be-auditing