California pushes controversial bills on pricing, AI, law enforcement and traffic
California legislators rushed to approve a series of contentious measures on their final session day, ranging from retail pricing rules to AI chatbots for children.
As the California legislative session ends, lawmakers are racing to deliver a slate of controversial bills to Governor Gavin Newsom by Monday. Assemblymember Chris Ward's AB 2564 targets "surveillance pricing" by limiting how retailers combine personal data to set individual discounts, while preserving loyalty-program offers. Senator Steve Padilla's SB 1119 would require risk assessments for AI "companion chatbots" used by children, capping daily usage and disabling push notifications unless parents adjust settings.
A late amendment to AB 2760, led by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins, seeks to bar law-enforcement agencies from using electric "shock gloves," a move criticized by Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks' AB 2015 directs Caltrans to study the impact of navigation apps on residential streets, and Assemblymember Dawn Addis' AB 2691 proposes a permanent ban on individuals convicted of serious sex crimes or human trafficking from holding elected office.
The governor recently softened his wildfire-liability agenda, agreeing to a narrower bill that speeds victim payments and restricts hedge-fund purchases of fire claims. Most of these measures have passed both chambers and are headed for the governor's decision.
Why it matters
The bills could reshape pricing, AI use, policing tools and traffic management for millions of Californians.
In this story
