Gov. Newsom signs sweeping AI, gun, vaping and slavery disclosure reforms in California

Governor Gavin Newsom capped his tenure by signing more than a thousand bills that reshape a wide array of policies in California. The centerpiece AI legislation, dubbed the 'No Robo Bosses Act,' bars companies from using automated systems to fire, discipline or evaluate employees without human review. New gun regulations will obligate anyone purchasing a firearm after 2029 to attend a four-hour safety class, and newcomers bringing guns into the state must obtain a safety certificate within 180 days.

Public-health initiatives include a ban on disposable vaping products, restrictions on vape advertising aimed at minors, and a requirement that restaurants display a sugar-cube warning next to drinks exceeding the daily recommended sugar limit. The state also prohibited wearable electroshock devices for ICE, prevented ICE agents with serious misconduct from becoming state employees, and authorized lawsuits against them.

A pioneering slavery-disclosure law now forces companies with worldwide revenues over $100 million to reveal any historical earnings from chattel slavery, with penalties for false statements. Together, these measures aim to set a national example on technology oversight, gun safety, consumer health and corporate accountability.