Compliance Stuff

New York has officially joined California at the forefront of US artificial intelligence regulation. Governor Kathy Hochul just signed a revised version of the Responsible AI Safety and Education Act (RAISE Act) into law on Friday, establishing strict safety obligations for developers of the most advanced AI systems. The final law is narrower and less punitive than the version passed in June, but still marks one of the most consequential state AI safety laws enacted to date . Here’s what businesses need to know about what actually became law – and some specific steps you can take in 2026 to prepare for the January 1, 2027 effective date. AI Regulation Focused on Catastrophic Risk: Who is Covered? Unlike most state AI laws and proposed laws that focus on bias, discrimination, or consumer deception, New York’s RAISE Act targets a very specific risk category: catastrophic harm caused by highly capable AI systems. The law applies to “frontier models,” the largest and most advanced AI sys...

California lawmakers were busy this year, and Gov. Gavin Newsom just signed many bills into law that will impact the workplace starting in 2026. Here is a snapshot guide of some of the top new workplace laws taking effect January 1 (except as otherwise noted), plus links to our deeper dive insights, which include practical compliance tips for employers. We’ll also cover a few key vetoes that will give you a sigh of relief. Top 11 California Workplace Laws Taking Effect in 2026 (and Beyond) 1. Large AI Transparency Law for Frontier Models ( SB 53 ) The Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act is the nation’s first comprehensive attempt to require safety and transparency reporting for the most powerful artificial intelligence systems. This move comes one year after Gov. Newsom vetoed a broader AI safety bill that drew criticism for imposing heavy-handed mandates. While the new law represents a strategic shift, it includes core requirements for frontier developers, as well as ...

The California Legislature just wrapped up its work for the year, and now all eyes turn to Governor Newsom, who has until October 12 to sign or veto each of the bills sent to his desk. Any bills signed into law will take effect on January 1, 2026. What are the top bills that employers should be monitoring? 12 Workplace Bills That Await the Governor’s Signature or Veto AI, Privacy, and Workplace Surveillance The hottest topic for legislative discussion and action in 2025 continued to be artificial intelligence and related technology issues. AI alone accounted for the focus of more than three dozen bills considered this year, and California may soon join the growing list of states to enact their own laws related to the use of AI by businesses. Several bills that would impact employers directly made it to Newsom’s desk and are now awaiting further action. These include: SB 7 (“No Robo Bosses”)  – SB 7 is specific to employment-related decisions using AI technology and automated decis...

A high-profile AI policy report commissioned by California Governor Gavin Newsom has just set the stage for potential new AI regulation that could soon impact your hiring processes, workplace surveillance, and AI-fueled decision-making. While the March 18 draft report is open for feedback until April 8 and could be revised before finalization, its recommendations are already shaping legislative discussions, including a proposed AI safety bill (SB 53) that could introduce new AI-related compliance and disclosure obligations. AI regulation is soon coming to California, and employers must prepare for this new wave. What are the four biggest takeaways from this report and what should you do about them? 4 Biggest AI Policy Proposals That Could Affect Employers You can read  the entire 41-page report  from the Joint California Policy Working Group on AI Frontier Models   here – but we’ve made it easy and pulled the four biggest policy proposals that impact the workplace below. ...