Overview
- AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler joined California Labor Federation chief Lorena Gonzalez and union leaders from Iowa, Georgia, North Carolina, and Nevada to press the governor near the Capitol.
- The package features SB 947 requiring human review of algorithm-based discipline or termination decisions, SB 951 mandating 90 days’ notice before AI-related layoffs, and AB 1331 curbing surveillance in sensitive areas.
- Gonzalez said unions will sponsor or support roughly two dozen AI bills this year and warned that campaign volunteers could withhold support for Newsom’s expected 2028 run without stronger safeguards.
- Newsom’s office defended his record as the nation’s most worker-centered on AI after he previously vetoed union-backed measures, including last year’s SB 7.
- Tech interests accelerated influence efforts, with Meta spending $4.6 million on state lobbying last year and committing $65 million to pro-AI PACs, as polls show broad public support for regulation.