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Tag: california legislation

  • Chatbot Crackdown: How California is responding to the rise of AI

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    California is quickly becoming a national leader in figuring out how families, educators, and lawmakers should adapt to life with artificial intelligence. From new classroom conversations to the state’s first major chatbot regulations, many are grappling with how to keep up with technology that moves faster than ever.Families Navigating AI at HomeRemember the dial-up days? Today, technology evolves in an instant—and many parents are struggling to keep pace.David and Rachelle Young have set strict rules for their 7-year-old daughter Dyllan’s online use.“Kids have a lot of access to the internet, and they can be shown something that we wouldn’t normally approve of, and that’s really scary,” Rachelle Young said.David says his daughter’s world looks nothing like what he had at her age—making parental guidance more important than ever.Lawmakers Respond: A New Chatbot CrackdownConcerns about children talking to AI-powered chatbots have reached the state Capitol.Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson co-authored SB 243, signed into law this fall, marking California’s first major attempt at regulating chatbot interactions.The new law requires companies to: Report safety concerns—such as when a user expresses thoughts of self-harm Clearly notify users that they are talking to a computer, not a person“They don’t want you to turn your phone off. They want you to think that you’re talking to a real friend, but they don’t have that same level of morality,” she said. Her concerns stem from real-world consequences: last year, a 14-year-old in Florida took his own life after forming what his family described as a “relationship” with a chatbot.Inside the Classroom: Understanding AI’s InfluenceAt UC Davis, Associate Professor Jingwen Zhang is tackling these issues head-on. She created a course examining how social media, artificial intelligence and chatbots shape human behavior.”Children used to form social relationships by talking in person or texting. Now they’re having similar levels of conversations with chatbots,” she said.Zhang says SB 243 is a strong first step but believes more protections are needed—especially for minors.She recommends future regulations that: Create stricter guardrails for what topics children can discuss with AI Limit exposure to sensitive or harmful content Add tighter controls for minor accountsA Rapidly Changing LandscapeParents, educators, and policymakers all agree: keeping up with AI will require constant learning.“We have to get to a place where companies are rolling out things that will not hurt the future generation,” Sen. Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson said.What’s Changing NextParents told KCRA 3 they want schools to start teaching more about AI safety and digital literacy.Starting this month, the popular Character AI platform is rolling out several major changes: Users under 18 will no longer be able to participate in open-ended chat Younger users will face a two-hour daily limit See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    California is quickly becoming a national leader in figuring out how families, educators, and lawmakers should adapt to life with artificial intelligence.

    From new classroom conversations to the state’s first major chatbot regulations, many are grappling with how to keep up with technology that moves faster than ever.

    Families Navigating AI at Home

    Remember the dial-up days? Today, technology evolves in an instant—and many parents are struggling to keep pace.

    David and Rachelle Young have set strict rules for their 7-year-old daughter Dyllan’s online use.

    “Kids have a lot of access to the internet, and they can be shown something that we wouldn’t normally approve of, and that’s really scary,” Rachelle Young said.

    David says his daughter’s world looks nothing like what he had at her age—making parental guidance more important than ever.

    Lawmakers Respond: A New Chatbot Crackdown

    Concerns about children talking to AI-powered chatbots have reached the state Capitol.

    Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson co-authored SB 243, signed into law this fall, marking California’s first major attempt at regulating chatbot interactions.

    The new law requires companies to:

    • Report safety concerns—such as when a user expresses thoughts of self-harm
    • Clearly notify users that they are talking to a computer, not a person

    “They don’t want you to turn your phone off. They want you to think that you’re talking to a real friend, but they don’t have that same level of morality,” she said.

    Her concerns stem from real-world consequences: last year, a 14-year-old in Florida took his own life after forming what his family described as a “relationship” with a chatbot.

    Inside the Classroom: Understanding AI’s Influence

    At UC Davis, Associate Professor Jingwen Zhang is tackling these issues head-on.

    She created a course examining how social media, artificial intelligence and chatbots shape human behavior.

    “Children used to form social relationships by talking in person or texting. Now they’re having similar levels of conversations with chatbots,” she said.

    Zhang says SB 243 is a strong first step but believes more protections are needed—especially for minors.

    She recommends future regulations that:

    • Create stricter guardrails for what topics children can discuss with AI
    • Limit exposure to sensitive or harmful content
    • Add tighter controls for minor accounts

    A Rapidly Changing Landscape

    Parents, educators, and policymakers all agree: keeping up with AI will require constant learning.

    “We have to get to a place where companies are rolling out things that will not hurt the future generation,” Sen. Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson said.

    What’s Changing Next

    Parents told KCRA 3 they want schools to start teaching more about AI safety and digital literacy.

    Starting this month, the popular Character AI platform is rolling out several major changes:

    • Users under 18 will no longer be able to participate in open-ended chat
    • Younger users will face a two-hour daily limit

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Interactive: How California is reshaping its congressional districts

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    The Democrats, led by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are hitting back at the Texas Republican lawmakers with a proposed redistricting map of California. The Proposed Congressional Map aims to add five Democratic seats in the upcoming elections.Redistricting, which typically happens every decade as the census updates, has created a new battleground between the Democrats and Republican-led states. President Donald Trump first prompted Republican district representatives in the GOP stronghold of Texas to redraw congressional lines to give the party an advantage in the upcoming elections. What followed was a two-week standoff in which Democratic Texas House representatives fled the state to stall the vote.Texas’ new congressional maps were eventually passed in an 88-52 vote, creating five new Republican-leaning seats.California’s Democratic leaders Thursday moved forward with an effort to change the congressional district maps. California currently has 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives; 43 of these seats went to the Democrats, while nine went to the Republicans in the 2024 election.The five California Republicans targeted by the redistricting plan include Reps. Doug LaMalfa in District 1, Kevin Kiley in District 3, David Valadao in District 22, Ken Calvert in District 41 and Darrell Issa in District 48.Each of these five districts is shown in the maps below. See if you can guess how these districts will be redrawn by trying our puzzle game below.

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    The Democrats, led by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are hitting back at the Texas Republican lawmakers with a proposed redistricting map of California. The Proposed Congressional Map aims to add five Democratic seats in the upcoming elections.

    Redistricting, which typically happens every decade as the census updates, has created a new battleground between the Democrats and Republican-led states.

    President Donald Trump first prompted Republican district representatives in the GOP stronghold of Texas to redraw congressional lines to give the party an advantage in the upcoming elections.

    What followed was a two-week standoff in which Democratic Texas House representatives fled the state to stall the vote.

    Texas’ new congressional maps were eventually passed in an 88-52 vote, creating five new Republican-leaning seats.

    California’s Democratic leaders Thursday moved forward with an effort to change the congressional district maps.

    California currently has 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives; 43 of these seats went to the Democrats, while nine went to the Republicans in the 2024 election.

    The five California Republicans targeted by the redistricting plan include Reps. Doug LaMalfa in District 1, Kevin Kiley in District 3, David Valadao in District 22, Ken Calvert in District 41 and Darrell Issa in District 48.

    Each of these five districts is shown in the maps below. See if you can guess how these districts will be redrawn by trying our puzzle game below.

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  • What’s the difference between California’s legislative public safety package and Prop 47 reform initiative?

    What’s the difference between California’s legislative public safety package and Prop 47 reform initiative?

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    A major political fight over public safety in California is heating up as Democratic leaders attempt to negotiate a measure to reform Proposition 47 off of the November ballot. Prop 47, an initiative voters passed a decade ago, has become notorious for loosening the penalties around drug and theft crimes in California and has been blamed by various law enforcement, business groups and elected leaders from both parties for the state’s theft problems. In the latest development of those negotiations, Democratic leaders in the Senate and Assembly doubled down on their efforts Monday to add inoperability clauses to 14 public-safety-related bills, signaling the group is prepared to abandon efforts it has spent the year working on if voters pass the reforms to Proposition 47. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate Pro Tempore Mike McGuire claimed on Monday that the two proposals would conflict legally, but were short on specifics. “We added inoperability clauses to help ensure that if these bills were put into law and the ballot initiative also goes into effect, we don’t have a world-class mess of conflicting policies on our hands,” McGuire said. Proponents of the ballot initiative have said they do not conflict. The initiative enhances penalties for fentanyl dealers and manufacturers, while also requiring those convicted of stealing three times to spend added time in prison.When pressed by KCRA 3 repeatedly about how exactly the ballot initiative and legislative package conflict, McGuire could not say. “There are going to be very specific conflicts that the Speaker and myself and our staffs have been going through, happy to go offline with you and take a little bit of time to go through those,” McGuire said. Rivas provided an example with AB 1960, which would impose a sentencing enhancement for thieves that destroy property over $50,000. Rivas said the initiative has the exact same enhancement, “except it does not include an inflation adjustment which is in the bill,” Rivas said. “Big picture, they don’t work together, and it is our responsibility to address this now,” Rivas said. As the legislative leaders deflected from specific questions about the conflicts, they emphasized their concern that if the initiative passes, it would return California to its days of mass incarceration. Republicans have referred to the amendments as “poison pills” and “political gamesmanship.” “It’s meant to confuse voters,” said Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale. “That’s not democracy.” The initiative has not officially qualified for the ballot, but the latest data according to the Secretary of State’s office shows it is likely to qualify based on the petition signatures verified so far. Below is a closer look at what the initiative does and what the public safety package tries to accomplish. The ballot initiative to reform Prop 47Proponents of the initiative call it the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, stating that the rising rates of the three issues in California are linked. The measure: Gives judges the option with drug sentencing to either send dealers to state prison instead of county jail when they are convicted of trafficking large quantities.Requires courts to provide a formal warning to convicted fentanyl and other hard drug dealers and manufacturers that they could face murder charges if they do it again and someone dies. This is also known as Alexandra’s Law. Enhances penalties for those who deal hard drugs like fentanyl that end up killing or seriously injuring someone. An offender with two prior convictions of theft can face a felony, regardless of the value of stolen property. It also enhances the penalties for those who steal $50,000 or more. Adds new laws to address “smash and grab” thefts that result in significant loss or damage that are committed by one or multiple criminals working together. You can read the entire initiative here. The legislative public safety packageThis is a blend of bills written by both Democrats and Republicans. AB 2943 Creates a new crime, “criminal deprivation of a retail business opportunity,” that can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony with a maximum sentence of up to three years in county jail. It mainly targets organized crime rings that focus on retail theft. AB 1794 Establishes a system for retailers to report shoplifting, retail theft and grand theft. AB 3209 Allows courts to issue retail crime “restraining orders” AB 1960 Increases penalties for those who take or destroy property while in the process of committing a felony. AB 1802 Establishes Organized Retail Theft as a crime and makes permanent the California Highway Patrol’s property crimes task force. AB 1972 Directs CHP’s property crimes task forces to investigate increased levels of cargo theftSB 1144 Sets new requirements for third-party sellers to be certified and prohibits suspected criminals from operating through online marketplace platforms SB 1416 Adds jail time for those who steal and try to sell more than $50,000 worth of goodsSB 1242 Enhances penalties for those who start fires in order to steal SB 905 Creates a new crime for forcibly entering a vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or any felony as long as property stolen is worth more than $950 and the thief intends to sell it. This could be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. The other four bills expand access and fast-track projects around rehab, treatment, drug education, as well as increased access to fentanyl testing strips.

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A major political fight over public safety in California is heating up as Democratic leaders attempt to negotiate a measure to reform Proposition 47 off of the November ballot.

    Prop 47, an initiative voters passed a decade ago, has become notorious for loosening the penalties around drug and theft crimes in California and has been blamed by various law enforcement, business groups and elected leaders from both parties for the state’s theft problems.

    In the latest development of those negotiations, Democratic leaders in the Senate and Assembly doubled down on their efforts Monday to add inoperability clauses to 14 public-safety-related bills, signaling the group is prepared to abandon efforts it has spent the year working on if voters pass the reforms to Proposition 47.

    Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate Pro Tempore Mike McGuire claimed on Monday that the two proposals would conflict legally, but were short on specifics.

    “We added inoperability clauses to help ensure that if these bills were put into law and the ballot initiative also goes into effect, we don’t have a world-class mess of conflicting policies on our hands,” McGuire said.

    Proponents of the ballot initiative have said they do not conflict. The initiative enhances penalties for fentanyl dealers and manufacturers, while also requiring those convicted of stealing three times to spend added time in prison.

    When pressed by KCRA 3 repeatedly about how exactly the ballot initiative and legislative package conflict, McGuire could not say.

    “There are going to be very specific conflicts that the Speaker and myself and our staffs have been going through, happy to go offline with you and take a little bit of time to go through those,” McGuire said.

    Rivas provided an example with AB 1960, which would impose a sentencing enhancement for thieves that destroy property over $50,000. Rivas said the initiative has the exact same enhancement, “except it does not include an inflation adjustment which is in the bill,” Rivas said.

    “Big picture, they don’t work together, and it is our responsibility to address this now,” Rivas said.

    As the legislative leaders deflected from specific questions about the conflicts, they emphasized their concern that if the initiative passes, it would return California to its days of mass incarceration.

    Republicans have referred to the amendments as “poison pills” and “political gamesmanship.”

    “It’s meant to confuse voters,” said Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale. “That’s not democracy.”

    The initiative has not officially qualified for the ballot, but the latest data according to the Secretary of State’s office shows it is likely to qualify based on the petition signatures verified so far.

    Below is a closer look at what the initiative does and what the public safety package tries to accomplish.

    The ballot initiative to reform Prop 47

    Proponents of the initiative call it the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, stating that the rising rates of the three issues in California are linked.

    The measure:

    • Gives judges the option with drug sentencing to either send dealers to state prison instead of county jail when they are convicted of trafficking large quantities.
    • Requires courts to provide a formal warning to convicted fentanyl and other hard drug dealers and manufacturers that they could face murder charges if they do it again and someone dies. This is also known as Alexandra’s Law.
    • Enhances penalties for those who deal hard drugs like fentanyl that end up killing or seriously injuring someone.
    • An offender with two prior convictions of theft can face a felony, regardless of the value of stolen property. It also enhances the penalties for those who steal $50,000 or more.
    • Adds new laws to address “smash and grab” thefts that result in significant loss or damage that are committed by one or multiple criminals working together.

    You can read the entire initiative here.

    The legislative public safety package

    This is a blend of bills written by both Democrats and Republicans.

    AB 2943 Creates a new crime, “criminal deprivation of a retail business opportunity,” that can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony with a maximum sentence of up to three years in county jail. It mainly targets organized crime rings that focus on retail theft.

    AB 1794 Establishes a system for retailers to report shoplifting, retail theft and grand theft.

    AB 3209 Allows courts to issue retail crime “restraining orders”

    AB 1960 Increases penalties for those who take or destroy property while in the process of committing a felony.

    AB 1802 Establishes Organized Retail Theft as a crime and makes permanent the California Highway Patrol’s property crimes task force.

    AB 1972 Directs CHP’s property crimes task forces to investigate increased levels of cargo theft

    SB 1144 Sets new requirements for third-party sellers to be certified and prohibits suspected criminals from operating through online marketplace platforms

    SB 1416 Adds jail time for those who steal and try to sell more than $50,000 worth of goods

    SB 1242 Enhances penalties for those who start fires in order to steal

    SB 905 Creates a new crime for forcibly entering a vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or any felony as long as property stolen is worth more than $950 and the thief intends to sell it. This could be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

    The other four bills expand access and fast-track projects around rehab, treatment, drug education, as well as increased access to fentanyl testing strips.

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