California AB 1405 AI auditor registry (2026)

California Assembly Bill 1405 (2026), authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom September 9, 2026 (Ch. 178, Stats. 2026); adds Chapter 5.9.5 (commencing with Section 11549.80) to the Government Code. Statute effective January 1, 2027; the Government Operations Agency must establish the AI auditor registry, and the prohibition on unregistered AI auditing commences, January 1, 2029. Registrants supply business name and contact information, applicable California laws, certifications, a service description and standard operating procedures referencing industry standards, and pay annual fees (capped at reasonable administrative cost) into the AI Auditors' Registration Fund. Independence standards: registered auditors must be independent of the auditee, may not evaluate their own work, may not seek employment with the auditee during an audit, must possess the necessary expertise, and may not prevent employee whistleblowing or retaliate against employees. CPA firms licensed by the California Board of Accountancy performing attestation engagements comply through existing professional standards. Enforcement: violations are grounds for removal from the registry and referral to the Attorney General or other enforcement authorities, after written notice and an opportunity to cure. Companion to SB 813 (McNerney; Ch. 179, Stats. 2026), which establishes the framework for independent verification organizations to assess AI systems and models. RECONCILIATION: duplicate legiscan-ca-ab1405 removed.