California SB 896 (2024) — Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act
California · SB 896, Stats. 2024 (Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act)
This law directs California's Office of Emergency Services to study the threats that generative AI could pose to the state's critical infrastructure, including mass-casualty risks, and report a summary to the Legislature each year. It also requires any state agency that uses generative AI to communicate with people about government services to add a disclaimer that AI generated the message and explain how to reach a human state employee.
Technical detail
Enacts the Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act, requiring the Office of Emergency Services to perform a risk analysis of GenAI threats to California's critical infrastructure (annual summary to the Legislature) and requiring a state agency that uses GenAI to communicate about government services to include an AI-generated disclaimer and instructions to reach a human employee.
Who is protected: Members of the public who receive GenAI communications from California state agencies.
Who must comply: California state agencies and departments using generative AI to communicate about government services; the Office of Emergency Services.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | California |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2025-01-01 |
| Enacted | 2024-09-29 |
| Citation | SB 896, Stats. 2024 (Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act) |
| Enforced by | California state government / Legislature (oversight); no dedicated enforcement body. |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Topics | government use of AI · AI disclosure and transparency |
| Last verified | 2026-06-16 |
| Official source | Bill Text — SB-896 Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act ↗ |
More AI rules in California
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- California AB 489 (AI healthcare chatbot misrepresentation ban) · In effect
- X.AI v. Bonta (AB 2013 training-data disclosure) · Blocked / in litigation
- CA SB 1298 (2012 AV authorization) · In effect
- CA AB 856 (2015 drone trespass) · In effect
- California Bot Disclosure Act (bots must self-identify in sales/election messaging) · In effect
Related government use of AI rules elsewhere
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Arkansas public entity AI/ADS policy mandate (Act 848, 2025) · In effect
- One-year moratorium on data center development (Inver Grove Heights MN) · In effect
- FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- San Marcos citywide data center ban (Land Use Matrix amendme · In effect
- Washington County (MD) 12-month data center moratorium · Enacted (not yet in effect)
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