Bill Commons

CA AB 489

enacted

Health care professions: deceptive terms or letters: artificial intelligence.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did CA AB 489 pass?

Yes. CA AB 489 has been enacted into law as of 2025-10-11. Latest recorded action (2025-10-11): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 615, Statutes of 2025.

What is CA AB 489 about?

Existing law establishes various healing arts boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs that license and regulate various healing arts licensees. Existing laws, including, among others, the Medical Practice Act and the Dental Practice Act, make it a crime for a person who is not licensed as a specified health care professional to use certain words, letters, and phrases or any other terms that imply that they are authorized to practice that profession. Existing law requires, with certain exemptions, a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice that uses generative artificial intelligence, as defined, to generate written or verbal patient communications pertaining to patient clinical information, as defined, to ensure that those communications include both (1) a disclaimer that indicates to the patient that a communication was generated by generative artificial intelligence, as specified, and (2) clear instructions describing how a patient may contact a human health care provider, employee, or other appropriate person. Existing law provides that a violation of these provisions by a physician shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, as appropriate. This bill would make provisions of law that prohibit the use of specified terms, letters, or phrases to falsely indicate or imply possession of a license or certificate to practice a health care profession, as defined, enforceable against an entity who develops or deploys artificial intelligence (AI) or generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology that uses one or more of those terms, letters, or phrases in its advertising or functionality. The bill would prohibit the use by AI or GenAI technology of certain terms, letters, or phrases that indicate or imply that the advice, care, reports, or assessments being provided through AI or GenAI is being provided by a natural person with the appropriated health care license or certificate. This bill would make a violation of these provisions subject to the jurisdiction of the appropriate health care profession board, and would make each use of a prohibited term, letter, or phrase punishable as a separate violation. By expanding the scope of existing crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Who sponsors CA AB 489?

Bonta is the primary sponsor of CA AB 489, joined by 8 cosponsors.

Description

Existing law establishes various healing arts boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs that license and regulate various healing arts licensees. Existing laws, including, among others, the Medical Practice Act and the Dental Practice Act, make it a crime for a person who is not licensed as a specified health care professional to use certain words, letters, and phrases or any other terms that imply that they are authorized to practice that profession. Existing law requires, with certain exemptions, a health facility, clinic, physician's office, or office of a group practice that uses generative artificial intelligence, as defined, to generate written or verbal patient communications pertaining to patient clinical information, as defined, to ensure that those communications include both (1) a disclaimer that indicates to the patient that a communication was generated by generative artificial intelligence, as specified, and (2) clear instructions describing how a patient may contact a human health care provider, employee, or other appropriate person. Existing law provides that a violation of these provisions by a physician shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, as appropriate. This bill would make provisions of law that prohibit the use of specified terms, letters, or phrases to falsely indicate or imply possession of a license or certificate to practice a health care profession, as defined, enforceable against an entity who develops or deploys artificial intelligence (AI) or generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology that uses one or more of those terms, letters, or phrases in its advertising or functionality. The bill would prohibit the use by AI or GenAI technology of certain terms, letters, or phrases that indicate or imply that the advice, care, reports, or assessments being provided through AI or GenAI is being provided by a natural person with the appropriated health care license or certificate. This bill would make a violation of these provisions subject to the jurisdiction of the appropriate health care profession board, and would make each use of a prohibited term, letter, or phrase punishable as a separate violation. By expanding the scope of existing crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Introduced
2025-04-10
Latest action
2025-10-11 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 615, Statutes of 2025.
Bill type
bill
Last updated

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Bontaauthor
  • Addiscoauthor
  • Bainscoauthor
  • Bermancoauthor
  • Lowenthalcoauthor
  • Pellerincoauthor
  • Wilsoncoauthor
  • Ashbycoauthor
  • Weber Piersoncoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-02-10

    Read first time. To print.

    reading-1

  2. 2025-02-11

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

  3. 2025-03-17

    Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and P. & C.P.

    referral-committee

  4. 2025-04-01

    Coauthors revised.

  5. 2025-04-01

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 1). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  6. 2025-04-10

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  7. 2025-04-21

    Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

    referral-committee

  8. 2025-04-23

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  9. 2025-05-07

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    referral-committee

  10. 2025-05-23

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  11. 2025-05-27

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  12. 2025-06-02

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1832.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  13. 2025-06-03

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1,referral-committee

  14. 2025-06-11

    Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and JUD.

    referral-committee

  15. 2025-06-16

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  16. 2025-06-23

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  17. 2025-07-08

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  18. 2025-07-16

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  19. 2025-08-18

    In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    referral-committee

  20. 2025-08-29

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  21. 2025-08-29

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  22. 2025-09-02

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  23. 2025-09-04

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2521.).

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  24. 2025-09-04

    In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  25. 2025-09-08

    Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3026.).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  26. 2025-09-15

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  27. 2025-10-11

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  28. 2025-10-11

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 615, Statutes of 2025.

    became-law

Versions

  • 02/10/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-10Compare
  • 04/10/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-04-10Compare
  • 06/16/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-06-16Compare
  • 07/08/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-07-08Compare
  • 09/10/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-10Compare
  • 10/11/25 - Chaptered — 2025-10-11Compare
  • AB489Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy and Consumer Protection]

    2025-04-01 · pass · 17-0

    Member-level votes (18)
    • Haney: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: other
  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2025-04-22 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Patterson: other
  • Do pass.

    2025-05-23 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Calderon: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Sanchez: other
  • AB 489 Bonta Assembly Third Reading

    2025-06-02 · pass · 79-0

    Member-level votes (79)
    • Rivas: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Ellis: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Bains: yes
  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

    2025-06-23 · pass · 10-0

    Member-level votes (11)
    • Niello: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Menjivar: other
  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2025-07-15 · pass · 13-0

    Member-level votes (13)
    • Caballero: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Durazo: yes
  • Placed on suspense file

    2025-08-18 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Richardson: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Grayson: yes
  • Do pass

    2025-08-29 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Richardson: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
  • Special Consent AB489 Bonta et al. By Weber Pierson

    2025-09-04 · pass · 39-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Stern: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Alvarado-Gil: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Grove: yes
    • Jones: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Reyes: other
  • AB 489 Bonta Concurrence in Senate Amendments

    2025-09-08 · pass · 79-0

    Member-level votes (80)
    • Addis: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Johnson: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Ellis: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Nguyen: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

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