Governor Newsom Signs Adam’s Law, Setting First Real Safety Standard for Kids and Chatbots
SAN FRANCISCO, September 10, 2026—Governor Gavin Newsom today signed SB 1119, known as Adam's Law, authored by Senator Setve Padilla and Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. The law requires companion chatbot operators to assess child safety risks every year, build crisis response into their products, and open their compliance to independent audits.
Jim Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, issued the following statement:
"For three years, chatbot companies have been using our children as test subjects, and the consequences have been devastating for too many families. Today, California said ‘enough!' Chatbot operators must look for danger, document what they find, and show it to an independent auditor. Parents will get real controls, and kids in crisis get help instead of an algorithm. Senator Padilla, Assemblymember Wicks, and Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan listened to the families whose children were harmed by unregulated chatbots and they responded. We thank them for their hard work and we thank Governor Newsom for signing their bill into law.
What SB 1119 Does
The new law requires operators of companion chatbots to perform and document an annual child safety risk assessment. The law also creates an oversight framework including public incident reporting, auditing standards developed by the Attorney General, and a private right of action.
The law establishes default protections for child users, including parental controls, notice requirements, and time limits. It also requires protocols addressing suicidal ideation, sycophancy, and isolation, along with in-app crisis referrals.
SB 1119 also restricts advertising to children and the sale or sharing of their personal information.
Requirements under the new law take effect July 1, 2027.
Common Sense Media sponsored SB 1119.
About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.