California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the "No Robo Bosses Act" (SB-947), a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits employers from relying solely on automated decision-making systems (ADS) to make disciplinary or termination decisions.
California Governor Signs "No Robo Bosses Act" to Prohibit AI-Only Termination Decisions
Under the new law, if a disciplinary action or termination is primarily determined by AI output, the employer is required to seek verification from a human reviewer. Additionally, employees must be notified in writing if an AI system was the primary factor in the decision, including information about the data used and the contact person for inquiries.
The bill was spearheaded by Democratic Assemblymember Jerry McNerney. While Newsom had previously vetoed a similar version in 2025 due to concerns regarding overly broad notification requirements, the 2026 version was adjusted to remove certain provisions. The updated bill also omits language that would have expanded these protections to gig workers, following opposition from ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft.
The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.
Sources
- 従業員の解雇・懲戒処分をAIだけで決定することを禁止する「ロボ上司禁止法」にカリフォルニア州のニューサム知事が署名 （GIGAZINE, 2026-10-01）
- Governor of California