SB-1248 • 2026

State agencies: automated decision systems.

Budget Technology

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Cabaldon
Last action: 2026-04-24
Official status: Set for hearing May 4.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about penalties or enforcement mechanisms, leaving these aspects open to interpretation.

Rules for Automated Decision Systems in State Agencies

This law sets rules for how state agencies can use automated decision systems to give out services like licenses or public benefits.

What This Bill Does

Limits the way state agencies can use automated decision systems when giving out professional licenses and public benefits.
Requires state agencies to check that these systems are accurate and fair before using them.
Forbids state agencies from making decisions against someone based only on what an automated system says, unless there's a specific reason.
Gives the Government Operations Agency (GovOps) permission to create rules for how state agencies should use these systems.
Requires GovOps to share information about these rules with other groups and help state agencies if they need it.

Who It Names or Affects

State agencies that give out professional licenses or public benefits
People who apply for professional licenses or public benefits

Terms To Know

Automated decision system: A computer program used to help make decisions instead of a person, especially when it affects people's lives.
Government Operations Agency (GovOps): The part of the government that helps other agencies work better and use technology more effectively.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if a state agency does not follow these rules.
Does not say how often GovOps needs to update its guidance for using automated decision systems.
Does not explain the exact penalties for breaking the restrictions on automated decision systems.

Bill History

2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 15.
2026-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 3658.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 24.
2026-03-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on G.O. and P., D.T., & C.P.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1248, as introduced, Cabaldon.
State agencies: automated decision systems.
Existing law establishes the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), and establishes within the agency the Department of Technology. Existing law requires the Department of Technology to conduct, in coordination with other interagency bodies as it deems appropriate, a comprehensive inventory of all high-risk automated decision systems that have been proposed for use, development, or procurement by, or are being used, developed, or procured by, any state agency. Existing law defines, for these purposes, an “automated decision system” as, among other things, a computational process that is used to assist or replace human discretionary decisionmaking and materially impacts natural persons.
Existing law establishes various public assistance and social programs administered by state agencies, including the Department of Social Services and the
Employment Development Department. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of specified professions and vocations by boards and bureaus within the Department of Consumer Affairs.
This bill would impose certain restrictions on the use of an automated decision system by a state agency to confer services, defined as, among other things, the issuance of professional licenses and provision of public benefits. Among the restrictions, the bill would include a prohibition on using an output from the system as the sole basis for an adverse service determination affecting a natural person, except as specified. The bill would require the state agency to verify the accuracy of the system’s outputs and to promote nondiscrimination in its use, as specified. The bill would require the director or designee of a state agency to provide for quality control review of the outputs, as specified, to assure acceptable accuracy.
This bill would authorize GovOps to develop, adopt, and make publicly available guidance for a state agency’s use of automated decision systems. The bill would require GovOps to notify the Joint Legislative Budget Committee before issuing the guidance. The bill would require GovOps to provide technical assistance to state agencies upon request. The bill would define terms for purposes of its provisions and would make related findings and declarations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF