AB 1651: State Bar of California: artificial intelligence.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the State Bar Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California (State Bar), a public corporation governed by a board of trustees. Existing law authorizes the State Bar to establish an examining committee, also known as the Committee of Bar Examiners, with powers that include examining applicants for admission to practice law. Existing law requires an applicant for admission and licensure to practice law to meet specified requirements, including passing a general bar examination given by the examining committee, and authorizes certain experienced attorneys to take an attorneys’ examination instead. Existing law requires specified applicants to take a first-year law students’ examination administered by the examining committee.

Existing law defines “artificial intelligence” as, among other things, a machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can generate outputs, which can influence physical or virtual environments.

This bill would require the State Bar to disclose, on its internet website, the use of artificial intelligence-generated content, as defined, in developing or administering the State Bar examinations described above. The bill would require the State Bar to disclose, on the cover page of study materials, the use of artificial intelligence-generated content in examination study material it, among other things, publishes or endorses. The bill would only require these disclosures for content developed by or at the explicit direction of the State Bar. The bill would apply these disclosure requirements regardless of whether the artificial intelligence-generated content is revised or reviewed by a natural person. The bill would become operative on January 1, 2028.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 22, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 116, Statutes of 2026.
2. August 22, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 10, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m.
4. August 3, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6031.).
5. June 25, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. June 25, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 5014.).
7. June 18, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered to consent calendar.
8. June 17, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16).
9. May 6, 2026Referred to Com. on JUD.
10. April 16, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
11. April 16, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 68. Noes 0. Page 4681.)
12. April 9, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.