AB 2653: State contracts: report: modern foundation models and associated artificial intelligence systems.

Official summary

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

Existing law, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, among other things related to ensuring the safety of certain artificial intelligence models, requires a large frontier developer to write, implement, and clearly and conspicuously publish on its internet website a frontier AI framework that applies to the large frontier developer’s frontier models and describes how the large frontier developer approaches, among other things, incorporating national standards, international standards, and industry-consensus best practices into its frontier AI framework. Existing law requires the Department of Technology to make recommendations about whether and how to update certain definitions for the purposes of the act, including the definition of “frontier model” so that it applies to foundation models at the frontier of artificial intelligence development.

Existing law requires a contract entered into by any state agency for the procurement or laundering of apparel, garments, or corresponding accessories, or the procurement of equipment, materials, or supplies, other than procurement related to a public works contract, to require that a contractor certify that nothing furnished to the state pursuant to the contract has been laundered or produced by certain types of labor, including sweatshop labor and forced labor, as defined. Existing law requires the Department of Industrial Relations to establish a contractor responsibility program, including a Sweatfree Code of Conduct, to be signed by all bidders on state contracts and subcontracts, as provided.

This bill would require the Department of Industrial Relations, in consultation with the Department of Technology, to convene a Foundation Model Labor and Procurement Working Group consisting of 9 members, as provided, to, among other things, assess labor practices underlying the development of modern foundation models and associated artificial intelligence systems and develop recommendations regarding whether and how the state should incorporate labor standards into procurement decisions for foundation models and associated artificial intelligence systems. The bill would require the working group to compile their findings and recommendations into a report and submit that report to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2027.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 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. May 14, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. May 6, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. April 27, 2026Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. April 23, 2026Read second time and amended.
5. April 22, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21).
6. April 16, 2026(Pending re-refer to Com. on G.O.)
7. April 16, 2026Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4663.)
8. April 9, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
9. March 26, 2026Re-referred to Coms. on L. & E., P. & C.P., and G.O.
10. March 26, 2026Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96:
11. March 23, 2026Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
12. March 19, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on G.O. Read second time and amended.