Newsom Signs McNerney’s No Robo Bosses Act of 2026 Requiring Human Oversight of AI in the Workplace

Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed Sen. Jerry McNerney’s SB 947, the No Robo Bosses Act of 2026 — a groundbreaking new law that requires human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in the workplace to prevent abuses.

SB 947 bars California employers from relying solely on AI systems, known as automated decision-making systems (ADS), to fire or discipline workers. It also mandates human oversight and verification when employers use ADS to assist in termination and disciplinary decisions. It is the first such law in the nation.

“No worker should ever be fired or disciplined by a robo boss. Artificial intelligence systems have the potential to increase productivity, but they’ve also been prone to errors, bias, and misjudgments,” said Sen. McNerney, D-Pleasanton. “The governor’s signing of SB 947 ensures human oversight of AI in the workplace. AI must remain a tool controlled by humans, not the other way around.” 

SB 947 was sponsored by the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO. 

“When working people organize, we get results. Workers across California have demanded that our state lead the way in regulating AI in our workplaces. And today, we see that begin to happen,” said Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO and lead sponsor of No Robo Bosses Act, SB 947.  “Today, California’s workers and our unions have changed the national narrative on how Americans can fight back and win against AI taking over our jobs and workplaces. There is clearly still work to be done, but Governor Newsom and the California Labor Movement is providing other states and the nation a clear example of how by letting workers lead, we can stop some of worst abuses of AI at work.”

Employers around the globe are increasingly employing ADS — powered by artificial intelligence — to discipline or terminate workers in the name of maximizing productivity and reducing costs. According to recent estimates, there are more than 550 so-called “bossware” products available to employers to help manage workplaces. But there are examples of ADS making troubling errors, including people being mistakenly fired from their job. 

AI systems also hallucinate – they make mistakes. A large-scale study found that AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time.

SB 947 establishes necessary safeguards of AI in the workplace by:

• Barring employers from relying solely on ADS to make firing or disciplinary decisions.
• Requiring human oversight and verification when employers use ADS to assist in termination and disciplinary decisions.
• Mandating employers to inform workers if they have used ADS in termination or disciplinary decisions.

The provisions of SB 947 would be enforced by the California labor commissioner, the state attorney general, or local prosecutors. 

Sen. Jerry McNerney is chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee and is a member of the Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee, which has jurisdiction over AI legislation. His 5th Senate District includes all of San Joaquin County and Alameda County’s Tri-Valley.