What AB 2027 does
An act to add Part 5.9 (commencing with Section 1570) to Division 2 of the Labor Code, relating to employment.
Existing law establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within the Department of Industrial Relations. Existing law authorizes the division, which is headed by the Labor Commissioner, to enforce the Labor Code and all labor laws of the state, the enforcement of which is not specifically vested in any other officer, board, or commission.
This bill would prohibit an employer from using a worker’s personal information, as defined, to train an artificial intelligence system to replicate, automate, or replace a worker’s job, and would prohibit an employer from selling, disclosing, or otherwise providing access to a worker’s personal information to a third party for the purpose of training an artificial intelligence system to replicate, automate, or replace a worker’s job. The bill would prohibit a vendor providing services to an employer under a contract from providing access to the personal information of an employer’s worker to a third party or using the personal information of an employer’s worker to train artificial intelligence, as specified. The bill would require a contract between an employer and vendor to include a requirement that the vendor implement and maintain reasonable security procedures to protect the worker’s personal information from, among other things, unauthorized or illegal access. The bill would define terms for these provisions, including “employer” and “personal information.”
The bill would require the Labor Commissioner and authorize a public prosecutor to enforce these provisions. The bill would authorize a worker, or their exclusive representative, who suffered a violation of these provisions to bring a civil action for damages, injunctive relief, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs. The bill would establish a statutory penalty for a violation of these provisions of up to $500 for each violation.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the amended assembly text, April 9, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Ward introduced AB 2027 on February 17, 2026, with coauthors Assembly Members Addis, Ahrens, Arambula, Boerner, Connolly, Garcia, Mark González, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Jackson, Kalra, Lee, Lowenthal, Ortega, Quirk-Silva, Celeste Rodriguez, Rogers, Schiavo, Sharp-Collins, and Zbur and Senators Padilla, Reyes, and Smallwood-Cuevas. The text was amended 2 times, and heard in 4 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Labor and Employment, April 8, 2026: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy and Consumer Protection], 5-0.
- Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection, April 21, 2026: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 10-3.
Who supports and opposes AB 2027
The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection analysis dated April 19, 2026 lists 22 organizations in support and 27 in opposition. When Assembly Labor and Employment first listed positions on April 6, 2026, the count was 18 in support and 21 opposed. By the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection analysis of April 19, 2026 it was 22 to 27.
In support: California Labor Federation, Afl-cio (sponsor); Alameda Labor Council; American Federation of Musicians, Local 7; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) California; California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA); California Faculty Association; California Federation of Labor Unions, Afl-cio; California Federation of Teachers Afl-cio; and 14 more.
Opposed: Acclamation Insurance Management Services; Allied Managed Care; Associated General Contractors of California; Associated General Contractors San Diego; Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD); Association of California School Administrators; California Apartment Association; California Chamber of Commerce; and 19 more.
Read the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection analysis.
What happens next
It is in Assembly Appropriations. The last recorded action was on May 14, 2026.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for AI organizations
This is the stage where language still changes. Amendments taken in committee are the ones that reach the Governor, so an organization with a stake in the drafting has a reason to be in that conversation now rather than after the vote.
The AI group at Capitol Axis handles that for AI clients.
Questions about AB 2027
What does AB 2027 do?
This bill would prohibit an employer from using a worker’s personal information, as defined, to train an artificial intelligence system to replicate, automate, or replace a worker’s job, and would prohibit an employer from selling, disclosing, or otherwise providing access to a worker’s personal information to a third party for the purpose of training an artificial intelligence system to replicate, automate, or replace a worker’s job. The bill would prohibit a vendor providing services to an employer under a contract from providing access to the personal information of an employer’s worker to
Has AB 2027 passed the California Legislature?
It is in Assembly Appropriations. The last recorded action was on May 14, 2026.
Who supports and opposes AB 2027?
The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection analysis dated April 19, 2026 lists 22 organizations in support and 27 in opposition. Supporters include California Labor Federation, Afl-cio (sponsor); Alameda Labor Council; American Federation of Musicians, Local 7. Opponents include Acclamation Insurance Management Services; Allied Managed Care; Associated General Contractors of California.
What happens next with AB 2027?
It still has committee and floor votes ahead of it. Amendments taken now are the ones that reach the Governor, so this is the stage where language changes are still possible.