Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 489 into law, establishing new protections for patients against artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could misrepresent themselves as licensed medical professionals. The bill, sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA), gives state health professions boards the authority to enforce title protections and regulate developers and deployers of such AI systems.
Assemblymember Mia Bonta authored AB 489 in response to concerns about AI chatbots potentially misleading patients. The law aims to ensure that healthcare technologies are used in ways that prioritize patient safety, maintain trust between patients and physicians, and uphold the standards of the medical profession.
CMA President Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D., stated: “The passage of AB 489 is a critical victory for patient safety and transparency. In an era of rapidly advancing technology, it is essential that patients know when they are interacting with an AI system or a licensed human clinician. This bill safeguards the trust between patients and their doctors that forms the cornerstone of medicine, and we thank Governor Newsom for signing this vital protection into law and Assemblymember Bonta for championing this cause.”
The legislation received broad support in both chambers of the state legislature, passing with 39 yes votes in the Senate and 79 yes votes in the Assembly. The new law highlights CMA’s ongoing efforts to ensure that advancements in technology contribute positively to safe and effective patient care.
AB 489 was included as part of CMA’s legislative priorities for 2025.
