California Signs No Robo Bosses Act, Banning AI-Only Decisions on Firing and Discipline

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 947, known as the No Robo Bosses Act, on September 30, 2026, establishing the first state-level law in the United States that explicitly restricts how employers can use artificial intelligence in personnel decisions. The law prevents businesses from using automated decision-making systems as the sole or principal basis for firing or disciplining employees.

The legislation requires that a qualified human reviewer examine any AI-generated recommendation before an adverse employment action is carried out. Companies must also disclose when automated systems play a significant role in workforce decisions. The law applies broadly to employers operating in California, though it does not extend to gig-economy workers — a provision that was removed from an earlier version Newsom vetoed in October 2025.

The California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, was the lead sponsor. Its president, Lorena Gonzalez, said the law changed the national narrative on how Americans can fight back against AI taking over workplace decisions. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 90 percent of US managers report their companies have implemented at least one tool for instructing, monitoring, or evaluating staff.

The signing is part of a broader Newsom push on AI governance that includes a recent executive order addressing existential risks from AI models and a measure creating a state framework for independent model auditing. Several other states, including New York, Louisiana, and New Jersey, have proposed similar legislation but have not yet acted. Whether California's law triggers a wave of copycat bills or remains an outlier will depend on how courts and employers interpret its requirements in practice.