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Assemblymember Mia Bonta Denounces Trump’s AI Moratorium

For immediate release:

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s draft Executive Order to prohibit states from enforcing artificial intelligence regulation, like her own AB 489, signed into law earlier this year:

 

“Donald Trump is once again pushing his misguided AI moratorium, trying to block bipartisan state legislatures from enacting the practical, responsible safeguards our constituents deserve.

 

“States across the country have stepped up with common-sense protections because we know the pace of AI innovation demands real oversight, not driven by politics and donations.

 

“The coming decade will be the equivalent of a millennium of transformation for this technology, and Americans cannot afford for the only rules on the books to come from the dysfunction that has marked this administration.

 

“I’m proud that earlier this year, California enacted AB 489, my legislation that prevents AI platforms from falsely presenting themselves as licensed health professionals, such as nurses, physicians, and psychologists. Healthcare providers, consumer privacy advocates, and even AI developers supported this measure because it’s the kind of smart guardrail families want and need.

 

“Our residents rely on these protections. We cannot allow the President to roll them back,” said Assemblymember Mia Bonta. 

 

Assemblymember Bonta’s AB 489 ensures that state health professions boards and law enforcement agencies have clear authority to enforce title protections when AI systems or chatbots attempt to present themselves as licensed health professionals.

 

Earlier this year, Assemblymember Bonta co-hosted a joint informational hearing of the Assembly Health and Privacy & Consumer Protection Committees on generative AI. The hearing highlighted opportunities, challenges, and policy implications with expert testimony from Kaiser Permanente, Google, the California Health Care Foundation, and the California Nurses Association, among others.

 

At the hearing, Assemblymember Bonta emphasized the Legislature’s responsibility to “help guide the technology in ways that maximize benefit to Californians and minimize harm, that is ethical, safe, effective, free from bias, and helpful versus harmful to the work of our clinicians.” AB 489 delivers on these priorities.

 

Read more about AB 489 HERE.

 

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Assemblymember Mia Bonta represents California’s 18th Assembly District, encompassing the East Bay cities of Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville. She also chairs the Assembly Health Committee.

Courtesy photos can be found HERE.