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) and authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, gives state health professions boards explicit authority to enforce title protections against developers and deployers of such AI systems.
The law responds to increasing concerns about AI chatbots in healthcare, particularly their potential to mislead patients. The legislation aims to ensure that new healthcare technologies are implemented in ways that protect patient safety, maintain trust between patients and physicians, and uphold the integrity 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 bill passed with strong bipartisan support, receiving 39 affirmative votes in the Senate and 79 in the Assembly. The enactment of AB 489 highlights CMA’s ongoing efforts to ensure emerging technologies contribute positively to safe and high-quality patient care. The measure was included as part of CMA’s legislative agenda for 2025.
