California · Senate Bill · 2025–2026 Regular Session
SB503
California SB 503 — Health care services: artificial intelligence

Status ● Failed Effective N/A Passage Likelihood H

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 2 REQUIREMENT TYPES

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
No enforcement mechanism specified in the bill text. The bill establishes an advisory board and testing obligations but does not designate an enforcement authority, create penalties, or authorize a private right of action.
Private Right of Action
No private right of action. Enforcement is exclusive to the designated authority.
Penalties
No penalties, damages, or remedies are specified in the bill.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(a)
Establishment of AI in Healthcare Advisory Board
Government

(a) 1 The Department of Health Care Access and Information and the Department of Technology shall establish an advisory board related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care services.

Subdivision (a) directs two state agencies — the Department of Health Care Access and Information and the Department of Technology — to jointly establish an advisory board on the use of AI in health care services. This provision imposes an obligation on government agencies rather than private parties and creates the institutional infrastructure on which the bill's bias-testing and certification scheme depends.

Compliance actions 1 item
1
The Department of Health Care Access and Information and the Department of Technology must establish an advisory board related to the use of AI in health care services.
PS-01
Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(b)
Advisory Board Duties: Best Practices, Testing System, and Certification
Government

(b)(1)–(3) 2 The advisory board shall do all of the following: (1) Develop best practices for the use of AI models or AI systems by a health facility, clinicClinic"Clinic" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1200 or 1200.1.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(2), physician's officePhysician's office"Physician's office" means an office of a physician in solo practice.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(6), or office of a group practiceOffice of a group practice"Office of a group practice" means an office or offices in which two or more physicians are legally organized as a partnership, professional corporation, or not-for-profit corporation licensed according to subdivision (a) of Section 1204.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(5) that uses AI in its provision of health care services. (2) Develop a standardized testing system with criteria for developersDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) to test AI models or AI systems for biased impactsBiased impact"Biased impact" means an unintended impact on an individual based on their protected characteristics.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(1). (3) Establish a statewide certificate that can be used to confirm that a developerDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3)'s version or release of their AI model or AI system meets standards set by the advisory board pursuant to the testing for biased impactsBiased impact"Biased impact" means an unintended impact on an individual based on their protected characteristics.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(1) described in paragraph (2).

Subdivision (b) enumerates the advisory board's three core duties: developing best practices for AI use in health care facilities, creating a standardized testing system with criteria for evaluating biased impacts of AI models and systems, and establishing a statewide certification that developers can obtain by passing bias testing. These duties are imposed on the government advisory board itself, not on private developers.

Compliance actions 1 item
2
The advisory board must (1) develop best practices for the use of AI models or AI systems by health facilities, clinicsClinic"Clinic" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1200 or 1200.1.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(2), physician's officesPhysician's office"Physician's office" means an office of a physician in solo practice.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(6), and offices of group practices in providing health care services; (2) develop a standardized testing system with criteria for developersDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) to test AI models or AI systems for biased impactsBiased impact"Biased impact" means an unintended impact on an individual based on their protected characteristics.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(1); and (3) establish a statewide certificate confirming that a developerDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3)'s version or release of an AI model or AI system meets the board's bias-testing standards.
PS-01
Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(c)
Developer Bias Testing Obligations
Developer

(c)(1) 3 Developers of AI models or AI systems, in conjunction with health facilities, clinicsClinic"Clinic" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1200 or 1200.1.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(2), physician's officesPhysician's office"Physician's office" means an office of a physician in solo practice.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(6), or offices of a group practice, shall test for biased impactsBiased impact"Biased impact" means an unintended impact on an individual based on their protected characteristics.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(1) in the outputs produced by the specified AI model or AI system based on the health facility's patient population.

(c)(2)–(3) 3 DevelopersDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) shall use an existing testing system designated by the advisory board until the advisory board has developed its standardized testing system described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b). After the advisory board has developed its testing system, developersDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) may alternatively use the board's testing system. (3) After the advisory board has created the certification described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), developersDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) may use the advisory board's standardized testing system to certify their AI models or AI systems.

Subdivision (c) imposes the bill's core private-sector obligation: developers of AI models or systems must, in conjunction with health facilities, test for biased impacts in AI outputs based on each facility's patient population. Developers must use an existing testing system designated by the advisory board until the board develops its own standardized system, at which point developers may alternatively use the board's system. After the board creates a certification, developers may optionally use the board's testing system to certify their AI models or systems. The testing obligation is mandatory; the certification is voluntary.

Compliance actions 1 item
3
Developers of AI models or AI systems must, in conjunction with health facilities, clinicsClinic"Clinic" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1200 or 1200.1.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(2), physician's officesPhysician's office"Physician's office" means an office of a physician in solo practice.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(6), or offices of group practices, test for biased impactsBiased impact"Biased impact" means an unintended impact on an individual based on their protected characteristics.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(1) in the outputs produced by the AI model or AI system based on the health facility's patient population. DevelopersDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) must use an existing testing system designated by the advisory board until the board develops its own standardized testing system, at which point developersDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) may alternatively use the board's system. After the board creates its certification, developersDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) may optionally use the board's standardized testing system to certify their AI models or AI systems.
H-02.1
Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)
Definitions

(d)(1)–(6) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) "Biased impactBiased impact"Biased impact" means an unintended impact on an individual based on their protected characteristics.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(1)" means an unintended impact on an individual based on their protected characteristics. (2) "ClinicClinic"Clinic" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1200 or 1200.1.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(2)" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1200 or 1200.1. (3) (A) "DeveloperDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3)" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developerDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developerDeveloper(A) "Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (B) A "deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, corporation, or developer that uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (C) A person, partnership, state or local governmental agency, or corporation may be a developer and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(3) and a deployer if the person or entity both designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments and also uses a covered AI model or AI system that generates an output that can influence physical or virtual environments. (4) "Health care providerHealth care provider"Health care provider" means a person licensed or certified pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(4)" means a person licensed or certified pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code. (5) "Office of a group practiceOffice of a group practice"Office of a group practice" means an office or offices in which two or more physicians are legally organized as a partnership, professional corporation, or not-for-profit corporation licensed according to subdivision (a) of Section 1204.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(5)" means an office or offices in which two or more physicians are legally organized as a partnership, professional corporation, or not-for-profit corporation licensed according to subdivision (a) of Section 1204. (6) "Physician's officePhysician's office"Physician's office" means an office of a physician in solo practice.Health & Safety Code § 1339.76(d)(6)" means an office of a physician in solo practice.

Subdivision (d) provides definitions for key terms used throughout the section, including biased impact, clinic, developer, deployer, health care provider, office of a group practice, and physician's office. Notably, the definition of developer is broad — it includes any person, partnership, governmental agency, corporation, or deployer that designs, codes, substantially modifies, or otherwise produces an AI model or AI system. The deployer definition is similarly broad and expressly contemplates that a single entity may be both a developer and a deployer.

Passage Likelihood

Failed
Status Failed
Final action Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.

Legislative History

2025-02-19 Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
2025-02-20 From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
2025-02-26 Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-03-25 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-04-02 Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and G.O.
2025-04-02 Set for hearing April 9.
2025-04-10 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on G.O. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 737.) (April 9).
2025-04-10 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
2025-04-10 Withdrawn from committee.
2025-04-10 Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-04-22 Set for hearing April 29 in JUD. pending receipt.
2025-04-23 Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-04-30 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 941.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-02 Set for hearing May 12.
2025-05-12 May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-16 Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-23 From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1202.) (May 23).
2025-05-23 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-27 Ordered to special consent calendar.
2025-05-29 Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1327.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-29 In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-06-05 Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and P. & C.P.
2025-06-24 July 1 hearing postponed by committee.
2025-06-30 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-07-09 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (July 8).
2025-07-10 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2025-07-17 Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 49. Noes 15. Page 2578.)
2025-07-17 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 16).
2025-07-17 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-08-20 August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-08-29 From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).
2025-09-02 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-04 Read third time and amended.
2025-09-04 Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-10 Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-04
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