Newsom signed an order to speed California AI safety rules and study a 'kill switch.'
Why it matters: California's AI policy can shape compliance expectations for major model developers nationwide, especially firms with large operations in the state. The move also deepens pressure on Washington as Newsom positions California as a de facto baseline for AI safety.
- Newsom signed the executive order on Sept. 18, 2026.
- The order directs state agencies to accelerate implementation of newly enacted AI oversight laws.
- It also convenes outside experts to recommend additional safety rules, including a possible emergency 'kill switch' for advanced AI models.
- The move follows California's Sept. 9 laws, SB 813 and AB 1405, which created independent verification organizations and a state registry for AI auditors.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 18 signed an executive order aimed at speeding up AI safety oversight in the state and exploring whether advanced models should have an emergency shutoff mechanism.
His office said the order builds on earlier state laws signed Sept. 9, including SB 813 and AB 1405, which created frameworks for independent verification organizations and a state registry for AI auditors. The new order directs state agencies to move faster on implementation and asks outside experts to develop additional recommendations within roughly two months.
Newsom framed the action as a response to federal inaction. The governor's office said California should serve as the national baseline for AI safety policy, while Newsom said, "If Congress won't act, California will."
AP reported the order accelerates oversight of AI companies and references the use of "kill switches" so developers could shut down systems if needed. PBS NewsHour also described the move as a push to speed AI safety measures in California. PBS NewsHour's news wrap aired the order the same day.
The exact legal contours of any future kill switch requirement are still unclear. The governor's office described the proposal as something to be studied and refined, not an immediate mandate.
By the numbers
- Sept. 18, 2026 - date Newsom signed the executive order.
- Sept. 9, 2026 - date Newsom signed California's earlier AI safety laws, SB 813 and AB 1405.
- About 2 months - time the governor's office said experts would have to produce recommendations.
Yes, but: The kill switch idea is not yet a final requirement. The order calls for expert recommendations, and the public record available here does not spell out the eventual legal standards.
What's next: State agencies are expected to move on implementation, and outside experts are due to report back in about two months.