Common Sense Media-Backed Kids’ Online Safety and AI Bills Pass Powerful California Assembly Appropriations Committee

SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, 2025 — In a strong show of support for guardrails on social media and AI, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee today gave its approval to two kids' online safety bills backed by Common Sense Media and authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. Assembly Bill 56, which is sponsored by Attorney General Bonta, would require warning labels on social media platforms; Assembly Bill 1064 would ban AI companions for minors and establish important guardrails to enhance transparency and privacy standards for AI systems that impact kids.

In response, Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer issued the following statement:

"We applaud the Assembly Appropriations Committee and Chairwoman Wicks for approving this critical legislation to protect kids online and address the risks of AI. We also thank Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan for her leadership on both bills, Attorney General Bonta for his sponsorship of the warning labels bill, as well as the parents and other advocates who continue to work with us to build a safer digital future for all children.

"With teens spending nearly five hours a day on social media, it's critical that we make sure families have all the facts about excessive use. When we learned alcohol could cause birth defects, we added warning labels for pregnant women. When nicotine was linked to cancer, we labeled every cigarette pack. AB 56 will take the same proven approach to social media — the new ‘drug' keeping kids hooked.

"Just as we need to set up long-overdue safeguards on social media, we must take action now to protect kids from unsafe AI. Common Sense Media research shows that 7 in 10 teens have used AI, and our laws need to keep up. We need to protect kids from the riskiest AI products — including social AI companions — and before we put kids in front of other AI tools, we need to establish baseline safety protections. AB 1064 would do exactly that. At a moment when lawmakers in Washington are trying to tie state legislators' hands on AI legislation, California's leadership on this issue is all the more important.

"We look forward to the full Assembly's support for these bills and to working with state senators to get them sent to Governor Newsom's desk."

The bills will be considered next by the full Assembly.

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