Legislation focuses on accountability, public safety and responsible use of emerging technologies 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D–Santa Ana), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced the first part of his 2026 Legislative Package, introducing a slate of new and two-year bills.

Building on his work in prior sessions, Senator Umberg’s 2026 package advances targeted reforms to hold bad actors accountable, modernize outdated systems and ensure state programs work as intended for Californians.

“We have a busy year ahead with a lot of challenges, and my colleagues and I are ready to get to work and meet those challenges,” said Senator Umberg.  “Each of these bills respond to a gap in existing law—whether its election eligibility, the use of artificial intelligence in the courts or oversight of substance use treatment. This package is about accountability, fairness, and making sure Californians are protected as our systems and technologies change.”

Proposed 2026 Legislation: 

SB 46 - Elections Qualifications: Establishes a process allowing the Secretary of State to bar presidential candidates from the ballot if they fail to meet constitutional eligibility requirements.

SB 574 - Court A.I. Protection Act: Protects clients receiving legal services by establishing rules for the use of A.I. by attorneys and arbitrators. Attorneys using A.I. must ensure confidential information is not entered into the system and must review any work generated or reviewed by A.I. The bill also prohibits arbitrators from delegating decision-making to any A.I. tool.

SB 758 - Substance Control and Retail Integrity Act: Prohibits retailers with a cigarette and tobacco license from selling nitrous oxide and adds 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) to the controlled substances list, except when it naturally occurs in the kratom plant.

SB 490 - SUD Treatment Safety Act: Establishes timelines for the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to investigate allegations of licensed treatment at unlicensed sober living homes. If DHCS cannot meet these timelines, the bill authorizes cities and counties to request approval to conduct site visits and enforce existing state licensing requirements.

SB 342 - Contractors Licensure Fairness Act: Creates a more balanced approach to contractor licensing by allowing recovery of payment for work completed while licensed, even if a licensure lapse occurs during the project. Contractors remain ineligible to recover pay for any work performed while unlicensed.

SB 96 - CALM Act Modernization for Social Media, Music and Podcasts: Extends existing consumer protections by prohibiting social media video, music streaming and podcast platforms from playing advertisements louder than the content selected by users.

###

 Senator Thomas J. Umberg represents the 34th Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, Long Beach, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, and East and South Whittier. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman. He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.