Newsom executive order targets AI "kill switch"

Newsom's executive order comes as Washington shows little appetite for major AI legislation. The House is on recess until November, and the midterm elections make Senate movement unlikely, while President Donald Trump has said the only guardrails AI needs is a strong and smart president. Newsom is explicitly calling on Congress and Trump to adopt California's framework, or use it as a floor, not a ceiling.

The order also directs a state agency to speed up implementation of two recent laws Newsom signed: one creating a framework for independent verifiers to assess AI safety, and another establishing a state registry of AI auditors. That continues California's pattern of building AI oversight through state law while federal action stalls.

Newsom is likely to keep pushing on this front. He told Politico he might call lawmakers into a special legislative session on AI, and the order itself frames California as a model for the rest of the country. Whether the expert recommendations become binding rules will depend on the legislature and on how far Newsom is willing to go, but for now the state is setting the agenda rather than waiting for Washington.