California’s legislature has finished work on a bill that would create a state-approved roster of outside AI auditors. SB 813 passed its final votes on August 30 and now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom.
The measure, authored by Senator Jerry McNerney, directs the Government Operations Agency to designate independent verification organizations, or IVOs, qualified to assess the safety risks of AI systems and models. The Assembly approved it 67-6, and the Senate concurred 39-0.
Under the bill, an IVO must show expertise in evaluating AI risk and in identifying the metrics behind that assessment. It cannot have financial, operational, or management dependence on the party being assessed, and while it may accept payment at market rates, the terms cannot hinge on assessment results.
The agency has until January 1, 2028 to publish application requirements, suspension and termination procedures, and criteria for what qualifies as an AI auditor, with reviews scheduled as technology and industry standards shift. The bill adds a chapter to the California Government Code covering the new system.
