California Legislature Sends Lawyer-Specific AI Bill to the Governor
On September 1, 2026, Reuters reported that California lawmakers had approved SB 574 and sent it to Governor Gavin Newsom; the bill would bar lawyers from delegating legal practice to generative AI, require reasonable verification of AI-produced material, mandate disclosure for AI use in court submissions and restrict entry of confidential information into certain systems.
Inside Practice · SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
On September 1, 2026, Reuters reported that California lawmakers had approved SB 574 and sent it to Governor Gavin Newsom; the bill would bar lawyers from delegating legal practice to generative AI, require reasonable verification of AI-produced material, mandate disclosure for AI use in court submissions and restrict entry of confidential information into certain systems. Even before any signature or effective date, mid-sized firms with California matters should map these proposed duties to concrete controls for research, drafting, filing and client-data handling. A usable policy will need named reviewers, an approved-tool list, evidence of verification and escalation rules rather than a general instruction to check outputs. Firms should watch the governor’s action and any implementation guidance, while avoiding claims that the proposal is already law.