California codifies lawyer duties for generative AI

On September 30, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 574, with Holland & Knight’s October 1 analysis confirming that the law takes effect January 1, 2027. The statute bars lawyers from delegating the practice of law to AI and codifies duties concerning confidentiality, output and citation verification, and disclosure in specified court uses. Firms serving California matters should translate the statute into intake rules, approved-tool controls, matter-level review records and court-filing checks rather than relying on a general acceptable-use policy. The wider implication is that professional duties previously expressed through ethics opinions are beginning to acquire statutory form and enforcement consequences.