As the California Assembly prepares to consider SB 1047 – a heavy-handed AI regulatory bill – a diverse coalition of tech and business organizations is urging California’s governor to veto the legislation. The tech industry letter follows on growing opposition from members of California’s congressional delegation, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, local business groups, and national AI leaders.

Read the full coalition letter: Tech Urges Gov. Newsom to Veto SB 1047.

Organizations signing today’s coalition letter to Gov. Newsom include Chamber of Progress, Bay Area Council, Context Fund, Engine, NetChoice, R Street Institute, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and TechFreedom. The letter highlights that SB 1047’s heavy-handed regulation in the face of theoretical threats would have real-life consequences for California’s tech economy.

From the letter: 

“SB 1047 is designed to limit the potential for “critical harm” which includes “the creation or use of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapon in a manner that results in mass casualties.” These harms are theoretical… In contrast, the damage to California’s innovation economy is all too real. SB 1047 would introduce burdensome compliance costs and broad regulatory uncertainty as to which models are in scope.”

During consideration of SB 1047 in the Senate and in the Assembly, Chamber of Progress raised concerns about the bill’s impact with California lawmakers during legislative hearings and throughout the amendment process.

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Chamber of Progress (progresschamber.org) is a center-left tech industry policy coalition promoting technology’s progressive future.  We work to ensure that all Americans benefit from technological leaps, and that the tech industry operates responsibly and fairly.  

Our corporate partners do not have a vote on or veto over our positions. We do not speak for individual partner companies and remain true to our stated principles even when our partners disagree.