California Governor Gavin Newsom signed six bills on Monday aimed at making everyday life easier for residents, covering customer service chatbots, loud streaming commercials, medical leave paperwork, heat pump permits, library cards and parent-teacher meetings.
"A little common sense goes a long way. Fewer loud commercials. Less time running in circles with customer service chatbots, fewer headaches — helping people doesn't have to be complicated," Newsom said.
Under AB 1609 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood), large businesses must make a good-faith effort to connect customers to a human within 15 minutes of a request, or schedule an appointment. Companies must also disclose whether a customer service representative is a chatbot rather than a person, and certain large businesses must list contact information on their websites.
SB 96 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) builds on legislation Newsom signed last year targeting television advertisements, requiring that podcast and music streaming commercials cannot be louder than the content itself.
SB 1412 by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) lets parents request a parent-teacher conference online or by phone if they cannot attend in person. SB 2292 by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) bars physicians from charging unnecessary fees to complete forms required for paid family or medical leave.
SB 965 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) allows 16- and 17-year-olds to get a public library card without a parent present. SB 222 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) creates an automated, streamlined permitting process for standard heat pump water heaters and HVAC installations.
The Governor's office said the actions expand on previous efforts since 2019, including moving more DMV services online, implementing universal transitional kindergarten, requiring easy subscription cancellations, providing two free meals for TK-12 public school students and strengthening consumer protection laws.