Steve Padilla

Stories

California requires data centers to pay for grid and water costs

Authored SB 886 and SB 887

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed seven bills on Monday that force data center operators to pay for the power grid upgrades their facilities require. The laws also require operators to disclose projected water use, energy efficiency, and drought plans before local governments can approve new projects.

Updated Sep 22

AI chatbot makers build age gates for minors under legal pressure

Rule Changes

SB 243 signed into law; effective January 1, 2026

Ask ChatGPT the wrong question now, and if the system guesses you are under 18, it answers like a careful teacher instead of a confidant. On August 18, OpenAI began rolling out ChatGPT for Teens, a stricter version for ages 13 to 17 that it can switch on without being asked.

Updated Aug 18

Notable Quotes

These protections prevent data center electricity and grid costs from being foisted on other customers while keeping California's commitment to its aggressive clean energy and climate targets.

from California requires data centers to pay for grid and water costs · Updated Sep 22

The broadest, most substantial set of protections for children engaging with chatbots and those algorithms in the United States of America.

from California enacts package of online child safety laws · Updated Sep 11