Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

Rule Changes

Helped craft the child safety package

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 13 child-safety bills on Sept 10 that bar social media platforms from offering addictive features to users under 16. The laws target autoplay and algorithmic feeds built around a user's history and profile. They take effect January 1 unless courts block them.

Updated 16 hours ago

Rule Changes

Co-authored SB 1119; authored AB 1405

California will require social media platforms to verify users' ages before serving them addictive features, and ban those features for users under 16. AI companion chatbot operators must audit their products for child-safety risks, disclose when users are talking to a bot, and hand results to independent auditors.

Updated Yesterday

Rule Changes

Former Chair, Water Parks and Wildlife Committee

California raised its minimum wage to $16.90 on January 1, 2026, and closed the loophole on its failed 2014 plastic bag ban. These are the latest moves in a decades-long experiment testing whether aggressive regulation can coexist with economic growth.

Updated May 19