AB 1651 (Dixon) - State Bar of California - artificial intelligence - disclose AI-generated content

Sep 21, 2026

Senate Judiciary Committee analysis of AB 1651 (Dixon) addresses concerns about artificial intelligence use in State Bar of California examinations and study materials. Beginning January 1, 2028, the State Bar must disclose AI-generated content used to develop or administer examinations, including question and scoring materials, and must post such disclosures 60 days before the relevant examination. The bill also requires cover-page disclosure for AI-generated content in study materials, while defining key terms and specifying operative dates.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

SUBJECT

DIGEST

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LAW

Existing law

This bill

COMMENTS

Stated need for the bill

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Senator Thomas Umberg, Chair 2025-2026 Regular Session AB 1651 (Dixon) Version: March 26, 2026 Hearing Date: June 16, 2026 Fiscal: No Urgency: No AM SUBJECT State Bar of California: artificial intelligence DIGEST This bill requires the State Bar of California (State Bar), beginning January 1, 2028, to disclose the use of artificial intelligence-generated content in developing or administering State Bar examinations or study materials, as specified. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The State Bar is a public corporation and the largest state bar in the country. Every person seeking to be licensed to practice law in this state must pass the bar exam. The State Bar administers the bar exam twice a year—in February and July. The State Bar used a new exam format and platform for the first time in decades for the February 2025 exam that allowed for both in-person and remote test taking.1 The administration of the new exam was an unmitigated disaster. In the aftermath, it was revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) was used to design some of the questions on the exam. This bill seeks to address concerns that AI could be used to generate content for Stat Bar examinations by requiring disclosure of the use of any AI-generated content in developing or administering the State Bar examinations and content in study material. This bill is author sponsored. No timely support or opposition was received by the Committee. 1 Olivia Hebert, SF Gate, California's new bar exam launch was a 'disaster. ' Now test takers are suing. (Feb. 28, 2025), available at [https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-bar-exam-march-retakes-](https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-bar-exam-march-retakes-)[ ](https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-bar-exam-march-retakes-)[20192958.php](20192958.php.)[.](20192958.php.) PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LAW Existing law: 1) Requires all attorneys who practice law in California to be licensed by the State Bar and establishes the State Bar, within the judicial branch of state government, for the purpose of regulating the legal profession. (Cal. const., art. VI, § 9; Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6000 et seq.) a) The Legislature sets the annual fees. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6140 & 6141.) b) The State Bar is governed by the Board of Trustees of the State Bar (Board) .(Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6010 et seq.; § 6016.) c) Establishes the State Bar Act as the statutory requirements regulating the practice of law in this state. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6000 et seq.) 2) Establishes that protection of the public, which includes support for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system, is the highest priority for the State Bar in exercising their licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public is to be paramount. (Bus. & Prof. Code § 6001.1.) 3) Provides various requirements a person must meet to be certified to the California Supreme Court for admission to practice law in this state, including passing the general bar examination given by the Committee of Bar Examiners. (Bus. & Prof. Code § 6060(g).) a) Other exams that may be required include the first-year law students’examination and the attorneys’ examination (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6060 & 6062.) 4) Defines “artificial intelligence” as an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments. (Civ. Code § 1714.46(a).) This bill: 1) Requires the State Bar to disclose the use of artificial intelligence-generated content in developing or administering the State Bar examinations, including any related question, performance test, answer key, or scoring rubric. a) This applies regardless of whet

FAQs

What does AB 1651 require the State Bar to disclose starting in 2028?

It requires disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence-generated content used in developing or administering State Bar examinations, and in State Bar study material, including specified categories of questions and instructional content.

Where and when must the examination-related AI disclosure be posted?

The bill requires the disclosure to be posted on the State Bar’s website 60 days before the examination in which the AI-generated content is used.

How does the bill treat AI content in study materials?

It requires a disclosure on the cover page of the study material when AI-generated content is used, including sample or practice questions and related instructional materials.

Sep 21, 2026

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