As concerns grow over the influence of corporate interests and artificial intelligence in healthcare, California physicians are stepping up with a bold legislative response.

The California Medical Association (CMA) is championing two bills that recently cleared key legislative hurdles—each aimed at protecting the integrity of patient care in a rapidly evolving system.

The first, Senate Bill 351, would crack down on private equity firms and other corporate entities that unlawfully interfere in medical decision-making. Authored by Senator Christopher Cabaldon, the bill strengthens California’s longstanding ban on the corporate practice of medicine by giving the Attorney General more apparent authority to investigate and enforce violations. Physicians have shared troubling accounts of profit-driven management overriding clinical judgment, and CMA says SB 351 is a vital step in restoring physician autonomy.

The second, Assembly Bill 489, tackles a newer threat: AI chatbots posing as doctors. Authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, the bill prohibits any company from marketing artificial intelligence tools as if they are licensed physicians. It would require companies to use AI tools that are not human healthcare professionals when they’re interacting with a machine.

Both bills have gained traction in Sacramento. SB 351 has passed the Assembly Business & Professions and Judiciary Committees, while AB 489 cleared the Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee.

Initiative to safeguard these measures are part of a broader strategy to modernize healthcare while safeguarding patient trust and safety. “As the healthcare landscape shifts,” the association says, “California must act decisively to keep care grounded in what’s best for patients.”