Larry Klein
Mayor
Richard Mehlinger
Vice Mayor
Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember
Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember
Linda Sell
Councilmember
Charlsie Chang
Councilmember
Eileen Le
Councilmember
September 15, 2026
T
he Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
R
E: Senate Bill 1159 (Cabaldon): Artificial Intelligence: Transparency and Governance – REQUEST FOR SIGNATURE
D
ear Governor Newsom,
O
n behalf of the City of Sunnyvale, we respectfully request that you sign SB 1159 into law. SB 1159 takes an important and timely step toward preserving transparency, accountability, and meaningful public participation in governmental processes as artificial intelligence technologies continue to evolve.
S
unnyvale lies in the very heart of Silicon Valley and stands as a major anchor for California's technology industry. As such, we value nothing more than open government and responsible innovation. As public agencies increasingly explore the use of artific ial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and service delivery, it is essential that California establish clear standards to ensure that these technologies do not undermine democratic participation or public trust.
S
B 1159 appropriately clarifies that artificial intelligence systems, autonomous agents, and other non- human entities are not “persons” entitled to participate in governmental transparency and comment processes under California law. This clarification addr esses a growing challenge facing public agencies as AI systems become capable of generating large-scale automated requests, comments, and other interactions that can overwhelm city, county, and agency resources and obscure authentic public engagement.
T
his bill thoughtfully protects the integrity of California’s transparency laws, including the Ralph M. Brown Act, California Public Records Act, California Environmental Quality Act, and Administrative Procedure Act, by ensuring these laws continue to serve their intended purpose: facilitating meaningful human participation in government decision-making.
F
or cities like Sunnyvale, which actively embraces technological innovation while maintaining a strong commitment to transparency and civic engagement, SB 1159 provides an important framework for responsible governance. Establishing clear statewide guardrails will help local governments implement emerging technologies in ways that enhance public service while preserving accountability and public confidence.
Attachment 8
The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor
September 15, 2026
Additionally, SB 1159 recognizes the very real administrative burdens that AI-generated mass participation campaigns can impose on local agencies. As I related when we spoke, we think we had our first AI public comment given during a Council Meeting earlier this year. By ensuring governmental processes remain responsive to genuine public input rather than automated systems operating at a potentially massive scale, this legislation helps protect limited public resources and supports effective civic participation.
As California continues to lead in both technology and public policy innovation, SB 1159 strikes an appropriate balance between encouraging responsible technological advancement and safeguarding democratic institutions. The City of Sunnyvale appreciates your leadership on this important issue.
SB 1159 is also consistent with the City of Sunnyvale’s Long-Term Advocacy Positions under Council Policy 7.0, which support preserving local government administrative flexibility and reducing operational burdens associated with state mandates. By clarifying that artificial intelligence systems and other nonhuman entities are not considered “persons” under the Ralph M. Brown Act and related transparency laws, the bill helps ensure that public engagement processes remain effective, manageable, and focused on meaningful human participation.
For these reasons, the City of Sunnyvale respectfully requests that you sign SB 1159 into law. Thank you for your consideration and for your leadership on this important issue.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or David Carnahan, City Clerk, at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Larry Klein
Mayor
cc: Assembly Member Patrick Ahrens
City Council
Tim Kirby, City Manager
Rebecca Moon, City Attorney
Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
David Carnahan, City Clerk
Attachment 8