SIIA Urges Collaboration on Independent Assurance in AI; Statement on California AB 1405 and SB 813

The following statement can be attributed to Paul Lekas, Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy and Government Affairs, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA).

SIIA supports the concept of independent assurance in artificial intelligence - the subject of California AB 1405 and SB 813, both recently signed into law by Governor Newsom. However, no credible or standardized ecosystem currently exists to conduct the type of independent audits envisioned under this legislation. Currently, there are still no broadly recognized certification standards, licensing structures, or established oversight mechanisms for entities seeking to perform AI compliance audits.

Without a clearly defined and trusted framework, this could create inconsistent evaluations, uncertainty for regulated entities, and significant compliance burdens without corresponding public benefit.

As other states consider proposals in this space, policymakers should instead take a more deliberate and evidence-based approach than reflected in these bills. SIIA urges California state regulators and agency officials to engage closely with industry experts, standards-setting bodies, and stakeholders during the rulemaking process to ensure that any future framework is aligned with consensus national standards, avoids creating a fragmented regulatory environment, and supports innovation.