Reference Dossier

Resources

The primary sources, statutes and contacts behind CalCompute — a single, current reference for the movement.

Where CalCompute stands — mid-2026

First proposed

SB 294, the Safety in Artificial Intelligence Act, unveiled Sept. 13, 2023.

Enacted

SB-53 signed Sept. 29, 2025 (Ch. 138); effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Consortium

14 seats authorized; the Consortium is in the process of being formed.

Report due

Framework report to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2027.

01

Primary sources

Sept. 29, 2025

SB-53 — full bill text (Chapter 138)

The enrolled Transparency in Frontier AI Act; § 11546.8 establishes CalCompute.

Read on site → leginfo ↗
Sept. 29, 2025

Gov. Newsom’s SB-53 signing message

Newsom’s formal rationale and conditions for signing SB-53 into law.

Read on site → gov.ca.gov ↗
Sept. 29, 2025

Governor’s SB-53 signing press release

Official announcement of the signing, with a plain-language summary of the law.

Read on site → gov.ca.gov ↗
Sept. 5, 2025

Assembly Privacy Committee analysis (final)

Final committee analysis of the expanded bill before passage.

Read on site → assembly.ca.gov ↗
July 9, 2025

Sen. Wiener’s SB-53 expansion release

Announces the amendments that made SB-53 a landmark transparency measure.

Read on site → sd11.senate.ca.gov ↗
June 17, 2025

The California Report on Frontier AI Policy

Li · Cuéllar · Chayes — the “trust but verify” report whose compute-access analysis motivated CalCompute.

Read on site → cafrontieraigov.org ↗
April 8, 2025

Senate Judiciary Committee analysis

Committee analysis of the original bill, the CalCompute consortium and whistleblower provisions.

Read on site → sjud.senate.ca.gov ↗
March 18, 2025

Governor’s AI working group press release

Announces the draft working-group report that opened the public process shaping SB-53.

Read on site → gov.ca.gov ↗
Sept. 13, 2023

Sen. Wiener unveils the Safety in AI Act (SB 294)

The first public unveiling of CalCompute — proposed as a cloud-based compute cluster housed in California’s public university system.

Read on site → sd11.senate.ca.gov ↗
02

Governing law

Statute

Gov. Code § 11546.8

Establishes the CalCompute planning consortium within the Government Operations Agency.

Reference ↗

Parent legislation

SB-53 · Chapter 138 (2025)

The Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (TFAIA). Signed Sept. 29, 2025.

Reference ↗

Intended host

University of California

Statute directs “reasonable efforts … to the extent possible” to site CalCompute within UC — not a mandate.

First proposed

SB 294 (2023)

The Safety in Artificial Intelligence Act — an intent bill that first unveiled CalCompute publicly.

Reference ↗

Framework report

Due January 1, 2027

The consortium delivers its report (elements A–G) to the Legislature, then dissolves.

03

Government contacts

Three authorities share responsibility for appointing the 14-member Consortium, which is in the process of being formed.

8 seats
Secretary of Government Operations
Nick Maduros. Appoints four academic/national-lab and four technology/AI members, and houses the consortium.
govops.ca.gov ↗
3 seats
Speaker of the California State Assembly
Appoints three representatives of affected-workforce labor organizations.
assembly.ca.gov ↗
3 seats
California Senate Rules Committee
Appoints three public-interest stakeholders — ethicists, consumer-rights advocates and others.
senate.ca.gov ↗
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