California Lawmaker Aims to Regulate AI in Healthcare to Prevent Racial Bias

Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson introduces bill to require developers and users to identify, mitigate, and monitor biased impacts of AI systems.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, a physician and public health advocate representing California's 39th Senate District, has introduced a bill to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The bill, SB 503, aims to require developers and users of AI systems to identify, mitigate, and monitor biased impacts in their outputs in order to reduce racial and other disparities in clinical decision-making and patient care.

Why it matters

For decades, medicine has promoted false assumptions about Black bodies, leading to biases in medical practices and devices. These biases have been embedded in the data that now feeds medical technology, creating the risk of automating and scaling these harmful biases. This has led to understandable fear and mistrust in the Black community about the healthcare system, and Sen. Pierson believes it is the responsibility of legislators to confront these emerging risks before they cause widespread harm.

The details

Sen. Pierson's bill, SB 503, aims to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare by requiring developers and users of AI systems to identify, mitigate, and monitor biased impacts in their outputs. This is not intended to slow innovation, but rather to ensure that every tool in the healthcare field helps patients rather than harms them. The bill is currently under consideration in the State Assembly.

  • SB 503 is currently under consideration in the California State Assembly.

The players

Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson

A physician and public health advocate representing California's 39th Senate District, and the author of SB 503.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For decades, medicine promoted false assumptions about Black bodies. Black patients were told they had lower lung capacity, and medical devices adjusted their results accordingly.”

— Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, California State Senator (postnewsgroup.com)

“These biases were not limited to software or medical devices. Dangerous myths persisted that Black people feel less pain, contributing to undertreatment and delayed care.”

— Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, California State Senator (postnewsgroup.com)

What’s next

SB 503 is currently under consideration in the California State Assembly, and the judge will decide on the bill's fate.

The takeaway

This case highlights the urgent need to address the issue of racial bias in healthcare technology, and Sen. Pierson's bill represents an important step towards ensuring that AI systems in the medical field are designed and deployed in a way that promotes equity and reduces disparities in patient care.