California Offers a Preview of What’s Next for Electronic Security Policy

California has long served as an early testing ground for emerging public policy. For the electronic security industry, the 2026 legislative session is providing a useful preview of the issues that could soon appear in statehouses across the country. 

ESA has spent considerable time this year engaging on proposals involving artificial intelligence, workplace surveillance, video privacy, connected devices, and the collection and use of data. While many of these measures were not drafted specifically for the electronic security industry, their impact can extend directly to technologies our members manufacture, install, monitor, and service. 

Several California proposals illustrate that trend. 

Assembly Bill (AB) 1883 addresses the use of certain artificial intelligence applications within workplace surveillance. AB 2062 focuses on how content collected through residential security surveillance systems may be accessed, used, or shared with third parties. Senate Bill (SB) 898 addresses support and disclosure requirements for connected consumer products. 

Each bill approaches a different policy concern, but together they illustrate a larger shift. Issues once viewed primarily as technology, privacy, or employment policy are increasingly intersecting with electronic security. 

That matters well beyond California. 

As lawmakers across the country consider how to regulate emerging technologies, they often look to policies introduced or enacted in other states. Concepts developed in one legislature can quickly become models for bills elsewhere. For security businesses, waiting until similar legislation reaches their own state can mean entering the discussion after many of the important policy decisions have already been made. 

Our industry therefore has an important role to play early in the legislative process. 

That does not mean opposing every proposal involving privacy, artificial intelligence, or data. Many of these measures are responding to legitimate concerns. Effective advocacy means helping policymakers understand how security technologies operate in real-world environments, identifying unintended consequences, and ensuring that legislation preserves legitimate safety and security applications. 

It also means broadening how we think about the issues affecting our industry. A bill does not need the words “alarm company” or “security integrator” in its title to have significant consequences for our members. 

California’s 2026 session is reinforcing that reality. Artificial intelligence, privacy, connected technology, surveillance, and data policy will continue to shape the future of electronic security. 

For the electronic security industry, the time to engage is before these policies reach our own statehouses. For security professionals who want to get more involved in shaping the policies affecting our industry, I encourage you to reach out directly. Whether you are interested in engaging with lawmakers, sharing how legislation could impact your business, or participating in ESA’s advocacy efforts, contact me at Taylor.Criddle@ESAweb.org to get involved.