California is increasing its efforts to regulate AI, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing an AI executive order. This move makes it likely that AI companies in the US will treat the state's rules as a de facto national standard, despite efforts by the White House to rein in state regulation. The White House recently unveiled its AI legislative framework, a wishlist for an elusive bill from a divided Congress. Despite this, California has not been immune to Big Tech influence and has introduced several AI bills. The executive order aims to raise the bar for AI companies seeking to do business with the state and makes procurement standards stronger. It also allows California to separate the procurement authorization process from the federal government if needed.