By: AJ Cummins, Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
On October 3, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newson signed Assembly Bill 940 and Senate Bill 80, formally establishing California’s roadmap for quantum technology and fusion energy development. The two new initiatives are the first coordinated state effort to not just fund emerging technologies, but to also craft a regulatory and legal framework to guide its incoming development[1]
Under AB 940, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) must provide a statewide strategy regarding quantum technology by July 1, 2026.[2] Under Caifornia’s Jobs First economic plan, the legislation provides quantum computing as a “strategic priority, with approximately four million dollars allocated for further research and application of quantum computing.[3] Whereas SB 80 is aimed at accelerating the development and growth of fusion energy by creating the “Fusion Research and Development Innovation Initiative” to distribute approximately five million toward further research and development into fusion energy.[4]
AB 940 makes California the first state to provide a comprehensive strategy regarding quantum technologies. This is a push to become the quantum economy in the regions throughout the state.[5] The bill pushes California into a leading position over the other states in the fields of Quantum Computing. Governor Newsom opined that “California is the epicenter of global innovation.”[6] This move by California has not been undertaken by any other state currently. Additionally, it is likely that AB 940 will not be a standalone action.
For a quick background, quantum computing uses quantum physics to solve problems at speeds which are unattainable by classical computers. The basis of the computing is the “qubit” short for “quantum bit.” This is compared to classical computers using “bits” which are represented by either a “1” or “0.” but in contrast, the qubits circumvent such a binary through superposition, allowing for the quantum computer to perform multiple operations simultaneously and in parallel, such computations are significantly faster than classical computers.[7]
Conventional computers use “bits,” which can represent either “1” or “0.” In contrast, qubits can simultaneously represent 1, 0, or any value in between. This property (called “superposition”) allows a quantum computer to perform many operations simultaneously and in parallel, allowing for computations millions of times faster than those of classical computers.
While California’s push to legislate and provide legal frameworks on the topics of quantum computing and fusion energy provides a great goal, the broader implications may be more challenging. For legal practitioners, the twin initiatives may result in new advisory needs in cybersecurity, data privacy, regulatory compliance. Preemptive legislation of the ever-growing fields may create an interesting legal landscape. The model California is taking might very well become the standard approach other states adopt, as intertwining quantum computing and fusion energy innovation incentives and legal roles is a proactive stance. This is not without its risk, as this creates a unique intersection between state and federal authorities as both quantum technologies and fusion initiatives are rather uncharted yet heavily observed areas of research.
Both quantum computing and fusion energy development are not without their own risks, which provides a unique view into what future legislation and regulation may look like moving forward. As California is at the forefront of this, other jurisdictions are undoubtedly taking inspiration on how to approach these topics, whether that be what to do, or avoid. Regardless, this innovative approach by California will be heavily observed, not only by other states, but the federal government and other nation states.
[1] https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/03/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-to-advance-californias-position-as-the-epicenter-of-global-innovation.
[2] https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/10/06/california-enacts-law-to-build-statewide-strategy-for-quantum-technology.
[3] Id.
[4] https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/03/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-to-advance-californias-position-as-the-epicenter-of-global-innovation/
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] https://www.csis.org/analysis/quantum-technology-applications-and-implications