06/01/2026
Nurses Champion AI Guardrails in Health Care
At a recent Legislative Lobby Day sponsored by the CA Federation of Labor, UNAC/UHCP members Michelle Haastrup, RN, and Stephanie Fleming-Buck, RN, took to the state capitol to advocate for Assembly Bill 2575.
The nurses met with elected representatives and their staff to discuss why the legislation is vital for the future of patient care.
What AB 2575 Does
The bill seeks to establish firm guardrails for the use of Artificial Intelligence in health care systems by:
1. Protecting direct care workers from employer retaliation if they rely on their professional judgment instead of an AI recommendation.
2. Ensuring health care professionals remain free to make patient assessments within their scope of practice.
3. Requiring health systems to be transparent with workers about the AI systems being utilized in patient care.
In Their Own Words
The meetings left a lasting impression on both the legislators and the nurses themselves.
Stephanie Fleming-Buck, RN:
“I felt that we made a big difference in the decision-making process of the representatives. They really listened to us and recognized our expertise. It made me want to do more of this advocacy and work more closely with our union.”
Michelle Haastrup, RN:
“Health care professionals rely on their experience and judgment in every situation. AI can’t replace that expertise.”
