California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 686
Elections: deceptive audio or visual media.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Berman (Democratic)
Cosponsors (1)
- Cervantes (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Existing law, until January 1, 2027, prohibits a person, committee, or other entity, within 60 days of an election at which a candidate for elective office will appear on the ballot, from distributing with actual malice materially deceptive audio or visual media of the candidate with the intent to injure the candidate's reputation or to deceive a voter into voting for or against the candidate, unless the media includes a disclosure stating that the media has been manipulated, subject to specified exemptions.
Existing law, until January 1, 2027, authorizes a candidate for elective office whose voice or likeness appears in audio or visual media distributed in violation of this section to seek injunctive or other equitable relief prohibiting the distribution of the deceptive audio or visual media; authorizes a candidate whose voice or likeness appears in the deceptive audio or visual media to bring an action for general or special damages against the person, committee, or other entity that distributed the media; and authorizes the court to award a prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs. A court is required to place such proceedings on the calendar in the order of their date of filing and give them precedence.
This bill would extend the repeal date of these provisions to January 1, 2031.
Text versions
- 09/19/26 - Chaptered· Sep 19, 2026
- 09/03/26 - Enrolled· Sep 3, 2026
- 08/13/26 - Amended Senate· Aug 13, 2026
- 06/09/26 - Amended Senate· Jun 9, 2026
- 02/14/25 - Introduced· Feb 14, 2025
- AB686
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2026 House | AB 686 Berman Concurrence in Senate Amendments | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 28, 2026 House | With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 24, 2026 Senate | 3rd Reading AB686 Berman et al. By Allen | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 13, 2026 Senate | Do pass as amended | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 3, 2026 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 30, 2026 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 30, 2026 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 30, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 27, 2025 House | AB 686 Berman Consent Calendar Second Day | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 21, 2025 House | Do pass. To Consent Calendar. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 1, 2025 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Sep 19, 2026 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 334, Statutes of 2026. - Sep 19, 2026 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 9, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m. - Aug 30, 2026 · House
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 14. Page 6861.). - Aug 28, 2026 · House
From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (August 28). - Aug 26, 2026 · House
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6621.) - Aug 25, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2. - Aug 24, 2026 · House
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. - Aug 24, 2026 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 6.). - Aug 17, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 13). - Aug 3, 2026 · Senate
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. - Jul 1, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jun 30, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Jun 15, 2026 · Senate
Re-referred to Coms. on E. & C.A., JUD., and APPR. - Jun 11, 2026 · Senate
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(c). - Jun 10, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Jun 9, 2026 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. - Jun 9, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to second reading. - Jun 9, 2026 · Senate
From inactive file. - Sep 4, 2025 · Senate
Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Laird. - Aug 20, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 19, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8. - Jun 30, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jun 4, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D. - May 28, 2025 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - May 27, 2025 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1740.) - May 22, 2025 · House
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. - May 21, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 21). - Apr 1, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (April 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Mar 3, 2025 · House
Referred to Com. on B. & P. - Feb 15, 2025 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 17. - Feb 14, 2025 · House
Read first time. To print.