California 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted 4 D cosponsors

AB 1979 — Doxing Victims Recourse Act.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 557, Statutes of 2024.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 30, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom (Democratic) on September 25, 2024.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 80% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Existing law makes it a crime for a person who, with the intent to place another person in reasonable fear for that other person's safety, or the safety of the other person's immediate family, by means of an electronic communication device, and without consent of the other person, and for the purpose of imminently causing that other person unwanted contact, injury, or harassment by a third party, distributes personal identifying information that would be likely to incite or produce that unlawful action. Existing law makes this a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in a county jail or by a fine of not more than $1,000. This bill would create a private cause of action against a person who doxes, as defined, another person. The bill would entitle a prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of being doxed to specified damages, and would authorize the court to order equitable relief, as specified, and injunctive relief maintaining the confidentiality of a plaintiff using a pseudonym instead of their true name. The bill would authorize a plaintiff to proceed using a pseudonym and would require the plaintiff to file a confidential information form, as prescribed. The bill would require the court to keep the plaintiff's name and excluded or redacted characteristics confidential, as specified, and, upon request of the plaintiff, limit access to court records filed under these provisions to specified individuals. The bill would require the Judicial Council, on or before January 1, 2026, to adopt or revise as appropriate rules and forms to implement specified provisions. Existing law requires a court or judge, on granting an injunction, to require an undertaking on the part of the applicant sufficient to cover certain damages the party enjoined may sustain by reason of the injunction, if the court finally decides that the applicant was not entitled to the injunction. Existing law exempts from the undertaking requirement certain persons seeking an injunction, as specified. This bill would additionally exempt from the undertaking requirement an applicant seeking an injunction ordering the defendant to cease doxing activities. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 557, Statutes of 2024.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

  4. In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

  5. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 5.).

  6. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  7. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (August 15).

  8. In committee: Referred to suspense file.

  9. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 18). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  10. Referred to Com. on JUD.

  11. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  12. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 1. Page 5560.)

  13. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  14. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  15. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 16).

  16. Assembly Rule 63 suspended.

  17. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  18. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  19. Read second time and amended.

  20. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (April 2).

  21. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  22. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.

  23. Referred to Com. on JUD.

  24. From printer. May be heard in committee March 1.

  25. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 117 not signed on · 6 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (117)

117 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 117 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

3rd Reading AB1979 Ward et al. By Wiener

Passed 32 Yea · 5 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 11000
Democratic 21001
Republican 0502
Total 32503
% of votes cast 80%13%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Roth — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Newman — Yea
Min — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Nay
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Niello, Roger W. Republican Not Voting
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 9 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 7001
Unaffiliated 2000
Republican 0001
Total 9002
% of votes cast 82%0%0%18%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Wilk — Yea
Roth — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Not Voting
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

AB 1979 Ward Assembly Third Reading

Passed 61 Yea · 1 Nay · 18 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 45002
Republican 31010
Unaffiliated 13006
Total 611018
% of votes cast 76%1%0%23%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Maienschein — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
Villapudua — Yea
Ting — Yea
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Wood — Yea
Low — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Holden — Not Voting
Friedman — Not Voting
Mathis — Not Voting
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Not Voting
Luz Rivas — Not Voting
Vince Fong — Not Voting
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Not Voting
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Not Voting
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Davies, Laurie Republican Not Voting
Dixon, Diane Republican Nay
Essayli, Bill Republican Not Voting
Flora, Heath Republican Not Voting
Gallagher, James Republican Not Voting
Hoover, Josh Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Patterson, Joe Republican Not Voting
Sanchez, Kate Republican Not Voting
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended.

Passed 11 Yea · 1 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 9000
Unaffiliated 2001
Republican 0102
Total 11103
% of votes cast 73%7%0%20%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Villapudua — Yea
Jim Patterson — Not Voting
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Nay
Sanchez, Kate Republican Not Voting
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 10 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 8000
Unaffiliated 2000
Republican 0101
Total 10101
% of votes cast 83%8%0%8%
How each member voted (12)
Member Party Vote
Waldron — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Nay
Sanchez, Kate Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights technology
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 1979 do?
Existing law makes it a crime for a person who, with the intent to place another person in reasonable fear for that other person's safety, or the safety of the other person's immediate family, by means of an electronic communication device, and without consent of the other person, and for the purpose of imminently causing that other person unwanted contact, injury, or harassment by a third party, distributes personal identifying information that would be likely to incite or produce that unlawful action. Existing law makes this a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in a county jail or by a fine of not more than $1,000. This bill would create a private cause of action against a person who doxes, as defined, another person. The bill would entitle a prevailing plaintiff who suffers harm as a result of being doxed to specified damages, and would authorize the court to order equitable relief, as specified, and injunctive relief maintaining the confidentiality of a plaintiff using a pseudonym instead of their true name. The bill would authorize a plaintiff to proceed using a pseudonym and would require the plaintiff to file a confidential information form, as prescribed. The bill would require the court to keep the plaintiff's name and excluded or redacted characteristics confidential, as specified, and, upon request of the plaintiff, limit access to court records filed under these provisions to specified individuals. The bill would require the Judicial Council, on or before January 1, 2026, to adopt or revise as appropriate rules and forms to implement specified provisions. Existing law requires a court or judge, on granting an injunction, to require an undertaking on the part of the applicant sufficient to cover certain damages the party enjoined may sustain by reason of the injunction, if the court finally decides that the applicant was not entitled to the injunction. Existing law exempts from the undertaking requirement certain persons seeking an injunction, as specified. This bill would additionally exempt from the undertaking requirement an applicant seeking an injunction ordering the defendant to cease doxing activities. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Who sponsors AB 1979?
AB 1979 is sponsored by Ward, Christopher M. (Democratic), Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. (Democratic), Cervantes, Sabrina (Democratic), Friedman, and Rubio, Blanca E. (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 1979?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 30, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track AB 1979?
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