California 20252026 Regular Session Status: To Executive 1 D cosponsors

AB 502 — Elections: deceptive media in advertisements.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 333, Statutes of 2026.

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

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 10, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 64% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 10 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.

In plain language

The bill prohibits deceptive election communications that harm voter decisions or confidence in election outcomes.

This bill establishes stricter rules against distributing materially deceptive content in election communications that could mislead voters. It sets requirements for disclosures and changes the timelines for when prohibitions apply before and after elections.

What this means for you
  • Workers: If you are a candidate or public official, this law aims to protect your reputation from deceptive content during elections.
  • Families: This bill helps ensure that election information shared with you and your family is accurate and trustworthy.

Summary

Existing law prohibits a person or entity from knowingly distributing an election communication containing materially deceptive content that portrays specified candidates and officials as doing or saying something that the candidate or official did not do or say if the content is reasonably likely to harm the reputation or electoral prospects of a candidate or is reasonably likely to falsely undermine confidence in the outcome of an election. Existing law applies this prohibition within 120 days of an election in California and, for content involving elections officials and voting machines and related equipment, up to 60 days after an election. Existing law exempts an election communication from this prohibition if the content includes a disclosure stating that the communication has been manipulated. Existing law requires, for visual media, that the text of this disclosure appear in a size that is easily readable by the average viewer and no smaller than the largest font size of other text appearing in the visual media. This bill would instead prohibit the distribution of materially deceptive content that is material to a voter's electoral decisions or to public confidence in an election's process or outcome, as specified. The bill would set forth additional requirements relating to the color and font size of the disclosure's text. The bill would specify that the prohibition applies within the 30 days before an election in California with regard to candidates for any federal, state, or local elected office and elected officials and, with regard to elections officials and voting machines and related equipment, beginning 30 days before an election through 38 days after the election. Under existing law, the prohibition does not apply to an advertisement or other election communication containing materially deceptive content that constitutes satire or parody if the communication includes a specified disclosure. This bill would also exempt an advertisement or other election communication from these prohibitions if a reasonable person would understand that the content was satire or parody. Existing law authorizes a recipient of materially deceptive content, among others, to seek an injunction or to bring an action for general or special damages against the person, committee, or other entity that distributed or republished the materially deceptive content. This bill would instead authorize the individual depicted in the materially deceptive content to seek the injunction or to bring the action for general or special damages. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the California codes: Section 20012 of the Elections Code.

  • Section 20012 of the Elections Code

    entered (6) (7) (8) is reasonably likely to harm the reputation or electoral prospects of a candidate. reasonably likely to falsely undermine confidence in the outcome of one or more election contests. is reasonably likely to harm the reputation or electoral prospects of a candidate or is reasonably likely to falsely undermine confidence in the outcome of one or more election contests. reasonably likely to falsely undermine confidence in the outcome of one or more election contests. 120 120 120 60 → experienced (6) Voters begin to concentrate on elections, and information about candidates, in the weeks immediately before elections are held. This is a short timeframe in which disinformation can influence voters’ decisions and may not be corrected before voters cast their votes. (7) (8) (9) would be material to a voter’s electoral decisions or to public confidence in an election’s process or outcome. material to public confidence in an election’s process or outcome. would be material to a voter’s electoral decisions or to public confidence in an election’s process or outcome. material to public confidence in an election’s process or outcome. 30 30 30 38 SEC. 2.

    amended

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 333, Statutes of 2026.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m.

  4. Urgency clause adopted. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 61. Noes 17.).

  5. From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (August 28).

  6. Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6621.)

  7. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  8. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

  9. Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 9.).

  10. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

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

  12. Ordered to second reading.

  13. From inactive file.

  14. Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Blakespear.

  15. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  16. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  17. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  18. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (July 15).

  19. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  20. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  21. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  22. Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

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

  24. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 1279.)

  25. Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  26. From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 9).

  27. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 26). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  28. Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

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

  30. Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  31. From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.

  32. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 26 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"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

AB 502 Pellerin Concurrence - Urgency Added

Passed 61 Yea · 17 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 59000
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 11701
Total 611701
% of votes cast 77%22%0%1%
How each member voted (79)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick 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 Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Garcia, Robert Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy 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
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Celeste Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Nay
Castillo, Leticia Republican Nay
Chen, Phillip Republican Nay
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
DeMaio, Carl Republican Nay
Dixon, Diane Republican Nay
Ellis, Stan Republican Nay
Flora, Heath Republican Nay
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Nay
Hadwick, Heather Republican Nay
Hoover, Josh Republican Nay
Johnson, Natasha Republican Nay
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Nay
Patterson, Joe Republican Nay
Sanchez, Kate Republican Nay
Ta, Tri Republican Nay
Tangipa, David J. Republican Nay
Wallis, Greg Republican Nay

Official roll call →

With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in.

Passed 6 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 6000
Republican 0200
Total 6200
% of votes cast 75%25%0%0%
How each member voted (8)
Member Party Vote
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Ellis, Stan Republican Nay
Johnson, Natasha Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Committee vote — Committee CX04 — Committee vote

Passed 6 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 6000
Republican 0200
Total 6200
% of votes cast 75%25%0%0%
How each member voted (8)
Member Party Vote
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Ellis, Stan Republican Nay
Johnson, Natasha Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Assembly 3rd Reading AB502 Pellerin et al. By Blakespear Urgency Clause

Passed 30 Yea · 9 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5100
Republican 0801
Democratic 25000
Total 30901
% of votes cast 75%23%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Ochoa Bogh — Nay
Pérez — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Weber Pierson — Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Richardson, Laura 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
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Niello, Roger W. Republican Nay
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Nay
Strickland, Tony Republican Nay
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Nay

Official roll call →

3rd Reading AB502 Pellerin et al. By Blakespear Urgency Clause

Passed 30 Yea · 9 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 30000
Republican 0901
Total 30901
% of votes cast 75%23%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Pérez, Sasha Renée Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Richardson, Laura 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
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Nay
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Niello, Roger W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Nay
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Nay
Strickland, Tony Republican Nay
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass

Passed 11 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 0200
Total 11200
% of votes cast 85%15%0%0%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Nay
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Nay

Official roll call →

AB 502 Pellerin Consent Calendar Second Day

Passed 75 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 16003
Democratic 58001
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 75004
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (79)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Ahrens, Patrick 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 Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Garcia, Robert Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Harabedian, John Democratic Not Voting
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy 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
Patel, Darshana R. Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Ransom, Rhodesia Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Celeste Democratic Yea
Rodriguez, Michelle Democratic Yea
Rogers, Chris Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Schultz, Nick Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Castillo, Leticia Republican Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Not Voting
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
DeMaio, Carl Republican Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Ellis, Stan Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Not Voting
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Yea
Hadwick, Heather Republican Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Yea
Patterson, Joe Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea
Tangipa, David J. Republican Yea
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass. To Consent Calendar.

Passed 14 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 4000
Democratic 10001
Total 14001
% of votes cast 93%0%0%7%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Not Voting
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Hadwick, Heather Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 5000
Republican 2000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Macedo, Alexandra Republican Yea
Tangipa, David J. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 502 do?
Existing law prohibits a person or entity from knowingly distributing an election communication containing materially deceptive content that portrays specified candidates and officials as doing or saying something that the candidate or official did not do or say if the content is reasonably likely to harm the reputation or electoral prospects of a candidate or is reasonably likely to falsely undermine confidence in the outcome of an election. Existing law applies this prohibition within 120 days of an election in California and, for content involving elections officials and voting machines and related equipment, up to 60 days after an election. Existing law exempts an election communication from this prohibition if the content includes a disclosure stating that the communication has been manipulated. Existing law requires, for visual media, that the text of this disclosure appear in a size that is easily readable by the average viewer and no smaller than the largest font size of other text appearing in the visual media. This bill would instead prohibit the distribution of materially deceptive content that is material to a voter's electoral decisions or to public confidence in an election's process or outcome, as specified. The bill would set forth additional requirements relating to the color and font size of the disclosure's text. The bill would specify that the prohibition applies within the 30 days before an election in California with regard to candidates for any federal, state, or local elected office and elected officials and, with regard to elections officials and voting machines and related equipment, beginning 30 days before an election through 38 days after the election. Under existing law, the prohibition does not apply to an advertisement or other election communication containing materially deceptive content that constitutes satire or parody if the communication includes a specified disclosure. This bill would also exempt an advertisement or other election communication from these prohibitions if a reasonable person would understand that the content was satire or parody. Existing law authorizes a recipient of materially deceptive content, among others, to seek an injunction or to bring an action for general or special damages against the person, committee, or other entity that distributed or republished the materially deceptive content. This bill would instead authorize the individual depicted in the materially deceptive content to seek the injunction or to bring the action for general or special damages. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Who sponsors AB 502?
AB 502 is sponsored by Pellerin, Gail (Democratic).
What is the current status of AB 502?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced February 10, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track AB 502?
Track AB 502 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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