Text message advertisements.
If you receive text message advertisements, you will now have legal options if they are sent during prohibited hours.
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AB 1865 — Text message advertisements.
Last action — In committee: Held under submission.
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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1Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Assembly
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been introduced in the Assembly. Introduced February 11, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
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Introduced
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 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
This bill restricts the timing for sending text message advertisements to recipients in California.
The bill prohibits text message advertisements from being sent between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., regardless of recipient consent. It allows recipients to sue for violations and is enforced by public prosecutors.
What this means for you
- Consumers: If you receive text message advertisements, you will now have legal options if they are sent during prohibited hours.
Summary
Existing law generally prohibits a person, entity conducting business, candidate, or political committee in this state from transmitting, or causing to be transmitted, a text message advertisement to specified devices. Existing law excepts from this prohibition specific text message advertisements, including a text message advertisement transmitted by a business, candidate, or political committee that has an existing relationship with the subscriber if the subscriber is offered an option not to receive text messages from that business, candidate, or political committee. Existing law defines terms for these purposes, including "text message advertisement." Existing law enforces these prohibitions pursuant to the provisions related to unfair competition and makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor. This bill would prohibit an allowed text message advertisement from being transmitted to a recipient between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., regardless of whether the recipient consented to receiving a text message advertisement. The bill would require a sender to adjust message timing to Pacific standard time. The bill would authorize the recipient of a text message advertisement in violation of this timing prohibition to bring a civil action against a transmitter who knew, or should have known, the text message advertisement violated this prohibition. The bill would also authorize a public prosecutor or the Attorney General to bring an action to enforce these provisions for specified remedies. The bill would, notwithstanding any other law, exclude a violation of this prohibition from being a crime.
Bill Text
- Amended 03/17/26 - Amended Assembly Current pdf March 17, 2026
- Introduced 02/11/26 - Introduced pdf February 11, 2026
- AB1865 View text html
Action History
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In committee: Held under submission.
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In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
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From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
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Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
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From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
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Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.
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From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
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Read first time. To print.
Sponsors
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 1 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic
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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 83% | 8% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (12)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca | Democratic | Yea |
| Bryan, Isaac G. | Democratic | Yea |
| Connolly, Damon | Democratic | Yea |
| Harabedian, John | Democratic | Yea |
| Kalra, Ash | Democratic | Yea |
| Pacheco, Blanca | Democratic | Yea |
| Papan, Diane | Democratic | Yea |
| Stefani, Catherine | Democratic | Yea |
| Zbur, Rick Chavez | Democratic | Yea |
| Dixon, Diane | Republican | Nay |
| Macedo, Alexandra | Republican | Yea |
| Sanchez, Kate | Republican | Not Voting |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (15)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca | Democratic | Yea |
| Bryan, Isaac G. | Democratic | Yea |
| Irwin, Jacqui | Democratic | Yea |
| Lowenthal, Josh | Democratic | Yea |
| McKinnor, Tina | Democratic | Yea |
| Ortega, Liz | Democratic | Yea |
| Pellerin, Gail | Democratic | Yea |
| Petrie-Norris, Cottie | Democratic | Yea |
| Ward, Christopher M. | Democratic | Yea |
| Wicks, Buffy | Democratic | Yea |
| Wilson, Lori D. | Democratic | Yea |
| DeMaio, Carl | Republican | Yea |
| Hoover, Josh | Republican | Yea |
| Macedo, Alexandra | Republican | Yea |
| Patterson, Joe | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does AB 1865 do?
- Existing law generally prohibits a person, entity conducting business, candidate, or political committee in this state from transmitting, or causing to be transmitted, a text message advertisement to specified devices. Existing law excepts from this prohibition specific text message advertisements, including a text message advertisement transmitted by a business, candidate, or political committee that has an existing relationship with the subscriber if the subscriber is offered an option not to receive text messages from that business, candidate, or political committee. Existing law defines terms for these purposes, including "text message advertisement." Existing law enforces these prohibitions pursuant to the provisions related to unfair competition and makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor. This bill would prohibit an allowed text message advertisement from being transmitted to a recipient between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., regardless of whether the recipient consented to receiving a text message advertisement. The bill would require a sender to adjust message timing to Pacific standard time. The bill would authorize the recipient of a text message advertisement in violation of this timing prohibition to bring a civil action against a transmitter who knew, or should have known, the text message advertisement violated this prohibition. The bill would also authorize a public prosecutor or the Attorney General to bring an action to enforce these provisions for specified remedies. The bill would, notwithstanding any other law, exclude a violation of this prohibition from being a crime.
- Who sponsors AB 1865?
- AB 1865 is sponsored by Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca (Democratic).
- What is the current status of AB 1865?
- This bill has been introduced in the Assembly. Introduced February 11, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track AB 1865?
- Track AB 1865 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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