AB 502: Elections: deceptive media in advertisements.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 19, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 333, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 19, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 9, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m.
4. August 30, 2026Urgency clause adopted. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 61. Noes 17. Page 6853.).
5. August 28, 2026From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (August 28).
6. August 26, 2026Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6621.)
7. August 25, 2026Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.
8. August 25, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9. August 25, 2026Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 9.).
10. June 29, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. June 25, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
12. June 25, 2026Ordered to second reading.