AB 686: Elections: deceptive audio or visual media.

Official summary

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

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.

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 334, 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, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 14. Page 6861.).
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 24, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9. August 24, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 6.).
10. August 17, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. August 13, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
12. August 13, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 13).