AB 796: Social media platforms: advertising: tax.

Official summary

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

Existing law imposes various taxes, including a tax on income, the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property, and real property.

This bill would impose a tax on a social media platform provider, as defined, equal to an unspecified percentage of the annual gross receipts derived from the purchase of programmatic advertising for distribution on the provider’s social media platform, as provided. The bill would require the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to administer the tax pursuant to the Fee Collection Procedures Law, the violation of which is a crime. By extending the application of the Fee Collection Procedures Law, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would create the Social Media Safety Trust Fund within the State Treasury and would require all moneys raised pursuant to these taxes be deposited into the fund. The bill would establish various accounts within the fund and would allocate moneys into those accounts for expenditure according to specified purposes, including an Education Account, Mental Health Care Account, Research and Development Account, and Social Services Account. The bill would continuously appropriate the moneys in the fund to administer those provisions.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“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. February 2, 2026From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. January 31, 2026Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
3. January 12, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
4. January 12, 2026In committee: Set, second hearing. Referred to REV. & TAX. suspense file.
5. January 6, 2026Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
6. January 5, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. Read second time and amended.
7. April 28, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
8. April 23, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. (Ayes 8. Noes 4.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
9. April 1, 2025Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
10. March 28, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
11. March 28, 2025Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and REV. & TAX.
12. February 19, 2025From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.