SB 1111: Digital replicas.

Official summary

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

Existing law creates a civil cause of action against any person who knowingly uses the name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness of another person, without their consent, for specified purposes. When a photograph or likeness of an employee of the person using the photograph or likeness appearing in an advertisement or other publication is incidental and not essential to the purpose of the publication, existing law establishes a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence that failure to obtain the consent of an employee was not a knowing use of an employee’s photograph or likeness.

This bill would clarify that, for purposes of this cause of action, a voice or likeness includes a digital replica, defined to mean a computer-generated, highly realistic electronic representation that is readily identifiable as the voice or visual likeness of an individual in which the actual individual either did not actually perform or appear, or the actual individual did perform or appear, but the fundamental character of the performance or appearance has been materially altered. The bill would also remove the provisions establishing the rebuttable presumption when an employee’s likeness or photograph appears in an advertisement or other publication.

Existing law prohibits the false impersonation of another person in either their personal or official capacity with the intent to steal or defraud, as specified.

This bill would clarify that false impersonation includes the use of a digital replica with the intent to impersonate another for purposes of these and other criminal provisions.

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. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 862, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 8, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 28, 2026In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 28, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 1. Page 6775.) Ordered to the Senate.
6. August 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13).
7. August 13, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 13, 2026Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
9. August 5, 2026August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
10. July 1, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
11. June 17, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 14. Noes 1.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
12. May 18, 2026Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and PUB. S.