SB 1146: Advertisement claims: health-related consumer products and services: digital replicas and synthetic performers.

Official summary

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

Existing unfair competition laws make various unfair competition practices unlawful, including any unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business act or practice and unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading advertising. Existing law makes it unlawful for any person doing business in California and advertising to consumers in California to make any false or misleading advertising claim. Existing law makes a person who violates specified false advertising provisions liable for a civil penalty, as specified, and provides that a person who violates those false advertising provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Existing law makes it unlawful for healing arts licensees, as specified, to disseminate or cause to be disseminated any form of public communication containing a false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive statement, claim, or image in order to induce the provision of services or products in connection with their licensed professional practice or business. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions punishable as a misdemeanor and, in the case of a licensed person, provides that a violation constitutes unprofessional conduct and grounds for suspension or revocation of a license by the relevant board.

This bill would require a person who creates or causes to be created an advertisement that includes a digital replica or synthetic performer depicted as a health care provider to promote the sale of a health-related consumer product or service to include a clear and conspicuous disclosure that the health care provider depicted in the advertisement was generated or substantially altered by artificial intelligence or that no human health care provider is depicted. The bill would also define terms for its purposes.

This bill would provide that a violation of its provisions constitutes a violation of specified unfair competition and false advertising laws. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also authorize a natural person whose digital replica is used in an advertisement to bring a civil action to enforce these provisions. The bill would specify that a violation of the bill does not constitute a misdemeanor under provisions regulating healing arts licensees.

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 3

“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. August 13, 2026August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. August 5, 2026August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
3. June 23, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 17, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
5. June 11, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
6. May 26, 2026Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.
7. May 19, 2026In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
8. May 18, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 4319.) Ordered to the Assembly.
9. May 14, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 4266.) (May 14).
11. May 8, 2026Set for hearing May 14.
12. April 27, 2026April 27 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.