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CA AB686: Elections: deceptive audio or visual media.

Enacted California · 2025–2026 session

Last verified Oct 12, 2026 · official bill text

AB686 · where it stands

4 of 5 steps complete
  1. Introduced Complete
  2. Passed first chamber Complete
  3. Passed both chambers Complete
  4. Enacted Complete
  5. Effective Date not recorded
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

AB 686 amended Elections Code Section 20010 and Code of Civil Procedure Section 35 to extend the election deceptive media law (originally AB 730 of 2019, extended by AB 972 of 2022) from January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2031. The law prohibits distributing, with actual malice and within 60 days of an election, materially deceptive audio or visual media of a candidate intended to injure the candidate or deceive voters, unless the media discloses that it has been manipulated, and gives depicted candidates rights to injunctive relief and damages.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

Political advertisers remain subject to manipulated-media disclosure rules through 2030.

Key provisions

  1. Extends Elections Code Section 20010 to January 1, 2031
  2. Covers manipulated candidate images, audio, and video
  3. 60-day pre-election window and actual-malice standard
  4. Disclosure safe harbor and candidate remedies continue

Latest legislative action

Sep 19, 2026. Approved by the Governor September 19, 2026. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 334, Statutes of 2026.

Topics and industries

Related topics

AI Deepfakes

Affected industries

MediaGovernment

This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error

Related AI laws in California

All California bills →
AB972 Elections: deceptive audio or visual media. AB730 Elections: deceptive audio or visual media. AB 2839 Elections: deceptive media in advertisements. AB 502 Elections: deceptive media in advertisements. AB2655 Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act of 2024. AB1766 Health curriculum framework: human trafficking and online safety.

Same topic in other states

Indiana HB1133 Use of digitally altered media in elections Idaho H0664 ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS – Freedom From AI-Rigged (FAIR) Elections Act: rel Texas SB751 Relating to the creation of a criminal offense for fabricating a deceptive video Rhode Island H5872 Relating to Elections -- Deceptive and Fraudulent Synthetic Media in Election Co New York S9678 Relates to requiring certain notice and disclosure regarding materially deceptiv Mississippi SB2577 Digitizations; create a criminal penalty for the wrongful dissemination of.