The Assembly Elections Committee voted Aug. 28 to advance five election-related bills that would tighten rules on paid campaign influencers, extend restrictions on deceptive audio and video of candidates, stiffen penalties for taking ballots or election records before certification, set standards for candidate statements in the state voter information guide and revise California’s deepfake-election law to better withstand court challenge.
According to a hearing summary from the committee, AB 1130 advanced 7-0 and would strengthen disclosure rules for paid social media influencers in campaigns. AB 686 advanced 5-2 and would extend restrictions on intentionally deceptive manipulated audio or video of political candidates. AB 282 advanced 5-2 after being re-referred to the Assembly Public Safety Committee; it would make the pre-certification seizure of ballots, election records or certified voting technology a felony. AB 1853 advanced 5-0 and would set standards for candidate statements in the official voter information guide. AB 502 advanced 5-2 and would revise AB 2839, the 2024 law targeting digitally altered or materially deceptive campaign communications, to better withstand constitutional challenge.
The committee record also indicates the hearing focused on campaign transparency, AI-generated deception, ballot security and official election materials. Supporters of AB 502 said generative AI has made authentic-looking deepfakes cheap and fast to spread, while backers of AB 1853 said the measure was prompted by a June 2026 voter guide statement that contained hateful anti-Semitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories rather than candidate qualifications.
The record available so far does not include member-by-member vote names, full debate or whether other amendments were adopted during the hearing.
