What AB 1542 does
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the enrolled text, September 3, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Ward introduced AB 1542 on . The text was amended 0 times, and heard in 6 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, May 27, 2026: 42 ayes, 19 noes.
- Senate Floor, August 28, 2026: 31 ayes, 4 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection, April 16, 2026: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 9-5.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 14, 2026: Do pass., 11-4.
- Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection, June 22, 2026: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 7-2.
- Senate Appropriations, August 3, 2026: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 13, 2026: Do pass, 5-2.
Who supports and opposes AB 1542
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 24, 2026 lists 49 organizations in support and 15 in opposition. When Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection first listed positions on April 13, 2026, the count was 36 in support and 18 opposed. By the Senate Floor Analyses analysis of August 24, 2026 it was 49 to 15.
In support: Consumer Reports (sponsor); California Initiative for Technology & Democracy, a Project of California Common CAUSE (sponsor); AAPIS for Civic Empowerment; ABINE, INC. Dba Deleteme; Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment; Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California; California Coalition for Worker Power; California Domestic Workers Coalition; and 41 more.
Opposed: American Property Casualty Insurance Association; Association of National Advertisers; Ata Action; California Chamber of Commerce; California Retailers Association; California's Credit Unions; Civil Justice Association of California; Computer & Communications Industry Association; and 7 more.
Read the Senate Floor Analyses analysis.
What happens next
It reached the Governor's desk on September 9, 2026. Bills presented after the Legislature adjourned on August 31 must be signed or vetoed within thirty days.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for privacy organizations
Two decisions follow from a bill at this stage. The first is whether to weigh in with the Governor's office before the thirty-day window closes. The second is how to prepare for implementation if it becomes law: which agency writes the rules, when the comment period opens, and which obligations begin January 1.
The privacy group at Capitol Axis handles that for privacy clients.
Questions about AB 1542
What does AB 1542 do?
AB 1542 concerns sensitive personal information. See the Legislative Counsel's Digest on leginfo for the full summary.
Has AB 1542 passed the California Legislature?
It reached the Governor's desk on September 9, 2026. Bills presented after the Legislature adjourned on August 31 must be signed or vetoed within thirty days.
Who supports and opposes AB 1542?
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 24, 2026 lists 49 organizations in support and 15 in opposition. Supporters include Consumer Reports (sponsor); California Initiative for Technology & Democracy, a Project of California Common CAUSE (sponsor); AAPIS for Civic Empowerment. Opponents include American Property Casualty Insurance Association; Association of National Advertisers; Ata Action.
What happens next with AB 1542?
The Governor can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until then, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect.