What AB 1856 does
An act to amend Sections 1798.500, 1798.501, 1798.502, 1798.503, and 1798.504 of the Civil Code, relating to consumer protection.
Existing law, the Digital Age Assurance Act (DAAA), beginning January 1, 2027, requires, among other things related to age verification with respect to software applications, an operating system provider, as defined, to provide an accessible interface at account setup that requires an account holder, as defined, to indicate the birth date, age, or both, of the user of that device for the purpose of providing a signal regarding the user’s age bracket to applications available in a covered application store. Existing law defines the term “user” for these purposes to mean a child that is the primary user of a device.
This bill would, among other things, delete that definition of “user,” would specify that the requirement of an operating system provider to provide an accessible interface applies if an operating system operates on a device and has an account setup feature, and would require the signal to be provided to a covered application store or application developer, as prescribed. The bill would prohibit a person from requesting a signal with respect to a particular user from an operating system provider or a covered application store if not required to do so by the DAAA or any other applicable law.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the chaptered text, September 10, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Wicks introduced AB 1856 on February 11, 2026. The text was amended 6 times, 4 in the Assembly and 2 in the Senate, and heard in 7 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, May 26, 2026: 68 ayes, 1 noes.
- Senate Floor, August 26, 2026: 40 ayes, 0 noes.
- Assembly Floor, August 27, 2026: 69 ayes, 0 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection, April 21, 2026: Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 13-1.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 14, 2026: Do pass as amended., 11-0.
- Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection, June 29, 2026: Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations], 9-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 3, 2026: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 13, 2026: Do pass, 7-0.
Who supports and opposes AB 1856
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 24, 2026 lists 8 organizations in support and 3 in opposition. When Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection first listed positions on April 20, 2026, the count was 2 in support and 3 opposed. By the Senate Floor Analyses analysis of August 24, 2026 it was 8 to 3.
In support: 3strands Global Foundation; Bright Light Strategies; California Catholic Conference; Center for Ai and Digital Policy; Children Now; Common Sense Media; Elevate California; Los Angeles Unified School District.
Opposed: Chamber of Progress; Motion Picture Association of America; Technet.
Read the Senate Floor Analyses analysis.
What happens next
It was signed and chaptered on September 10, 2026 as Chapter 184, Statutes of 2026. Most provisions of a bill chaptered in this session take effect January 1.
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
The work now is implementation: which agency writes the rules, when the comment period opens, and which obligations begin January 1. An organization that was not in the room for the bill can still shape the regulation, and the regulation is usually where the operating detail is settled.
The privacy group at Capitol Axis handles that for privacy clients.
Questions about AB 1856
What does AB 1856 do?
This bill would, among other things, delete that definition of “user,” would specify that the requirement of an operating system provider to provide an accessible interface applies if an operating system operates on a device and has an account setup feature, and would require the signal to be provided to a covered application store or application developer, as prescribed. The bill would prohibit a person from requesting a signal with respect to a particular user from an operating system provider or a covered application store if not required to do so by the DAAA or any other applicable law.
Is AB 1856 law in California?
It was signed and chaptered on September 10, 2026 as Chapter 184, Statutes of 2026. Most provisions of a bill chaptered in this session take effect January 1.
Who supports and opposes AB 1856?
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated August 24, 2026 lists 8 organizations in support and 3 in opposition. Supporters include 3strands Global Foundation; Bright Light Strategies; California Catholic Conference. Opponents include Chamber of Progress; Motion Picture Association of America; Technet.
What happens next with AB 1856?
The question now is implementation. The agencies named in the bill write the rules that decide what it means in practice, and those proceedings are open to comment.