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AB-1337 • 2026

Information Practices Act of 1977.

Information Practices Act of 1977.

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Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Ward
Last action
2026-06-01
Official status
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on expanding disclosure circumstances for personal information.

Information Practices Act of 1977

This act updates California's Information Practices Act of 1977 by removing exemptions for local agencies and expanding the definition of personal information.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the exemption that allowed local public agencies to avoid following the Information Practices Act of 1977 starting January 1, 2028.
  • Expands the definition of 'personal information' to include more types of data.
  • Changes how often agencies must notify individuals about their personal information collection practices from once a year to at least every three years.
  • Requires local officials to follow any rules set by collective bargaining agreements when handling personal information.
  • Prohibits an agency from using personal information for purposes other than what was originally intended, unless allowed by state or local law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local public agencies in California
  • Individuals whose personal information is collected and stored by agencies

Terms To Know

Personal Information
Data that can be used to identify an individual, such as name, address, or social security number.
Local Public Agencies
Counties, cities, school districts, and other local government bodies in California.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill imposes new duties on local officials, which may require additional resources.
  • Some parts of the bill might need further clarification or implementation details to be fully effective.
  • Local agencies will have to adjust their practices and policies by January 1, 2028.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-01 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.

  2. 2026-06-01 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  3. 2026-05-06 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.

  4. 2026-04-27 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  5. 2026-04-27 California Legislative Information

    Withdrawn from committee.

  6. 2025-07-15 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.

  7. 2025-06-11 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

  8. 2025-06-03 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  9. 2025-06-02 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 0. Page 1921.)

  10. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  11. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  12. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 23).

  13. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)

  14. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

  15. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  16. 2025-04-08 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  17. 2025-04-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 1).

  18. 2025-03-17 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

  19. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  20. 2025-02-22 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

  21. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1337, as amended, Ward.
Information Practices Act of 1977.
Existing law, the Information Practices Act of 1977, prescribes a set of requirements, prohibitions, and remedies applicable to agencies, as defined, with regard to their collection, storage, and disclosure of personal information, as defined. Existing law exempts from the provisions of the act counties, cities, any city and county, school districts, municipal corporations, districts, political subdivisions, and other local public agencies, as specified.
This bill
would
would, beginning January 1, 2028,
recast those provisions to, among other things, remove that exemption for local agencies, and would revise and expand the definition of “personal
information.” The bill would make other technical, nonsubstantive, and conforming changes. Because the bill would expand the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires an agency to provide on or with any form used to collect personal information from individuals an initial notice that includes specified information, followed by a periodic notice of not more than one-year intervals, as provided.
This bill would make changes to that notice requirement, including requiring periodic notice at least once every three years.
Existing law requires an agency to establish rules of conduct for persons involved in the
design, development, operation, disclosure, or maintenance of records containing personal information and instruct those persons with respect to specified rules relevant to the act.
This bill would
provide that the above-described rules of conduct shall be subject to any limitations or conditions set forth in any applicable collective bargaining agreement, and would
prohibit an agency from using records containing personal information for any purpose or purposes other than the purpose or purposes for which that personal information was collected, except as required or authorized by state
or local
law.
Existing law prohibits an agency from disclosing any personal information in a manner that would link the
information disclosed to the individual to whom it pertains, except under specified circumstances.
This bill would revise the circumstances that may allow the disclosure of personal information in a manner that could link the information disclosed to the individual to whom it pertains,
including by authorizing disclosure for specified purposes related to real property, social safety net programs, and medical information,
and would make conforming changes.
Existing law makes an intentional violation of any provision of the act, or of any rules or regulations adopted under the act, by an officer or employee of any agency a cause for discipline, including termination of employment.
This bill would also make a negligent violation of the act a cause for discipline.
Existing law provides that the intentional disclosure of medical, psychiatric, or psychological information in violation of the disclosure provisions of the act, that is not otherwise permitted by law, is punishable as a misdemeanor if the wrongful disclosure results in economic loss or personal injury to the individual to whom the information pertains.
This bill would remove the requirement that the wrongful disclosure result in economic loss or personal injury. Because the bill would expand the scope of an existing crime by deleting this condition, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for
protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

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