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AB-1542 • 2026

Sensitive personal information.

Sensitive personal information.

Elections Healthcare Privacy
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Ward
Last action
2026-04-20
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 5.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement or penalties for violations.

Sensitive Personal Information Protection

AB-1542 prohibits businesses, service providers, and contractors from selling or sharing sensitive personal information with third parties under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits a business, service provider, or contractor from selling or sharing sensitive personal information to a third party.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Businesses that collect or sell personal data in California
  • Service providers and contractors who handle personal data for others

Terms To Know

Sensitive Personal Information
Information about a person that is considered private, like medical records, social security numbers, or precise geolocation.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
A law in California that grants consumers rights with respect to their personal information collected by businesses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the consequences for violating the prohibition on selling or sharing sensitive data.
  • It is unclear how this will affect small businesses compared to large corporations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-20 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 5.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

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

  3. 2026-01-06 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 5.

  4. 2026-01-05 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1542, as introduced, Ward.
Sensitive personal information.
The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information, as defined, that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to direct a business that collects sensitive personal information, as defined, about the consumer to limit its use, as prescribed. The California Privacy Rights Act of 2020, approved by the voters as Proposition 24 at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, amended, added to, and reenacted the CCPA.
This bill would, under the CCPA, prohibit a business, service provider, or contractor from selling or sharing sensitive personal information to a third party.
This bill would declare that its provisions further the purposes and intent of the California Privacy Rights Act of
2020.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF