AB-1705 • 2026

Pornographic internet websites.

Children Crime Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Bauer-Kahan (A) , Dixon
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Coms. on JUD. and P., D.T., & C.P.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not specify the exact penalties for operators who fail to comply with the requirements or how international websites will be regulated, leaving these points uncertain.

Rules for Pornographic Websites

The bill requires operators of pornographic internet websites to take reasonable steps to ensure that sexually explicit content does not include real individuals and mandates users to provide accurate information about depicted people under penalty of perjury.

What This Bill Does

Requires website operators to exercise ordinary care and reasonable diligence to ensure that each instance of sexually explicit content displayed on their site does not include a real person.
Requires website operators to take reasonable steps to ensure that each instance of sexually explicit content uploaded to their site does not include a real person.
Needs users to submit specific information before uploading sexually explicit content, including a statement under penalty of perjury certifying that each individual depicted meets certain criteria.
Makes it an infraction with a specified fine for knowingly providing false information in the user statement.

Who It Names or Affects

Operators of pornographic internet websites
Users who upload sexually explicit content on such sites

Terms To Know

Depicted person: A real person shown in sexually explicit material.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify the consequences for website operators who fail to follow the rules.
The bill does not cover websites that are not pornographic or do not display sexually explicit content.
It is unclear how this will be enforced on international websites accessible in California.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and P., D.T., & C.P.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.
2026-02-05 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 7.
2026-02-04 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1705, as introduced, Bauer-Kahan.
Pornographic internet websites.
Existing law generally regulates obscene content on internet websites, including requiring a social media platform to provide a means for a user who is a California resident to report material to the social media platform that the user reasonably believes is child sexual abuse material and prohibiting an operator of an internet website directed to minors from advertising obscene matter to minors. Under existing law, a person who distributes an image of an intimate body part or act of sexual intercourse of an identifiable person, under specified circumstances that include an agreement or understanding that the image would remain private, is guilty of a crime.
This bill would require an operator of a pornographic internet website, among other things, to exercise ordinary care and reasonable diligence to ensure that each instance of sexually explicit
content displayed on the operator’s pornographic internet website does not include a depicted individual. The bill would define terms, including “depicted person,” for its purposes.
This bill would also require an operator to exercise ordinary care and take reasonable steps to ensure that each instance of sexually explicit content uploaded to the operator’s pornographic internet website does not include a depicted individual. The bill would require a user of a pornographic internet website, before uploading sexually explicit content, to submit specific information to the operator, including a statement certifying, under penalty of perjury, that each individual depicted in the sexually explicit content meets certain criteria. Under the bill, knowingly providing false information in the user statement would be punishable as an infraction with a specified fine. By expanding the crime of perjury and creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local
program.
This bill would authorize a depicted individual and a public prosecutor to bring a civil action to enforce these provisions, as prescribed.
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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF