AB-1856 • 2026

Age verification signals: software applications and online services.

Children

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Wicks
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details about changes in how developers and internet website operators are considered to know a user's age range based only on access from specific devices.

Age Verification Signals for Apps and Online Services

This law changes how operating system providers handle age verification signals during account setup, specifying who receives these signals and under what conditions.

What This Bill Does

Removes the current definition of 'user' as a child who is the primary user of a device.
Requires an accessible interface for account setup if the operating system has such a feature on a particular device.
Specifies that age verification signals must be sent to application stores, developers, browser providers, or website operators when needed.

Who It Names or Affects

Operating system providers
Application stores, developers, browser providers, and website operators

Terms To Know

Accessible interface: A way for users to easily set up an account on a device.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the signal is not provided correctly.
It's unclear how this change will affect users who do not set up an account on their device.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-26 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 68. Noes 1.)
2026-05-19 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-27 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (April 21).
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-31 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1856, as amended, Wicks.
Age verification signals: software applications and online services.
Existing law, the Digital Age Assurance Act, 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” and would specify that the requirement of an operating system provider to provide an accessible interface applies if the operating system provider’s operating system has
an account setup feature with respect to the use of the operating system on a particular device and would require the signal to be provided to a covered application store, application developer, browser provider, or an internet website operator, as prescribed.
Existing law deems a developer that receives a signal pursuant to these provisions to have actual knowledge of the age range of the user to whom that signal pertains across all platforms of the application and points of access of the application even if the developer willfully disregards the signal.
This bill would recast those provisions to instead deem a developer or internet website operator that receives a signal to have actual knowledge of the age range of the user to whom that signal pertains when the user accesses the application from a specified device and would delete the provision that deems the developer to have actual knowledge across all platforms of
the application and points of access of the application.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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