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: 2026-04-23
Official status: Read second time and amended.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about changes to how developers and website operators know a user's age range, only that it is recast. This claim was narrowed or removed due to lack of clarity in official source material.

Age Verification Signals: Software Apps and Online Services

This law changes how operating system providers handle age verification for users setting up accounts on devices by removing the definition of 'user' as a child who is the primary user of a device, requiring an accessible interface to share birth date or age during account setup, sending age verification signals to app stores and developers, and expanding what is considered an application.

What This Bill Does

Removes the definition of 'user' as a child who is the primary user of a device.
Requires operating system providers to offer an easy way for account holders to share their birth date or age when setting up accounts on devices.
Sends age verification signals from the operating system provider to app stores, developers, browser providers, and website operators.
Changes how developers and website operators are seen as knowing a user's age range based on where the user accesses an application.
Expands what is considered an 'application' to include online services, products, or features.

Who It Names or Affects

Operating system providers
App store owners
Application developers
Browser providers
Website operators

Terms To Know

User: The person using a device or application.
Operating system provider: A company that makes and sells operating systems for devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if someone does not provide their age during account setup.
The exact date when the law starts is not given in the summary text.
It's unclear how this will affect users who access applications from multiple devices or platforms.

Bill History

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.
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.
The bill would define “application” for these purposes to also include, with certain exceptions, an online service, product, or
feature.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF