The Parent’s Accountability and Child Protection Act: online marketplaces: nitrous oxide.

Children

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Lowenthal
Last action: 2026-06-04
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 JUD.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how age verification must be conducted.

Parent's Accountability and Child Protection Act: Nitrous Oxide

This act adds nitrous oxide to the list of products requiring age verification before sale, increases penalties for large businesses that violate these rules, and prohibits using gift cards or store credit to purchase such products.

What This Bill Does

Adds nitrous oxide to the list of products that require age verification before sale.
Increases civil penalties for violating age-verification rules from $7,500 to up to $250,000 per violation for businesses with annual gross revenues over $25,000,000.
Prohibits using gift cards or store credit to buy products illegal for minors.

Who It Names or Affects

Online sellers who sell nitrous oxide in California
Businesses with annual gross revenues over $25,000,000

Terms To Know

Civil penalty: A fine imposed by a court for breaking a law.
Injunction: An order from a court telling someone to stop doing something illegal or harmful.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how online sellers must verify the age of purchasers.
It is unclear if there are specific penalties for using gift cards or store credit in violation of the act.

Bill History

2026-06-04 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 JUD.
2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD., P., D.T., & C.P. and APPR.
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 65. Noes 3.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 7).
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-03-24 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2026-03-23 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.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P., JUD. and APPR.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2076, as amended, Lowenthal.
The Parent’s Accountability and Child Protection Act: online marketplaces: nitrous oxide.
Existing law requires a person or business that conducts business in California and that seeks to sell specified products or services, to take reasonable steps, as specified, to ensure that the purchaser is of legal age at the time of purchase or delivery, including, but not limited to, verifying the age of the purchaser. That law specifies that a person or business that violates these provisions is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $7,500 for each violation.
This bill would add nitrous oxide, as provided, to the above-referenced list of specified products or services. The bill would prohibit an online seller from allowing a purchaser to use a gift card
or store credit
for specified products or services that are illegal to sell
to a minor. The bill would increase the amount of the civil penalty that may be imposed upon a person or business that violates these provisions to $7,500 for each violation, and would also authorize a court to exercise its discretion to increase the civil penalty imposed upon a business if it had annual gross revenues in excess of $25,000,000 in the preceding calendar year, to an amount not exceeding $250,000 per violation if it finds that doing so is necessary to deter future violations. The bill would specify that a public prosecutor that brings an action for violation of these provisions may also seek injunctive relief and attorney’s fees and costs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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