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: 2026-04-13
Official status: Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on how increased penalties will be enforced.

Parent's Accountability and Child Protection Act: Nitrous Oxide

This act adds nitrous oxide to the list of products that need age verification before selling online, increases penalties for violations by large businesses, and prohibits using gift cards for illegal sales to minors.

What This Bill Does

Adds nitrous oxide to the list of products requiring age verification before sale.
Increases civil penalty for violating age-verification rules from $7,500 to up to $250,000 per violation for businesses with annual gross revenues over $25 million.
Prohibits online sellers from accepting gift cards when selling items illegal for minors.

Who It Names or Affects

Online sellers in California
People buying products online that need age verification

Terms To Know

Civil penalty: A fine given by a court for breaking a law or rule.
Injunctive relief: An order from the court telling someone to stop doing something illegal.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how online sellers must verify ages.
It is unclear if and when this act will become law after its last action date of April 13, 2026.

Bill History

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 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

Download Bill PDF