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AB-2281 • 2026

Office of Elections Cybersecurity.

Office of Elections Cybersecurity.

Elections Technology
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Berman
Last action
2026-05-20
Official status
Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about how much funding might be needed or where it would come from, nor does it specify which academic researchers can be consulted.

Office of Elections Cybersecurity

This law allows the Office of Elections Cybersecurity to consult with academic researchers and assess if more state funding is needed for election cybersecurity after federal support ends.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Office of Elections Cybersecurity to talk to academic experts about protecting elections from cyber threats.
  • Requires the office to check if extra state funding is needed after federal support ends.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Office of Elections Cybersecurity within the Secretary of State’s office
  • Academic researchers who study cybersecurity

Terms To Know

cyber incidents
problems or attacks that happen online and affect election systems.
best practices
the most effective methods for doing something well, in this case protecting elections from cyber threats.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify which academic researchers the office can consult with.
  • Does not say how much extra funding might be needed or where it would come from.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-20 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  2. 2026-05-12 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  3. 2026-05-11 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 55. Noes 9.)

  4. 2026-04-30 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  5. 2026-04-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (April 29).

  6. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  8. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  9. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2281, as introduced, Berman.
Office of Elections Cybersecurity.
Existing law establishes the Office of Elections Cybersecurity within the Secretary of State’s office to coordinate efforts between the Secretary of State and local elections officials to reduce the likelihood and severity of cyber incidents and to monitor and counteract false or misleading information regarding the electoral process. Existing law requires the Office of Elections Cybersecurity, among other things, to develop best practices for protecting against threats to election cybersecurity in consultation with federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations.
This bill would also authorize the office to consult with academic researchers for that purpose. The bill would require the office to assess whether additional state resources are needed to replace election cybersecurity resources previously provided by the federal
government.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF