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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB-780 • 2026

Cyberbullying Protection Act: liability.

Cyberbullying Protection Act: liability.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Stern
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact mechanism for reporting cyberbullying is not detailed in the official source.

Cyberbullying Protection Act: Liability

The Cyberbullying Protection Act requires social media platforms to have a clear way for anyone to report cyberbullying and increases the fines for not following these rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires social media companies to create a prominent mechanism within their internet-based service that allows any individual, whether or not they have an account, to report cyberbullying or content that violates existing terms of service related to cyberbullying.
  • Makes social media companies liable for $50,000 for each violation if they do not follow these rules.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Social media companies
  • People who use or report cyberbullying on social media

Terms To Know

Cyberbullying
Using the internet to bully someone, like sending mean messages or spreading rumors online.
Liability
The responsibility a company has if it breaks laws and needs to pay money as punishment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify exactly how social media companies must report cyberbullying.
  • Does not explain what happens after the bill is signed into law.
  • Does not cover other types of online harassment that are not considered cyberbullying.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2025-03-12 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

  3. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  4. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  5. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 780, as introduced, Stern.
Cyberbullying Protection Act: liability.
The Cyberbullying Protection Act requires a social media platform to take certain actions to mitigate or prevent bullying on the social media platform, including establish a prominent mechanism within its internet-based service that allows any individual, whether or not that individual has a profile on the internet-based service, to report cyberbullying or any content that violates the existing terms of service related to cyberbullying, as prescribed. The act makes a violator liable to certain plaintiffs, including the Attorney General, for $10,000 for each violation, among other relief.
This bill would instead make a violator liable for $50,000 for each violation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF