Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that prohibits deceptive content in election advertisements in California state and federal elections.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an individual, committee, or other entity from knowingly distributing an advertisement or other election communication, as defined, that contains certain materially deceptive content, as defined, with malice, as defined, subject to specified exemptions (Sec. 2-5).

• Specifies this prohibition shall apply within 120 days of an election in California and, in certain cases, 60 days after an election (Sec. 2-5).

• Authorizes a recipient of materially deceptive content distributed in violation of this section, candidate or committee participating in the election, or elections official, as defined, to file a civil action to enjoin the distribution of the media and to seek damages against the person, committee, or other entity that distributed it, except as specified (Sec. 2-5).

• Requires a court to place such proceedings on the calendar in the order of their date of filing and give the proceedings precedence (Sec. 2-5).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text