Key point: New Jersey enacts a kid’s privacy law while California’s legislature advances numerous privacy and AI bills to floor votes.

This is the 28th update on the status of proposed state privacy and AI legislation in 2026.

What’s New

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the New Jersey Kids Code Act (A 4015) into law last week. The new law creates strict design and privacy requirements for online services likely to be accessed by minors, along with a private right of action carrying $5,000 in statutory damages per violation. Read our analysis of the law here.

Meanwhile, August 14 was the final day for fiscal committees in the California legislature to meet and report bills to the floor. Looking ahead, August 21 is the final day to amend bills on the floor, and August 31 is the final day of the legislative session.

The following privacy bills passed out of Appropriations committees and are now on floor readings:

• SB 923 (amends CCPA’s request to delete and request submission methods)
• AB 1542 (amends CCPA to prohibit selling or sharing sensitive personal information)
• AB 1709 (covered platforms: age restriction: e-Safety Advisory Commission)
• AB 2246 (online service, product, or feature: access by children)
• SB 690 (amends the California Invasion of Privacy Act)
• SB 354 (Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Act)
• AB 883 (amends data broker law to reduce time frames from 45 to 30 days and add protections for elected officials)

In addition, AB 2561 (prohibits an operating system or an application from undoing a user’s affirmative configuration of a user’s privacy setting without the user’s consent) has been on a third floor reading since June.

The following AI bills passed out of appropriations committees and are now on floor readings:

• SB 300 (amends companion chatbot law)
• SB 867 (companion chatbot: toys)
• AB 2023 (companion chatbots: children’s safety)
• SB 1119 (companion chatbots: children’s safety)
• AB 1609 (customer service chatbots)
• SB 1050 (synthetic performers)
• SB 903 (mental health professionals: AI)
• AB 2575 (health care services: AI)
• AB 1979 (health care services: AI)
• SB 947 (employment: automated decision systems)
• AB 1883 (workplace surveillance tools)

SB 1000 and AB 2713 – both of which amend the California AI Transparency Act – along with AB 2564 (surveillance pricing), were already on third floor readings.