AB282 — Identified as the supplemental agenda item for the hearing.
AB282 — AB 282 is presented as a measure to protect elections by prohibiting attempts to seize ballots, election records, and certified voting technology before certification, including directing others to do so, with penalties of up to four years in prison. The author closes by requesting an aye vote, the motion is made to concur in Senate amendments and re-refer the bill to Public Safety, and the bill ultimately passes out on a 5-2 vote.
AB686 — AB 686 is presented as Assembly Member Berman’s bill and explained as an extension of a 2019 law addressing deceptive or manipulated campaign media, including deepfakes used to mislead voters or harm a candidate’s reputation. After the author’s explanation, the bill is moved forward, the committee recommends concurrence in Senate amendments, and the measure is reported out 5-2 with the roll left open for an absent member.
AB1130 — AB 1130 is introduced as one of Member Berman’s bills and is presented as strengthening existing disclosure requirements for campaign-paid social media influencer content. The discussion explains that the bill increases transparency by expanding disclosure obligations and adding civil penalties and liability provisions related to campaign spending on influencers. After no witnesses or public comment, the bill is moved and seconded, and the committee then considers concurrence in the Senate amendments.
Lisa Calderon — The roll call includes Pellerin, likely referring to Assembly Member Gail Pellerin, though the transcript is inconsistent.
Lisa Calderon — Johnson is recorded voting aye, but the transcript does not clearly identify which member this refers to.
Lisa Calderon — Pellerin is recorded voting aye, though the transcript also includes a duplicate/variant spelling.
Lisa Calderon — Pelerin/Pellerin is referenced as the Assembly Member associated with AB 282, though the transcript is misspelled.
Lisa Calderon — Pellerin/Peleran/Pelleron is repeatedly referenced in the roll call and as chair, though the transcript is inconsistent.
Lisa Calderon — Appears to be the 'Bennett' vote line, recorded as aye.
Lisa Calderon — Appears in the roll call as Bennett, recorded as aye.
Luz Rivas — The roll call includes a likely mis-transcription of a member name as 'Helleran'; identity is uncertain.
Luz Rivas — In the vote record, Luz Rivas is listed twice in the Johnson line: first as not voting and later as voting no, reflecting an unclear or inconsistent transcript entry within the same voting sequence.
Bill Essayli — Berman is recorded voting aye; the bill is identified as AB 1130 by Assembly Member Berman.
Bill Essayli — Berman is identified as the author of AB 686.
Bill Essayli — Bill Essayli is recorded twice in the roll call as voting aye for Berman.
AB1853 — AB 1853 is presented as a response to hateful or inappropriate candidate statements appearing in the official state voter information guide. Speakers describe the bill as establishing reasonable standards for candidate statements, balancing factual and appropriate content with constitutional speech protections, and giving elections officials authority to prevent vile or abhorrent statements from being printed and distributed in official publications. Multiple speakers express support, including joint authorship and praise for the bill as a first step, and the discussion concludes with the motion and recommendation that Senate amendments be concurred in.
AB502 — AB 502 is taken up as the final bill of the day. It is described as revising AB 2839 to better withstand constitutional challenge and strengthen protections against AI-generated deepfakes and election disinformation. The sponsor expresses strong support for the measure, and the committee then proceeds to roll call on the motion to concur in Senate amendments, ultimately reporting the bill out 5-2.
Dan Fulisotto — Dan Fulisotto, on behalf of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, testifies in support of AB 1853.
prosecutor / witness — The prosecutor-witness said they have prosecuted hate crimes cases and warned that statements and actions by others can radicalize defendants. They argued that including such statements in an official state publication is very dangerous and concluded by expressing support for AB 1853.
your witness — Was thanked and agreed with regarding abhorrent candidate comments in the voter information guide.
Chris Ward — Appears to be the 'Ellis' vote line, recorded as not voting; transcript is unclear.
Chris Ward — Assembly Member Ellis is thanked for his service on the committee.
Liora Gershenson — Liora Gershenson, representing the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy (a project of California Common Cause), was introduced and testified in support of AB 502.
David Tangipa — David Tangipa repeatedly cast aye votes on the added-on items during the roll call. The transcript renders his name inconsistently as El-Hawari/Al-Hawari, likely due to transcription error, but the underlying action is the same across all mentions.
Gail Pellerin — During roll call, Gail Pellerin was called and responded that she was present.
Gail Pellerin — Gail Pellerin is repeatedly referenced as the author of several bills—Assembly Bill 1853, Assembly Bill 502, and Assembly Bill 282—during a sequence of bill references and roll-call mentions, including an aye vote on AB 1853.
Natasha Johnson — Natasha Johnson was called during roll call and marked present.
Steve Bennett — Called during roll call and marked present.
Steve Bennett — Called during roll call and marked present.
Steve Bennett — Bennett is recorded voting aye on AB 1130.
Marc Berman — Marc Berman was called during roll call and marked present, then informed that he had two bills on the agenda (AB 686 and AB 1130). He responded that he would begin with AB 1130.
Marc Berman — Marc Berman is referenced as the author of AB 686 and AB 1130, with AB 1130 mentioned again in the following overlapping segment.