California Assembly: Passes AB 1709 Protecting Minors on Social Media

• California lawmakers concluded their legislative session with a flurry of activity, passing several key bills.
• Assembly Bill 1709, focused on California AB 1709 social media minors, passed unanimously, prohibiting addictive features for users under 16 and establishing an e-Safety Advisory Commission. The bill is currently in the legislative process for the 2025-2026 session and has not yet been sent to the Governor for signature.
• Authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, AB 1709 now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until September 30 to sign it.
• Another bill, AB 2727, unanimously passed to modify the elderly parole program, increasing requirements for sexual crime offenders. This bill has since passed the Legislature and is awaiting the Governor's signature.
• AB 2760, aiming to ban electroshock devices for law enforcement, passed despite federal pushback and concerns over state authority. This bill is currently still in the legislative process.

Assembly Bill 1709, authored by Long Beach Democrat Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, specifically targets social media platforms by prohibiting them from employing addictive features for users under the age of 16.

California legislators recently concluded a demanding two-week period, marked by marathon sessions as the legislative year drew to a close. This intense period saw lawmakers tackling hundreds of bills, a customary annual ritual where the pace of governmental activity accelerates significantly as the session's end approaches. The final push to advance legislation occurred just before the calendar turned to September, though some last-minute measures were anticipated to extend debates into the following day.

Amidst this flurry of activity, several significant pieces of legislation garnered attention, reflecting diverse priorities across the state. One notable success was Assembly Bill 1709, which received unanimous bipartisan backing. This measure addresses the use of social media platforms by minors, aiming to introduce new protections for young users in California. Its passage through the Assembly marked a key moment in the session's closing days.

Assembly Bill 1709, authored by Long Beach Democrat Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, specifically targets social media platforms by prohibiting them from employing addictive features for users under the age of 16. The legislation also mandates the creation of an e-Safety Advisory Commission, tasked with providing guidance to the state attorney general on matters related to online safety. Assemblymember Lowenthal underscored the unprecedented nature of this legislative effort, stating that the state had "never done anything like this" before.

The bill successfully cleared the Assembly with a resounding 74-0 vote on Monday afternoon, following its return to the chamber for approval of Senate amendments. The measure is currently in the legislative process for the 2025-2026 session and has not yet been sent to the Governor for signature. This broad support was highlighted by Folsom Republican Assemblymember Josh Hoover, who serves as the California Assembly Republican Minority Floor Leader, who celebrated the passage as a "huge win for parents and kids." The measure now awaits the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until September 30 to enact it into law, potentially setting a new standard for California AB 1709 social media minors protections.

Another bill, Assembly Bill 2727, achieved unanimous approval, passing the Assembly 59-0 and has since passed the Legislature, now awaiting the Governor's signature. Spearheaded by Elk Grove Democrat Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, this bill seeks to modify the state's elderly parole program. Under current regulations, individuals may be considered for parole for certain offenses upon reaching 50 years of age and serving at least 20 years of their sentence. However, Nguyen's proposal would raise these thresholds for those convicted of sexual crimes, such as rape, requiring them to be at least 65 years old and to have served a minimum of 25 years before parole consideration. Palmdale Republican Assemblymember Tom Lackey acknowledged the legislative body's balanced approach to rehabilitation but expressed concern that it could come "at the expense of the victim."

Not all bills sailed through with such widespread consensus. Assembly Bill 2760, introduced by San Diego Democrat Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins, generated more contentious debate. This bill aims to prevent law enforcement agencies within California from using electroshock devices and from allocating funds for their purchase. It further mandates that California conduct a study on these devices by January 2029. The legislation gained significant attention in August after the Department of Homeland Security announced intentions to spend up to $20 million on electroshock gloves for federal immigration agents. Assemblymember Sharp-Collins voiced concerns that the technology had not been adequately vetted or proven safe. Despite the opposition, the bill passed with a 51-16 vote and is currently still in the legislative process. However, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli publicly declared the bill "DOA" on X, asserting that California lacks the authority to dictate tools for federal law enforcement, a power he attributed to Congress.

The final days of the legislative session underscored the inherent dynamics of California's political landscape. With Democrats holding a supermajority in both legislative houses, the passage of many bills often proceeds with little suspense. This structural advantage allows for a more predictable outcome on numerous legislative initiatives, though robust debate still characterizes the process.

For instance, State Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, was present on the Assembly floor during the deliberation of his own measure, Senate Bill 895. This bill, Senate Bill 895, which proposes to place the California Science and Health Research Bond Act on the March 2028 ballot, has passed the Legislature and awaits the Governor's signature. If approved by voters, it would authorize $7.5 billion in bonds, designated for funding grants, loans, and contracts aimed at various research endeavors. The sheer volume of legislation and the intensity of the final sessions prompted remarks such as Assemblymember Marc Berman's (Menlo Park Democrat) observation around 4 p.m. on Monday, asking, "We're getting close to going home, right?" reflecting the exhaustion and anticipation among lawmakers.

Source: Original reporting via Courthouse News