Elections: deceptive media in advertisements.

The bill text was reformatted from a traditional legislative document with line numbers, page numbers (e.g., '95'), and column layout into a web-based display format. Website navigation elements (search fields, links to bill information, PDF downloads, version history, etc.) were added around the same statutory text.

All provisions amending Elections Code Sections 12, 5200, 13113, 15621, 16442, 16462, and 16464 were removed. These covered certified mail delivery requirements, service of process on candidates, party disqualification notice procedures, recount request delivery, and other election administration changes. The bill now only amends Section 20012.

The right to seek injunctive relief or bring a damages action was narrowed. Previously, any 'recipient' of materially deceptive content (defined as a person who views, hears, or otherwise perceives the content) could sue. Now only the depicted individual, a candidate or committee participating in the election, or an elections official may bring such actions.

The time period during which the prohibition applies to candidates was narrowed from '120 days before any election in California' to '120 days before any election in California in which the candidate is running.' This means a candidate is only protected during their own race, not during unrelated elections.

The fiscal committee determination changed from 'yes' to 'no' and the state-mandated local program designation changed from 'yes' to 'no,' reflecting the removal of provisions that would have imposed new duties on local election officials.

The definition of 'recipient' (a person who views, hears, or otherwise perceives an image or audio or video file initially distributed in violation) was removed from the definitions section, consistent with removing recipients as eligible plaintiffs.

A new Elections Code Section 20012 is added, creating a comprehensive prohibition on distributing materially deceptive content (deepfakes) that portrays candidates, elections officials, elected officials, or voting equipment in a false light during specified time periods around California elections.

The bill's scope expanded from solely addressing certified mail delivery requirements in elections to also covering AI-generated deceptive media and deepfakes in election communications. The certified mail provisions are retained but renumbered as Sections 1-7 after the new Section 20012 becomes Section 1.

Detailed disclosure/labeling requirements are imposed for manipulated media: specific font (Arial Regular), minimum sizes varying by medium (4 percent of display for video, 14 point for mailers/flyers, 5 percent height for billboards, 11 point for digital graphics), color contrast requirements, and duration requirements (full duration for video, interspersed every 2 minutes for audio over 2 minutes).

The prohibition applies 120 days before any California election for candidates and elected officials, and 120 days before through 60 days after the election for elections officials and voting equipment.

Civil remedies include injunctive relief (with priority under CCP Section 35) and actions for general or special damages. The plaintiff must prove the violation by clear and convincing evidence. Prevailing parties are awarded attorney's fees and costs.

Exemptions are created for: satire or parody that a reasonable person would recognize as such; broadcasting stations in bona fide newscasts or news coverage; paid broadcasters with consistent prohibition policies or where federal law requires airing candidate ads; regularly published newspapers and periodicals that clearly state content is not accurate; and interactive computer services (Section 230(f)(2) of Title 47 U.S.C.).

New definitions are established for: advertisement, broadcasting station (including cable, streaming, and satellite), committee, deepfake, depicted individual, election communication, elections official, malice (knowing falsity or reckless disregard for truth), materially deceptive content (intentionally digitally created or modified media, excluding minor modifications like brightness/contrast changes), and recipient.

Assembly Member Berman is added as a co-author alongside Assembly Member Pellerin. The fiscal notes change from 'Fiscal committee: yes, State-mandated local program: yes' to 'Fiscal committee: yes no, State-mandated local program: yes no,' indicating the Senate removed the state-mandated local program designation.

Section 12 of the Elections Code: Service of process notice to candidates changed from 'special delivery registered certified mail with request for return receipt' to simply 'certified mail with request for return receipt.'

Section 5200 of the Elections Code: Notice of intention to disqualify a political party changed from 'registered certified mail' to 'certified mail.'

Section 13113 of the Elections Code: Notifications between local election officials and the Secretary of State (for special district, school district, and charter city elections) changed from 'registered mail electronic delivery' to just 'electronic delivery,' removing the registered mail option entirely. Written confirmations now explicitly require electronic delivery.

Section 15621 of the Elections Code: Secretary of State's forwarding of recount requests to county elections officials changed from 'registered mail electronic delivery' to just 'electronic delivery.'

Sections 16442, 16462, and 16464 of the Elections Code: Service of election contest affidavits on defendants changed from 'registered certified mail' or 'registered mail' to simply 'certified mail.'

Gendered pronouns throughout the bill were replaced with neutral terms (e.g., 'him or her' became 'the candidate,' 'his or her office' became 'the office of the Secretary of State or the county elections official,' 'he or she' became 'the Secretary of State').