Sensitive personal information.

CA AB1542 aims to update California's privacy laws to better protect sensitive personal information. This includes revising existing legal definitions and requirements for how businesses handle such information. The goal is to enhance consumer privacy rights and ensure that individuals have more control over their personal data.

CA AB1542 is a house bill in the California 2025-2026 Regular Session, sponsored by Chris Ward (D), currently “Vetoed” since September 27, 2026.

We track 5,060 California bills this session, 38 of them sponsored by Chris Ward.

The key recorded vote (A, August 30, 2026) ended 44–19 and passed.

Supporters of CA AB1542 would highlight that the bill strengthens privacy protections for individuals, empowering them to safeguard their sensitive information. They would argue that this legislation is a necessary step toward securing personal data in an increasingly digital world, promoting transparency and accountability among businesses.

Critics of CA AB1542 might express concerns that the bill could impose excessive regulations on businesses, potentially stifling innovation and economic growth. They may argue that the changes could lead to increased compliance costs for companies, which could ultimately be passed on to consumers.

Source: LegiScan roll call vote data.