California · Assembly Bill · 2025–2026 Regular Session
AB446
California Assembly Bill No. 446 — An act to add Part 5.6 (commencing with Section 7200) to Division 4 of the Civil Code, relating to consumer protection

Status ● Failed Effective N/A Passage Likelihood H

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 1 REQUIREMENT TYPE

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
Private civil action. No designated agency enforcer. Any person may bring a civil action for a violation. The bill does not specify standing requirements beyond the occurrence of a violation.
Private Right of Action
may bring a civil action for a violation.
Penalties
Civil penalty per violation not to exceed the jurisdiction of small claims court for individuals (currently $12,500 in California). Each item of tangible property sold or each use of a service sold in violation counts as a separate violation. Intentional violations are subject to treble penalties plus disgorgement of all revenues earned from the violation. Prevailing party is awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
Civ. Code § 7200
Definitions

(a)–(g) 7200. For purposes of this part, the following definitions apply: (a) "Aggregate consumer informationAggregate consumer information"Aggregate consumer information" means information that relates to a group or category of consumers, from which individual consumer identities have been removed, that is not linked or reasonably linkable to any consumer or household, including via a device.Civ. Code § 7200(a)" means information that relates to a group or category of consumers, from which individual consumer identities have been removed, that is not linked or reasonably linkable to any consumer or household, including via a device. (b) "Covered informationCovered information"Covered information" means either personally identifiable information or aggregate consumer information.Civ. Code § 7200(b)" means either personally identifiable informationPersonally identifiable information"Personally identifiable information" shall have the same meaning as "personal information" as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (v) of Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder.Civ. Code § 7200(e) or aggregate consumer informationAggregate consumer information"Aggregate consumer information" means information that relates to a group or category of consumers, from which individual consumer identities have been removed, that is not linked or reasonably linkable to any consumer or household, including via a device.Civ. Code § 7200(a). (c) "Electronic surveillance technologyElectronic surveillance technology"Electronic surveillance technology" means a technological method or system of surveillance used to gather covered information.Civ. Code § 7200(c)" means a technological method or system of surveillance used to gather covered informationCovered information"Covered information" means either personally identifiable information or aggregate consumer information.Civ. Code § 7200(b). (d) "PersonPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d)" means a natural personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization. (e) "Personally identifiable informationPersonally identifiable information"Personally identifiable information" shall have the same meaning as "personal information" as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (v) of Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder.Civ. Code § 7200(e)" shall have the same meaning as "personal information" as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (v) of Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder. (f) "Standard priceStandard price"Standard price" means the price of a good or service that is set for all consumers that is not based upon covered information.Civ. Code § 7200(f)" means the price of a good or service that is set for all consumers that is not based upon covered informationCovered information"Covered information" means either personally identifiable information or aggregate consumer information.Civ. Code § 7200(b). (g) "Surveillance pricingSurveillance pricing"Surveillance pricing" means using covered information gathered through electronic surveillance technology to set the price of a commercial good or service for a consumer that differs from the standard price.Civ. Code § 7200(g)" means using covered informationCovered information"Covered information" means either personally identifiable information or aggregate consumer information.Civ. Code § 7200(b) gathered through electronic surveillance technologyElectronic surveillance technology"Electronic surveillance technology" means a technological method or system of surveillance used to gather covered information.Civ. Code § 7200(c) to set the price of a commercial good or service for a consumer that differs from the standard priceStandard price"Standard price" means the price of a good or service that is set for all consumers that is not based upon covered information.Civ. Code § 7200(f).

Section 7200 establishes the definitional framework for the surveillance pricing prohibition. Key terms include covered information (personally identifiable information or aggregate consumer information), electronic surveillance technology (any technological method or system used to gather covered information), standard price (the price set for all consumers not based on covered information), and surveillance pricing (using covered information gathered through electronic surveillance technology to set a price that differs from the standard price).

Notably, the amended version broadened the scope beyond personally identifiable information to also capture aggregate consumer information — information about groups or categories of consumers from which individual identities have been removed but which is still used to differentiate pricing.

Civ. Code § 7202
Prohibition on surveillance pricing
Deployer

(a) 1 Except as provided in subdivision (b), a personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) shall not engage in surveillance pricingSurveillance pricing"Surveillance pricing" means using covered information gathered through electronic surveillance technology to set the price of a commercial good or service for a consumer that differs from the standard price.Civ. Code § 7200(g).

(b)(1)–(3) 1 A personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) may engage in surveillance pricingSurveillance pricing"Surveillance pricing" means using covered information gathered through electronic surveillance technology to set the price of a commercial good or service for a consumer that differs from the standard price.Civ. Code § 7200(g) if any of the following apply: (1) The difference from the standard priceStandard price"Standard price" means the price of a good or service that is set for all consumers that is not based upon covered information.Civ. Code § 7200(f) charged to a consumer is based solely on the cost to the person of providing the good or service to that consumer. (2) The difference from the standard priceStandard price"Standard price" means the price of a good or service that is set for all consumers that is not based upon covered information.Civ. Code § 7200(f) is a discount offered to all consumers on equal terms in a manner consistent with applicable antidiscrimination laws. If the personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) gathers personally identifiable informationPersonally identifiable information"Personally identifiable information" shall have the same meaning as "personal information" as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (v) of Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder.Civ. Code § 7200(e) in connection with the provision of this discount, the personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) shall ensure both of the following: (A) That the consumer receives a clear and conspicuous written notice describing in readily ascertainable terms the specific intended purposes for which the personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) will use the personally identifiable informationPersonally identifiable information"Personally identifiable information" shall have the same meaning as "personal information" as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (v) of Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder.Civ. Code § 7200(e) before the personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) uses the information for those purposes. (B) That the consumer provides written affirmative consent for any purpose described in subparagraph (A) before their personally identifiable informationPersonally identifiable information"Personally identifiable information" shall have the same meaning as "personal information" as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (v) of Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder.Civ. Code § 7200(e) is used for that purpose. (3) The personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) operates as an insurer complying with Section 791.02 of the Insurance Code and the pricing is in connection with that activity.

Section 7202 contains the bill's core operative prohibition: no person may engage in surveillance pricing. This is a broad prohibition covering any entity that uses covered information — including both personally identifiable information and aggregate consumer information — gathered through electronic surveillance technology to set prices for goods or services that differ from the standard price.

Subdivision (b) carves out three exceptions: (1) price differences based solely on the cost of providing the good or service to that consumer; (2) discounts offered to all consumers on equal terms consistent with antidiscrimination laws, provided that if personally identifiable information is gathered in connection with the discount, the person must give clear written notice of intended uses and obtain written affirmative consent; and (3) insurer pricing in compliance with Insurance Code § 791.02.

Compliance actions 1 item
1
A personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) must not use covered informationCovered information"Covered information" means either personally identifiable information or aggregate consumer information.Civ. Code § 7200(b) (personally identifiable informationPersonally identifiable information"Personally identifiable information" shall have the same meaning as "personal information" as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (v) of Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder.Civ. Code § 7200(e) or aggregate consumer informationAggregate consumer information"Aggregate consumer information" means information that relates to a group or category of consumers, from which individual consumer identities have been removed, that is not linked or reasonably linkable to any consumer or household, including via a device.Civ. Code § 7200(a)) gathered through electronic surveillance technologyElectronic surveillance technology"Electronic surveillance technology" means a technological method or system of surveillance used to gather covered information.Civ. Code § 7200(c) to set the price of a commercial good or service for a consumer at a level that differs from the standard priceStandard price"Standard price" means the price of a good or service that is set for all consumers that is not based upon covered information.Civ. Code § 7200(f). Three exceptions apply: (1) the price difference is based solely on the cost of providing the good or service to that consumer; (2) the price difference is a discount offered to all consumers on equal terms consistent with antidiscrimination laws — if personally identifiable informationPersonally identifiable information"Personally identifiable information" shall have the same meaning as "personal information" as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (v) of Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder.Civ. Code § 7200(e) is gathered in connection with the discount, the personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) must provide clear and conspicuous written notice of intended uses and obtain written affirmative consent before using the information; or (3) the personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) is an insurer complying with Insurance Code § 791.02 and the pricing is in connection with that activity.
CP-01.11
Civ. Code § 7204
Civil penalties and remedies

(a)–(c) 2 In addition to any other remedy at law, a personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) that violates this part shall be liable for a civil penalty for each violation not to exceed the jurisdiction of small claims court for individuals, where each violation means each item of tangible property or each use of a service sold in violation of Section 7202. (b) A personPerson"Person" means a natural person or an entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, cooperative, or other organization.Civ. Code § 7200(d) that intentionally violates this part shall be liable for a civil penalty no greater than three times the amount of the penalty assessed pursuant to subdivision (a) and shall disgorge all revenues earned from the violation. (c) A prevailing party in an action brought pursuant to this part shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

Section 7204 establishes the enforcement mechanism for the surveillance pricing prohibition. It creates a tiered penalty structure: a civil penalty per violation capped at the jurisdiction of small claims court for individuals (currently $12,500 in California), with each item sold or each use of a service counting as a separate violation. Intentional violations trigger treble penalties plus mandatory disgorgement of all revenues earned from the violation. The section also provides for recovery of reasonable attorney's fees and costs by a prevailing party.

Civ. Code § 7208
Anti-waiver provision

Any waiver of this part is against public policy and is void and unenforceable.

Section 7208 declares that any waiver of the surveillance pricing protections is against public policy and is void and unenforceable. This prevents businesses from requiring consumers to waive their rights under the act through contracts, terms of service, or other agreements.

SEC. 2
Legislative declaration — CPRA furtherance

The Legislature finds and declares that this act furthers the purposes and intent of the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020.

Section 2 of the act is a legislative finding declaring that the bill furthers the purposes and intent of the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (Proposition 24). This positions the surveillance pricing prohibition as complementary to the CCPA/CPRA framework and may bear on judicial interpretation of the bill's scope.

Passage Likelihood

Failed
Status Failed
Final action Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator McNerney.

Legislative History

2025-02-06 Read first time. To print.
2025-02-07 From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.
2025-02-18 Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.
2025-03-19 From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (March 18).
2025-03-20 Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24 Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-28 In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-05-01 From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2025-05-05 Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-05-06 Coauthors revised.
2025-05-06 From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 8. Noes 3.) (May 6).
2025-05-07 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-12 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 47. Noes 20. Page 1516.)
2025-05-13 In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-05-21 Referred to Coms. on JUD. and APPR.
2025-07-16 From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 2.) (July 15).
2025-07-17 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-08-18 In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-08-29 From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-08-29 Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2025-09-02 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-10 Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator McNerney.

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-09
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