SB-780
Consumer Protection

Cyberbullying Protection Act: liability.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Increases penalties for social media platforms that violate cyberbullying prevention rules to $50,000 per violation.
  • Establishes that each day of non-compliance counts as a separate violation for penalty purposes.
  • Authorizes courts to order platforms to comply and award attorney fees to successful plaintiffs.

Summary

Senator Stern's proposal to amend California's Cyberbullying Protection Act would increase the financial penalties that social media platforms face for violations, raising the per-violation liability from $10,000 to $50,000. The legislation maintains the Act's existing requirements for platforms to implement cyberbullying prevention mechanisms and reporting tools.

Under the amended law, platforms would remain subject to compensatory and punitive damages separate from penalties related to reported content. Each day a platform fails to meet the Act's requirements would constitute a distinct violation. The bill preserves courts' authority to mandate compliance through injunctive relief and award attorney's fees to prevailing plaintiffs.

The legislation specifies that these enforcement provisions supplement rather than replace other civil, criminal and administrative remedies available under existing law. It maintains alignment with federal protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which limits platform liability for user-generated content. The Attorney General and other authorized parties would retain their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-compliant platforms.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 13 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
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Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Maria DurazoD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Angelique AshbyD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Suzette ValladaresR
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Henry Stern
Henry SternD
California State Senator
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Takeaways

  • Increases penalties for social media platforms that violate cyberbullying prevention rules to $50,000 per violation.
  • Establishes that each day of non-compliance counts as a separate violation for penalty purposes.
  • Authorizes courts to order platforms to comply and award attorney fees to successful plaintiffs.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Henry Stern
Henry SternD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Stern's proposal to amend California's Cyberbullying Protection Act would increase the financial penalties that social media platforms face for violations, raising the per-violation liability from $10,000 to $50,000. The legislation maintains the Act's existing requirements for platforms to implement cyberbullying prevention mechanisms and reporting tools.

Under the amended law, platforms would remain subject to compensatory and punitive damages separate from penalties related to reported content. Each day a platform fails to meet the Act's requirements would constitute a distinct violation. The bill preserves courts' authority to mandate compliance through injunctive relief and award attorney's fees to prevailing plaintiffs.

The legislation specifies that these enforcement provisions supplement rather than replace other civil, criminal and administrative remedies available under existing law. It maintains alignment with federal protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which limits platform liability for user-generated content. The Attorney General and other authorized parties would retain their ability to bring enforcement actions against non-compliant platforms.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 13 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Maria DurazoD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Angelique AshbyD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Suzette ValladaresR
Senator
Committee Member