Senate BillChaptered/SignedElections
SB 259: Elections: vote by mail ballots.
What SB 259 does, verified September 21, 2026
The bill aims to protect consumers from unfair online pricing practices. It prohibits businesses from setting prices based on data about a consumer's device, such as the presence or absence of software. This means that prices cannot be generated in whole or part based on the consumer's device information. The bill allows exceptions for certain situations, but generally requires businesses to set prices based on objective factors, rather than personal data.
Bill journey
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 331, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-19)Alert me
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| Sep. 19, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 331, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 19, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m. |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 10.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Urgency clause adopted. |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, August 30, 2026 · 708 words
| Enrolled August 30, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 30, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 28, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly August 20, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly September 09, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly September 05, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly July 10, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly June 19, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly June 13, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate April 24, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate April 08, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate March 24, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 259
| Introduced by Senator Wahab |
February 03, 2025 |
An act to amend Section 18577 of the Elections Code, relating to elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 259, Wahab. Elections: vote by mail ballots.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for any person having charge of a completed vote by mail ballot to interfere with a ballot’s return to the local elections official.
This bill would additionally make it a misdemeanor for any person having charge of a vote by mail ballot to interfere, as defined, with a ballot’s delivery to a voter. The bill would make it a felony for a person with authority to direct one or more persons subject to their supervision or authority to interfere with a ballot’s return to the local elections official or delivery to a voter. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 18577 of the Elections Code is amended to read:18577.
(a) Any person having charge of a completed vote by mail ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its return to the local elections official having jurisdiction over the election is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment.(b) Any person having charge of a vote by mail ballot who willfully interferes or causes interference with its delivery to a voter is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment.
(c) Any person with authority who directs one or more other persons subject to their supervision or authority to engage in the conduct prohibited by subdivision (a) or (b) is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for two, three, or four years.
(d) For purposes of this section, “interference” includes, but is not limited to, providing unauthorized access to, breaking the chain of custody for, or tampering with a vote by mail ballot, or, having been designated to return a ballot under Section 3017, failing to return that ballot to the applicable elections official.
SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.SEC. 3.
This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:In order for the important election security protections in this act to apply to the November 3, 2026, statewide general election, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
Text of SB 259 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions