Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) announced Thursday that Assembly Bill 1880, which provides crucial protections for child influencers, has been signed into law by the Gov. Gavin Newsom.
It’s one of four Alanis bills that have become law in the past week.
“I want to thank the Governor and my colleagues for supporting this important legislation that will protect kids from exploitation,” said Alanis, who will be seeking his second term this fall against Democrat Jessica Self. “Financial exploitation is a serious issue for children who create content online, and it is our duty to ensure they are not only physically safe but also protected from potential financial harm.”
AB 1880 extends the Coogan Law's protections — originally enacted to safeguard child actors’ earnings — to include minor online content creators. The Coogan Law requires that a portion of a child’s earnings be set aside in a trust account, known as a "Coogan Account," which the child cannot access until reaching adulthood. This law safeguards the financial interests of young performers and ensures that their earnings are preserved for their future use.
“This bill sends a clear message that minors have rights and deserve protection, and I will continue advocating for the welfare of our most vulnerable populations,” Alanis said.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) thanked Alanis after Newsom signed the bill into law.
The bill will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. It is the 13th Alanis authored bill signed into law in his first term. Three more Alanis bills remain with the Governor for his review and consideration.
In addition to AB 1880, Assembly Bills 2324, 1946 and 1902 also were signed into law.
AB 2324 authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to sell or donate seized avocados directly to school food pantries, enhancing access to fresh produce for students. AB 1946 allows California’s racing fairs and satellite wagering facilities to offer access to the prestigious out-of-state stakes races during the season. This addition is expected to boost wagering activity and bring in much-needed revenue to support local businesses, jobs, and the local economy associated with the beleaguered sport.
Finally, AB 1902 requires pharmacy dispensers to provide accessible prescription medication labels upon request for patients who identify as blind or having low-vision. These accessible labels extend from supplemental documentation with large font for those with low-vision to braille or text-to-speech technology for patients who are blind.