CaliforniaCalifornia adds nitrous oxide sales barred to minors to age-check rules
For sellers doing business in California, the signed law adds nitrous oxide that minors cannot legally buy to age-check rules for sales in or into the state.
What it does
The signed law adds nitrous oxide that minors cannot legally buy to age-check rules for sellers doing business in California and selling in or into the state. Stronger state or federal privacy or age-check laws exempt businesses only on covered subjects.
The signed law bars online sellers doing business in California from taking gift cards or store credit for certain products minors cannot legally buy, including firearms, controlled substances, and nitrous oxide, sold in or into the state.
A court may fine a business up to $250,000 per violation of these sales rules if it took in more than $25 million before expenses the preceding calendar year and a higher fine is needed to discourage future violations.
Public prosecutors may ask courts to stop violations of California's rules for selling listed products or services that minors cannot legally buy. If they win, they may recover reasonable legal fees and costs.
Argument forAge checks could make it harder for minors to buy nitrous oxide that state law bars them from buying in or into California from sellers doing business there.
Argument againstAdults buying nitrous oxide that minors cannot legally buy may lose gift-card and store-credit options for online purchases in or into California from sellers doing business there.
More detail
The signed law adds nitrous oxide that California bars minors from buying to sales covered by age-check rules. This covers people and businesses doing business in California that sell such nitrous oxide in or into the state. A business covered by state or federal law with stronger age checks or personal data protections is exempt only on subjects that law covers. A buyer must be old enough at purchase or delivery.
The signed law bars online sellers from allowing gift cards or store credit for a specific group of products that state law bars minors from buying. This covers online sales in or into California by sellers doing business there of a specific list of products that minors cannot legally buy, including firearms, controlled substances, and nitrous oxide.
A court may raise a qualifying business's fine to as much as $250,000 per violation. This applies to businesses that violate these California sales rules. The business must have taken in more than $25 million before expenses in the preceding calendar year. The court must find that a higher fine is needed to discourage future violations.
The signed law lets public prosecutors ask courts to stop violations and seek legal fees and costs. This applies when a public prosecutor sues a person or business for breaking these California sales rules. A prosecutor must win the case to recover reasonable legal fees and costs.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 920, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 31Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 25Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6466.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2076 Lowenthal Concurrence in Senate Amendments By RODRIGUEZ, C. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 24In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2076 Lowenthal et al. By Blakespear. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 22
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on P., D.T., & C.P.Minor
- Jun 16
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 4From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jun 3Referred to Coms. on JUD., P., D.T., & C.P. and APPR.Minor
- May 21In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2076 Lowenthal Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 21Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 3. Page 5209.)Passed Assembly
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 13Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 9Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 8From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 7).Major
- Apr 7
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Coauthors revised.
- Mar 24Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.Minor
- Mar 23From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 9Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P., JUD. and APPR.Minor
- Feb 19From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
- Feb 18Read first time. To print.Introduced
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