# California Legislature passes SB 690 limiting certain CIPA lawsuits

Attorney advertising. Brief by Lou Schwartz, Schwartz & Associates, PC, Atlanta, Georgia. Published 2026-08-28; updated 2026-09-30. Responsible attorney: Lou Schwartz. Canonical: https://www.snalawyers.com/insights/california-sb-690

The California Legislature sent SB 690 to Governor Newsom, who has until September 30 to act. The bill would allow only the Attorney General to sue websites and apps over alleged pen-register or trap-and-trace violations under Penal Code section 638.51, and would reach pending claims in suits filed within two years before its January 1, 2027 effective date. Wiretapping and eavesdropping claims under sections 631 and 632 would not be affected.

**Why it matters.** If signed, the bill would bar private suits under section 638.51 over website and app tracking, including pending claims in suits filed on or after January 1, 2025, while claims under sections 631 and 632 would remain available.

Update, Sept. 30, 2026: Governor Newsom signed SB 690 into law on the last day he could act on it.

## Sources

1. [SB 690 bill page (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB690)
2. [Update source (calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org)](https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb690)
3. [Update source (www.gov.ca.gov)](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/30/governor-newsom-issues-legislative-update-9-30-2026/)

To ask the firm about this, use the intake assistant at https://www.snalawyers.com/insights/california-sb-690#ask. General information, not legal advice.