CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 723Introduced by Assembly Member PellerinFebruary 14, 2025 An act to add Section 10140.8 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to real estate. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 723, as introduced, Pellerin. Real estate: digitally altered images: disclosure.Existing law, the Real Estate Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of real estate brokers and salespersons by the Real Estate Commissioner, the chief officer of the Department of Real Estate within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law provides various duties and obligations owed to a prospective purchaser of real property. A willful violation of the Real Estate Law is a crime.This bill would require a real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image, as defined, in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property to include a disclosure, as specified. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the bill would require the real estate broker or salesperson to additionally include the same image without digital alteration. By imposing new requirements on real estate licensees, the violation of which is a 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.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 10140.8 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:10140.8. (a) A real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property shall include in the advertisement or promotional material a statement disclosing that the image has been altered. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the real estate broker or salesperson shall include the unaltered version of the images for which a digitally altered image is included in the posting.(b) (1) For purposes of this section, digitally altered image means an image that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to, furniture, appliances, and walls.(2) Digitally altered image does not include the use of photo editing software to adjust lighting.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 723Introduced by Assembly Member PellerinFebruary 14, 2025 An act to add Section 10140.8 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to real estate. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 723, as introduced, Pellerin. Real estate: digitally altered images: disclosure.Existing law, the Real Estate Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of real estate brokers and salespersons by the Real Estate Commissioner, the chief officer of the Department of Real Estate within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law provides various duties and obligations owed to a prospective purchaser of real property. A willful violation of the Real Estate Law is a crime.This bill would require a real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image, as defined, in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property to include a disclosure, as specified. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the bill would require the real estate broker or salesperson to additionally include the same image without digital alteration. By imposing new requirements on real estate licensees, the violation of which is a 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.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 723
Introduced by Assembly Member PellerinFebruary 14, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Pellerin
February 14, 2025
An act to add Section 10140.8 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to real estate.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 723, as introduced, Pellerin. Real estate: digitally altered images: disclosure.
Existing law, the Real Estate Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of real estate brokers and salespersons by the Real Estate Commissioner, the chief officer of the Department of Real Estate within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law provides various duties and obligations owed to a prospective purchaser of real property. A willful violation of the Real Estate Law is a crime.This bill would require a real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image, as defined, in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property to include a disclosure, as specified. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the bill would require the real estate broker or salesperson to additionally include the same image without digital alteration. By imposing new requirements on real estate licensees, the violation of which is a 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.
Existing law, the Real Estate Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of real estate brokers and salespersons by the Real Estate Commissioner, the chief officer of the Department of Real Estate within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law provides various duties and obligations owed to a prospective purchaser of real property. A willful violation of the Real Estate Law is a crime.
This bill would require a real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image, as defined, in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property to include a disclosure, as specified. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the bill would require the real estate broker or salesperson to additionally include the same image without digital alteration. By imposing new requirements on real estate licensees, the violation of which is a 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.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 10140.8 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:10140.8. (a) A real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property shall include in the advertisement or promotional material a statement disclosing that the image has been altered. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the real estate broker or salesperson shall include the unaltered version of the images for which a digitally altered image is included in the posting.(b) (1) For purposes of this section, digitally altered image means an image that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to, furniture, appliances, and walls.(2) Digitally altered image does not include the use of photo editing software to adjust lighting.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 10140.8 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:10140.8. (a) A real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property shall include in the advertisement or promotional material a statement disclosing that the image has been altered. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the real estate broker or salesperson shall include the unaltered version of the images for which a digitally altered image is included in the posting.(b) (1) For purposes of this section, digitally altered image means an image that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to, furniture, appliances, and walls.(2) Digitally altered image does not include the use of photo editing software to adjust lighting.
SECTION 1. Section 10140.8 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
10140.8. (a) A real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property shall include in the advertisement or promotional material a statement disclosing that the image has been altered. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the real estate broker or salesperson shall include the unaltered version of the images for which a digitally altered image is included in the posting.(b) (1) For purposes of this section, digitally altered image means an image that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to, furniture, appliances, and walls.(2) Digitally altered image does not include the use of photo editing software to adjust lighting.
10140.8. (a) A real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property shall include in the advertisement or promotional material a statement disclosing that the image has been altered. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the real estate broker or salesperson shall include the unaltered version of the images for which a digitally altered image is included in the posting.(b) (1) For purposes of this section, digitally altered image means an image that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to, furniture, appliances, and walls.(2) Digitally altered image does not include the use of photo editing software to adjust lighting.
10140.8. (a) A real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property shall include in the advertisement or promotional material a statement disclosing that the image has been altered. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the real estate broker or salesperson shall include the unaltered version of the images for which a digitally altered image is included in the posting.(b) (1) For purposes of this section, digitally altered image means an image that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to, furniture, appliances, and walls.(2) Digitally altered image does not include the use of photo editing software to adjust lighting.
10140.8. (a) A real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property shall include in the advertisement or promotional material a statement disclosing that the image has been altered. If the advertisement or promotional material is posted on an internet website, the real estate broker or salesperson shall include the unaltered version of the images for which a digitally altered image is included in the posting.
(b) (1) For purposes of this section, digitally altered image means an image that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to, furniture, appliances, and walls.
(2) Digitally altered image does not include the use of photo editing software to adjust lighting.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.
### SEC. 2.