California Senate Blocks Protect Our Games Act After 4-3 Vote and Wave of Abstentions
Updated
Updated · Video Games Chronicle · Jun 30
California Senate Blocks Protect Our Games Act After 4-3 Vote and Wave of Abstentions
2 articles · Updated · Video Games Chronicle · Jun 30
Summary
California’s Protect Our Games Act died in the State Senate after winning only four Democratic yes votes against three Republican no votes, with remaining members abstaining and the bill halted for this session.
43-16 Assembly passage last month was not enough because the Senate committee needed a majority of yes votes; campaign backers said abstentions effectively counted against the measure.
60 days’ notice was the bill’s core requirement, alongside shutdown details, security-risk disclosures, and either an offline version, a patch to keep the game playable, or a full refund.
Zero dollars in U.S. budget and no California lobbying staff left supporters outgunned, they said, while accusing the Entertainment Software Association of misleading senators during the push.
Stop Killing Games said it will return next session with funding and in-person lobbying, while also pursuing similar bills in other states and potentially at the federal level.