With a few exceptions, Democrats in California’s State Assembly in shot down an attempt by Republicans to increase penalties on people who purchase 16- and 17-year-olds for sex.
That came despite calls from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis for their own party to go after people who solicit teens for sex.
The backstory: Last year Sen. Shannon Grove (R–Bakersfield) introduced a bill to, in part, make it a felony to purchase 16- and 17-year-olds for sex.
- Democrats forced amendments on her to remove that provision from the bill.
- This time around Asm. Maggy Krell (D–Sacramento) tried to bring the felony provision to make it a felony to purchase all minors for sex, yet Democrats in the Assembly Public Safety Committee forced amendments on her earlier this week to not protect 16- and 17-year-olds.
The big picture: Republicans tried to force a floor vote on Thursday to vote for Krell’s bill, Assembly Bill 379, without the amendments to enact harsher penalties on predators who solicit older teens.
- Democrats started Thursday’s regularly scheduled floor hearing about an hour late in an attempt to avoid talking about the Republican-led effort to increase sex trafficking penalties.
- Thursday also happened to be Denim Day, an annual event that lawmakers recognize for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. KCRA reported Democrats did not want to recognize Denim Day so they could avoid discussing making it a felony to traffick 16- and 17-year-olds.
Ok now 45 mins in I’m told the hold up is that Democratic leadership doesn’t want to recognize Denim Day so they can avoid talking about the 16/17 year old situation.— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) May 1, 2025
- Instead of moving Thursday to increase penalties on sexual predators, Democrats took AB 379 away from Krell and gave it to Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair Nick Schultz (D–Burbank).
- Democrats approved the amendment adopted by the committee earlier this week on a 55-21 vote that includes language saying it is the Legislature’s “intent” to protect 16- and 17-year olds.
Go deeper: Schultz argued on the floor that making it a felony for people to purchase 16- and 17-year-olds for sex would unfairly punish the LGBTQ community.
- Schultz also said the punishment could have been used to target children in interracial relationships.
- Krell did not side with her own party and was one of the 21 lawmakers – mostly Republicans – who voted against it.
- Asm. Joaquin Arambula (D–Fresno) broke with his party to vote against the amendment, stating that he could not vote for it as a father of three daughters.
- Fellow Central Valley Democrat Asm. Jasmeet Bains (D–Bakersfield) also voted against the amendment, saying “any sane person” knows that purchasing a 16-year-old for sex should be a felony.
- Valley Democratic Assemblywomen Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) and Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton) sided with the majority of Assembly Democrats and voted in favor of the amended bill devoid of the felony language.
- All Republican members of the Valley’s Assembly Delegation voted against the measure.
What we’re watching: Schultz said he will bring the bill back to lawmakers in the coming weeks for more discussion.
What they’re saying: “If a 16- and a 17-year-old child cannot give consent in the eyes of the law, then why in God’s name are they not protected under the same law? How many more children will go through the trauma of being purchased by pedophiles before actual action is being taken? Intent does not carry any weight in the courtroom or bring victims of these heinous acts justice,” Asm. Alexandra Macedo (R–Tulare) said. “Sex trafficking of minors must be a felony. Pedophiles who purchase sex from 16- and 17-year-old children must be stopped.”
- Asm. David Tangipa (R–Clovis) spoke against the amendment during the hearing, saying Krell has helped save members of his own family from human trafficking.
- Minority Leader James Gallagher (R–East Nicolaus) called on his colleagues in the Legislature to do the right thing before the vote, but ultimately fell on deaf ears.
- “It’s a simple thing before us: Do 16- and 17-year-olds deserve the same protection as all other minors when it comes to child prostitution? This body needs a moral compass,” Gallagher said.
- Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D–Hollister), who has largely refused to talk to the press during his tenure as Speaker so far, held a press conference after the vote. But he decided to start his press conference after reporters were already participating in a press conference being held by Republican lawmakers.
- Rivas said his top priorities as Speaker include protecting children and standing up for trafficking victims, yet he did not participate in the debate on the floor and voted against making it a felony to purchase 16- and 17-year olds for sex.
What we’re watching:
Any sane person knows that purchasing a 16 or 17 year old for sex should be a felony not a misdemeanor. I will always put people – especially our children – over politics, even if it means bucking my own party. pic.twitter.com/uALUea0udv— Dr. Jasmeet Bains (@DrJasmeetBains) May 1, 2025
CRAZY TOWN: @AsmRepublicans @Macedo4Assembly: "I've seen a lot of crazy things in my short time here in Sacramento, but this one takes the cake. How many 16 and 17 year-olds are going to have to go through the trauma of this until we do something?!" https://t.co/eZSiVgbECi pic.twitter.com/gWwo23LqZh— California Republican Party (@CAGOP) May 1, 2025
