As RedState reported on Tuesday, the California Assembly Public Safety Committee has chosen to slow roll AB 379, a bill that would make it a felony to buy or sell minors under the age of 18.
The push comes after California’s Democratic-led legislature approved a bill last year, SB 1414, to make it a felony to purchase or solicit a child 15 years old and younger for sex. Before the law took effect months ago, it was a misdemeanor crime in California.
Republican Bakersfield State Senator Shannon Grove originally filed that bill to protect all children under the age of 18.
“I made a promise last year that we would come back and keeping fighting for 16- and 17-year-olds,” Grove said in an interview with KCRA 3 this week. “This is not a third world country thing. It’s happening right underneath our noses.”
Enter Democratic Sacramento Assemblymember Maggy Krell who filed AB 379 this week with Grove. The bill would solidify the felony conviction for anyone who purchases or solicits a 16 or 17-year-old for sex.
Public Safety Chairman Nick Schultz (D-Burbank) chose to allow the bill to move forward, but only after stripping the age ceiling, which is a critical aspect of the bill’s enforcement.
BREAKING: Assembly Public Safety Chairman @VoteNickSchultz confirms AB 379 will be changed by committee tomorrow to exclude felony charge for those who buy 16 and 17 year olds for sex.
He says he wants to host info hearings on the issue in the fall. https://t.co/D8qS0SqBeo
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) April 28, 2025
Assembly Republicans are not satisfied with this outcome and are taking action. They announced on Wednesday that they plan to force a vote in Thursday’s assembly session to restore the age ceiling back into the bill. Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) ripped Schultz and the committee Democrats a new one for their tactics.
Assembly Republicans’ statement on restoring felony penalties for buying sex from 16 and 17 year olds.
This comes after @AssemblyDems stripped these penalties from #AB379 pic.twitter.com/ZoYMlaAths
— California Assembly Republicans (@AsmRepublicans) May 1, 2025
Assembly Republicans will introduce amendments tomorrow to restore felony-level penalties for adults who attempt to buy sex from 16- and 17-year olds. These protections were quietly erased by Assembly Democrats on the Public Safety Committee.
“It is absolutely shameful that radical Democrats allowed this to happen,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher. “There is nothing ‘nuanced’ about adults buying children for sex. There is nothing ‘informational’ about protecting predators while kids are being trafficked. They stripped felony protections from the bill, and now they want to host a hearing in L.A. months from now?
The amendments reintroduce common-sense provisions from AB 379 (Krell) that had broad public and bipartisan support. Democrats removed them without explanation, and have since tried to justify the decision by promising to “gather information” at a future hearing.
Assembly Public Safety Chair Nick Schultz said in a statement this week:
“We invite [the governor] to join us in LA later this year for an informational hearing on the topic… Information gathering is an important part of the job of every elected official.”
Gallagher responded: “No more delays. No more dodges. The information is clear, the evidence is overwhelming, and the predators are out there right now. We don’t need more informational hearings to hold predators accountable. What Assembly Democrats need isn’t more information, it’s a moral compass.”
Tomorrow’s amendments will force Assembly Democrats to go on the record. Will they stand for victims, or with the predators buying kids?
AB 379 sponsor Maggy Krell also made it known that she will break party lines and vote with the Republicans to see the age-ceiling felony penalties restored.
NEW:
Asm. @maggykrell notifies Dems in the CA Assembly that Republicans will try to force a vote to add the automatic felony for those who purchase 16 and 17 year olds for sex back into her bill, AB 379.
“I do not consider this amendment hostile and will be voting for it” pic.twitter.com/qhmwEjhcV5
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) May 1, 2025
Dear Democratic Colleagues,
I have learned that the Assembly Republicans plan to bring a “hostile” amendment to the floor tomorrow to restore the provision of Assembly Bill 379 that makes purchasing a minor for commercial sex, prosecutable as a felony.
I do not consider this amendment “hostile” and will be voting for it. We should be clear and unequivocal in protecting children–especially those who are being bought and sold for sex.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions or wish to discuss this further.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also weighed in on Tuesday in support of keeping the felony penalty age ceiling in place.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is getting involved and speaking out after Democratic California lawmakers in the Assembly blocked a proposal that would make it an automatic felony to purchase a 16 or 17-year-old for sex.
The issue has been part of a two-year-long debate on the growing child sex trafficking industry in California as lawmakers try to target the consumers of it with harsher consequences. The Democratic governor has consistently supported the efforts.
In a statement provided exclusively to KCRA 3 on Tuesday, the governor’s office said, “The law should treat all sex predators who solicit minors the same — as a felony, regardless of the intended victim’s age. Full stop.”
As Schultz is making moves for those so-called information sessions, he continues to slide down that cowardly slope by locking out his X campaign account. So much for discussion, “nuance,” and equitable outcomes.
Newsom’s choice to back Krell’s bill is a surprising move. The Republicans making noise and breaking things is an even better one.
