Following a flurry of bipartisan opposition and a high-profile ad campaign spearheaded by the California Republican Party,
California Assembly Democrats stated Tuesday that they will reinstate a crucial section of Assembly Bill 379, which would make it a criminal to purchase or solicit sex from 16 and 17-year-olds.
AB 379 was first drafted by Assemblymember Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento), a former prosecutor with a wealth of
Experience in sex crime and human trafficking cases, with the intention of toughening sanctions for those who try to buy sex from children. At first, the bill was supported by both parties.
BREAKING: California Republican Party launches video ad campaign featuring teens claiming specific Democratic lawmakers would not protect them.
It’s the latest in the fight over whether it should be a felony in CA to buy teens for sex.
First roll out targets 8 Assemblymembers pic.twitter.com/arQHQEJgZF
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) May 6, 2025
The course of the bill, however, shifted in recent weeks when Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), the chairman of the Assembly
Public Safety Committee, and other Democratic leaders eliminated Krell’s name and the criminal language from the bill.
