SACRAMENTO (May 7, 2025) – Today, Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) provided the following statement on Assembly Bill 379 regarding tougher penalties on sex trafficking minors:

“Assembly Bill 379 was introduced with the goal of increasing penalties on those convicted of purchasing 16 and 17-year-olds for sex. The original version of this bill would have matched penalties with those in current law that protect children 15 years and younger. When the Democrats watered down the bill, my Republican colleagues and I helped raise the alarm. After facing significant backlash, the majority party listened and worked on amendments to address our concerns.

While I voted yes on the measure in the Committee on Appropriations, there is still more to be done. This new language does not protect all victims with the same tough penalty of a felony. For example if a 16 or 17 year-olds is solicited for sex by an individual within three years of their age it remains an aggravated misdemeanor. If the prosecutor cannot prove that the defendant knew or reasonably should have known that the person solicited was a minor, it is a standard misdemeanor. Protections must be stronger. It is still wrong and illegal to have sex with a minor. Minors cannot consent to sex. I look forward to continue working on this important issue.”

###