Assemblymember Maggy Krell, a Sacramento Democrat, caused quite a stir in the state Legislature recently. She led a charge to pass stricter penalties for soliciting sex from 16- and 17-year-olds, defying Democratic leaders in the process. This move exposed divisions within the Democratic party and put Assembly leaders on the defensive. Ultimately, the Assembly overwhelmingly voted to increase penalties for teen sex solicitation, with no opposition.
The amended measure, a result of negotiations between Krell and Assembly Democratic leaders, would allow prosecutors to charge individuals soliciting sex from minors more than three years their junior with a felony. It also includes provisions to increase fines on businesses and hotels involved in sex trafficking and allocates funding for district attorneys to prosecute human trafficking cases. Republicans hailed the victory, urging Senate Democrats to support the bill without watering it down.
As the bill moves to the Senate, it remains to be seen how Senate Democrats will respond, especially since they removed similar provisions from a Republican-backed proposal last year. Krell, who was removed as a principal author of the bill after her rebellion, expressed gratitude for the collaboration that led to its passage. Despite the drama surrounding the issue, Krell remains steadfast, stating, “I’m easy to work with, hard to f—k with.”
In other news, Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for expanded support for California’s struggling film industry while proposing cuts to funding for local news outlets. The Legislature is considering a bill to increase film and television tax credits, allocating up to $750 million annually for production. At the same time, the governor aims to reduce the state’s financial support for local news from $30 million to $10 million due to budget constraints. The proposed cuts stem from a deal with Google to support journalism, which has yet to distribute any funds to news outlets.
Additionally, a congressional bill proposing a decade-long ban on state governments from regulating artificial intelligence faces tough odds in the U.S. Senate. If passed, the legislation would make enforcing California’s existing AI regulations illegal and jeopardize pending bills related to AI regulation. Proponents argue that a moratorium is necessary to streamline AI regulation, aligning with efforts by the Trump administration to ease restrictions on the AI industry.
Amid these developments, concerns over law enforcement’s response to mental health crisis calls have emerged. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department implemented a policy to only respond to such calls if a crime has occurred or is in progress, raising questions about public safety. Similar trends are observed in other police agencies, reflecting a broader shift in handling mental health crises. The issue underscores the need for comprehensive mental health support and crisis intervention strategies in communities across California.
