Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law Assembly Bill 379, legislation that makes it a misdemeanor crime again in California to loiter with the intent to purchase sex and imposes felony penalties on adults who solicit sex from a 16- or 17-year-old. The bill was sponsored by Mayor Todd Gloria, along with San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, among others. 

“AB 379 will make a real difference in our ability to disrupt child exploitation and illegal prostitution in San Diego by holding buyers and traffickers accountable,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “As a proud co-sponsor of this bill, I’m grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this legislation into law, and also to Assemblymembers Maggy Krell and Nick Schultz for their tireless work crafting and championing this bill. This legislation is going to save lives and assist in our efforts to ensure our City can protect our most vulnerable.” 

In part, AB 379 is a response to the impacts of Senate Bill 357, which was signed into law in 2022 and repealed a law that criminalized loitering with the intent to commit prostitution. 

“For the last three years, we have seen the consequences of Senate Bill 357 play out, with open prostitution and human trafficking on our streets, and little that our officers could do to address it,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl. “I want to commend Mayor Gloria and other leaders for supporting Assembly Bill 379. This legislation makes sure that we can rescue and support victims of illegal sex trafficking, especially minors, as well as hold offenders accountable for their actions.” 

The new law will provide prosecutors with new tools to bring felony charges against adult offenders who are at least three years older than the minor. When the adult offender is within three years of age of the minor, solicitation will remain illegal and a misdemeanor. AB 379 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026.