CaliforniaDeals shielding others in certain child sex crime cases will need court approval
In certain trafficking, pimping, or pandering cases with a child victim, the signed law requires deals giving others protection from prosecution to name them in writing and get court approval after victims can speak at a hearing.
What it does
In certain human trafficking, pimping, or pandering cases with a child victim, deals giving others protection from prosecution must name them in writing. A judge must approve the deal after victims get notice and a chance to speak at a hearing.
Argument forVictims could tell a judge how protecting another person from prosecution would affect them before the judge approves a deal.
Argument againstNaming each person who would receive protection from prosecution and holding a hearing could slow those deals for victims and defendants.
More detail
A deal cannot protect someone besides the defendant from prosecution without meeting the law's requirements. This covers prosecutions for certain human trafficking, pimping, or pandering offenses when the victim was a child. The written deal must name each other person who would receive protection. A judge must approve the deal after victims get notice and a chance to speak at a hearing.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 840, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 27Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 20In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2274 Bains By Caballero. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 20Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 5581.).Passed Senate
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 11In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Jun 9In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- May 27Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- May 18In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2274 Bains Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 5129.)Passed Assembly
- May 7Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 6From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 16Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Apr 15From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 7In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Mar 9Referred to Com. on PUB. S.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
- Feb 19Read first time. To print.Introduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety