In California, a contentious debate continues within the legislature regarding the penalties for soliciting sex from older teenagers, specifically those aged 16 and 17. Despite pushback from Governor Newsom advocating for harsher penalties, several Democratic lawmakers have rejected proposals that would classify soliciting sex from these minors as a felony. The Assembly has seen efforts to amend a bill aimed at protecting teen victims of human trafficking, leading to accusations that some Democrats are siding with sex traffickers. As Republicans and moderate Democrats push for stringent regulations against buyers of sex from older teens, the discussions reflect a growing divide within the party on how to combat child exploitation and trafficking effectively.