California's 2026 law criminalizes paying for sex and soliciting minors, targeting buyers and funding survivor support.

A new California law taking effect January 1, 2026, criminalizes paying for sex and loitering to solicit sex, expanding felony charges to include soliciting 16- and 17-year-olds. Co-sponsored by San Diego leaders, the law strengthens penalties for sex trafficking, targets buyers, and creates a Survivor Support Fund using offender fines. It aims to better protect minors and improve enforcement after a 2022 repeal weakened prior tools.