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AB-2274 • 2026

Crimes: plea deals.

Crimes: plea deals.

Children Crime Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bains
Last action
2026-04-22
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the impact of the bill on pretrial diversion programs, only that it imposes additional duties on local prosecutors.

Rules for Plea Deals in Cases of Child Victims

This law changes how plea deals work when a child is involved in cases of human trafficking, pimping, or pandering.

What This Bill Does

  • It stops anyone other than the person charged with crimes from getting immunity unless they are named and approved by a judge after hearing victims' opinions.
  • It requires at least five years in prison for those who harm children through these crimes, unless there's a very good reason not to.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People charged with human trafficking, pimping, or pandering when the victim is a minor
  • Victims and their families in cases where children are involved

Terms To Know

Immunity
Protection from being punished for a crime.
Plea deal
An agreement between the prosecutor and defendant to settle a case without going to trial.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if someone is charged with multiple crimes, some involving minors and others not.
  • It's unclear how much extra work this will create for local prosecutors.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-16 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  3. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

  4. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  5. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  6. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  7. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2274, as amended, Bains.
Crimes: plea
deals and diversion.
deals.
Existing law prohibits human trafficking, defined as, among other things, violating the personal liberty of another person with the intent to engage in specified sex offenses. Existing law prohibits pimping, defined as deriving support from the earnings of another person’s prostitution, and pandering, defined as procuring another for purposes of prostitution or persuading someone to become a prostitute.
This bill would, in any prosecution for a violation of those crimes in which the victim was a minor, prohibit any plea agreement, nonprosecution agreement, immunity agreement,
anonymity,
or other disposition from granting immunity to any person other than the defendant unless that person is specifically named in the written agreement, and
the agreement is approved by the court after a hearing in which victims are given notice and an opportunity to be heard.
The bill would additionally require any plea agreement or disposition for those crimes involving a minor to include at least 5 years in the state prison actually served, as specified, unless the court finds on the record, by clear and convincing evidence, that the disposition is required in the interests of justice due to extraordinary circumstances that outweigh the need to protect child victims and the public.
Existing law authorizes a court to grant pretrial diversion to a defendant suffering from a mental disorder, on an accusatory pleading alleging the commission of a misdemeanor or felony offense, in order to allow the defendant to undergo mental health treatment. Existing law makes a defendant ineligible for this diversion program if the defendant is charged with specified offenses, including, among other offenses, any sex offense except indecent exposure.
This bill would make a defendant ineligible for pretrial
diversion if the court determines that the facts alleged in the accusatory pleading or disclosed in the preliminary hearing transcript, police reports, or other evidence would constitute any of the offenses prohibited from receiving diversion, regardless of whether the prosecution formally charges or ultimately proceeds on those offenses.
By increasing duties on local prosecutors, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions
noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF