Either hell has frozen over, or California Governor Gavin Newsom is inching closer to his presidential run. In another unprecedented move, Newsom signed SB 14 into law, which makes child sex trafficking a serious felony.

JUST IN 🚨 @GavinNewsom SIGNS SB 14! The signing of Senate Bill 14 is a huge victory for California’s children and the survivors of sex trafficking who have long fought for justice. With the passage of this bill, we are sending a clear message to child traffickers— we intend to… pic.twitter.com/QpUiqK9Ti3

— Senator Shannon Grove (@ShannonGroveCA) September 26, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced he signed a bill that will classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony in California.

Classifying child sex trafficking as a serious felony under California law makes it a strikable offense, meaning repeat offenders or those who have committed other serious felonies could face more time behind bars, including life in prison.

The new law, which will go into effect at the start of next year, marks the first time ever the California Legislature has added a crime to its "three strikes" law, which imposes 25 years to life in prison for those who have prior convictions of violent or serious felonies. Legislative experts said the only other changes made to the three strikes law have been technical or through voter initiatives.

The Democrat criminal coddlers in the Assembly Public Safety Committee did their utmost to prevent this bill from even getting a vote on the Assembly floor. Assemblywoman Mia Bonta was one of the Democrats on the committee who initially blocked its passage. Then, when Newsom shamed his party members into moving the bill from committee to the Assembly floor for a full vote, Bonta tried to save face by putting out this pathetic statement.

My statement on the passage of SB 14 and what my plan is for legislation next year to ensure we work to really protect victims of human trafficking. pic.twitter.com/w8EjBpcnMS

— Assemblymember Mia Bonta (@AsmMiaBonta) September 12, 2023

In other words, Bonta thinks credit for protecting victims should be a Democrat thing, and she will do what she can to try and undermine this Republican-led law. She got no credit anyway for the bipartisan effort. Newsom poured his effusive praise on Republican Senator Shannon Grove (the bill's author), the Democrat Speaker of the House Robert Rivas, and Speaker Pro Tem Senator Toni Atkins.

"Human trafficking is a sick crime," Newsom said in a statement Monday night. "With this new law, California is going further to protect kids. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Grove, Speaker Rivas, and Pro Tem Atkins in spearheading this bipartisan effort to make our communities and children safer."

Californians are not the only ones noticing the major pivots Newsom is making in vetoing legislation he would have traditionally favored and championing and signing into law legislation he would have formerly vetoed. 

After watching Newsom tack right (recent veto of radical-left bill AB957 & approval of a conservative bill SB14), it’s obvious he’s getting ready for Dem’s to draft him. https://t.co/Z2IM9OhPo0

— Denise Harrison (@DeniseHarr42740) September 25, 2023

There are still tremendous crime problems and mushrooming homelessness in California —issues that Newsom barely acknowledges and still refuses to address. Many will be watching to see how Newsom comports himself as a Biden surrogate at the second Republican candidate debate in Simi Valley, as well as his own debate set for November 30 with popular Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. Perhaps Newsom has some more legislative magic tricks up his sleeve, but his recent moves of actual governing are still too little, too late against a governor with a solid record of actual governance and performance.