On Tuesday, a crucial vote in the Assembly Public Safety Committee on AB 2040 slipped away by a single vote, and San Francisco Assemblymember Matt Haney was one of the lawmakers who did not record a vote. The bill would make it easier for courts to move certain juveniles into the adult criminal system by lowering the evidentiary standard judges use at transfer hearings. The narrow result left supporters scrambling and juvenile justice advocates warning that more children could be pushed into adult court.
What AB 2040 Would Do
AB 2040, introduced by Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo, would amend Welfare and Institutions Code section 707 so that a juvenile transfer decision could be made by a preponderance of the evidence instead of the current clear and convincing standard. According to California Legislative Information, the bill spells out the serious offenses that would remain eligible for transfer and the exact statutory language it would change.
A Narrow Committee Defeat
Official committee records show the motion to "do pass" in the Assembly Public Safety Committee failed on a 4–3 roll call, leaving the bill one vote short of advancing. The tally lists Alanis, Lackey, Nguyen and Ramos as "Aye" and Harabedian, Schultz and Sharp‑Collins as "No," while Mark González and Matt Haney are recorded as not voting on the motion, according to California Legislative Information.
Supporters have branded the bill "Lorenso's Law" and are already preparing their next moves, KTVU FOX 2 reported.
Why It Is Called "Lorenso's Law"
Backers have tied AB 2040 to the death of 17‑year‑old Lorenso Sanchez, who was fatally stabbed at a Hanford mall in April 2025. His mother has since pushed for changes to the transfer rules. "You try to live with the pain every day," Julia Sanchez told KFSN/ABC30 as families in the Central Valley lobbied for reform.
Supporters And Critics
Supporters, including some law enforcement officials and elected leaders, argue that AB 2040 would restore accountability in violent cases where juvenile penalties feel too light. Critics, including juvenile justice advocates, counter that lowering the transfer standard will channel more children into adult court and long‑term punishment instead of rehabilitation.
Research synthesized by The Sentencing Project warns that incarceration often increases the likelihood of reoffending and harms education and employment prospects for young people. Opponents of AB 2040 point to those findings as evidence that reverting standards could carry long‑term risks.
What Is Next
Supporters expect a final Assembly vote as soon as next Tuesday, although the committee defeat means AB 2040 will need additional votes or some procedural maneuvering to reach the floor, KTVU FOX 2 reported. In the short term, the razor‑thin split and the fact that a single member did not record a vote have turned what might have been a routine committee action into a flashpoint for lawmakers and advocates across California.
For San Francisco, Haney's absence from the committee tally underlined how one missed vote can reshape a statewide debate. More lobbying, testimony and potentially amendments are likely before AB 2040's fate is finally decided in Sacramento.
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