Senate Floor

[Roll Call]

Members of quorum is present. I'd like to ask Members and guests beyond the rail and in the gallery to please rise. We will be led in prayer this morning by our chaplain, Sister Michelle, after which, please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Sister Michelle?

So let us gather in God's presence. We hold these truths to be self evident, that all persons are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Gracious God of the past, present and future, as we celebrate the birthday of our national Independence, we confess our ongoing dependence on you. We pray that we will continue to make real the courage of our forebears on these tempestuous days. May our freedom of speech serve to build community and collaboration.

May our freedom of worship lead us to gratitude for all we have received. And may our freedom from want and fear enrich us with creative ideas for ensuring the life, liberty, and happiness of all of our brothers and sisters. May all that is high and fine in us rise to greet each new day confident that we will achieve the ideals that we know to be self evident. Amen.

Members and guests, please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag. United States. One nation under God.

Okay, Senator Grove, for what purpose do you rise?

Thank you. Madam President, I have a parliamentary inquiry.

What is that?

Is it the practice and custom of the Senate that the Senate rule 55 be suspended when Members of the Administration wish to be present in the chamber?

Senator, that is the rules of the Senate.

So, since that's the case, I'm wondering if we need to suspend Senate rule 55 to allow Governor McGuire to be in the chamber with us today.

Senator, thank you for your inquiry. Given that the person in question is a Member of the Senate and only in an acting capacity, I think we'll find that that rule does not need to be suspended today. But we appreciate you bringing that to our attention.

Thank you for your clarification, sir.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Paging Acting Governor McGuire to the front desk. Okay. All right, Members, without objection. Without objection, we're going to move to Senate third reading. To take up file item 39, Senate resolution 99 by Senator Blakespear. She is prepared. Secretary, please read

Senate resolution 99 by Senator Blakespear relative to the 4 July. Senator Blakespear.

Members, let's give Senator Blakespear our attention, please. Senator Blakespear, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Mister President and colleagues, I rise today to present Senate Resolution 99, recognizing the significance of Independence Day on July 4. This is our most significant national holiday.

Now more than ever, we need to be reminded of the profound importance of our shared values as Americans and as Californians that this day holds for our nation and for this great state. All of you know the history of our country, but I just want to focus on the very beginning, which was on July 41776.

Our forefathers took the bold step of declaring Independence from Britain, setting in motion the birth of American democracy, and articulating the principles that continue to guide us and the world's other democracies today.

The second sentence of the Declaration of Independence, which Michelle Gorman began her prayer with today, is arguably one of the best known and most consequential sentences in the English language because it clearly states a moral standard of human self determination that we have spent nearly 250 years in constant struggle to actualize.

The sentence that begins, we hold these truths to be self evident and ends with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Alexander Hamilton, one of our nation's founding fathers, put this same concept a different way. He said, the sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records.

They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of divinity itself, and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power. Our founding fathers were statesmen and patriots, but we know that today, speaking about the timeless and unalienable nature of these rights is not enough.

Here in California, and specifically here in the California State Legislature, we struggle every day with the charge to make real what these rights to self determination, freedom, liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness means, centering our current policy debates in the framework of our American history.

I often think on the 4 July about Frederick Douglass and his keynote address in 1852, which was entitled what to the Slave is the 4 July. He recognized the hypocrisy of enslaving fellow humans while celebrating the ideals of July 4. He said, the 4 July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice. I must mourn.

It's worth recognizing that Juneteenth, our most recent federal holiday, is celebrated just two weeks and one day before the 4 July, this federal holiday is the first new national holiday in nearly 30 years. President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day act into law just three days ago, or, sorry, just three years ago.

Both of these holidays, July 4 and Juneteenth, recognize freedom, national freedom and personal freedom. And both of these holidays, which are complimentary and show our country's evolution, require us to remember that the progress we've made comes from the constant struggle for the promise of the words written 248 years ago at our nation's birth.

Those with less privilege, minorities, women, people of all abilities, genders, races and ethnicities, have consistently, doggedly and with fierce commitment insisted on the rights that America has promised. The 4 July reminds us that despite our diverse backgrounds and our perspectives, we are one people united in our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

On the fourth, let us celebrate the remarkable journey of our nation, recognizing how far we've come while acknowledging the work that still lies ahead. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, honoring the spirit of Independence Day and encouraging all Californians to celebrate this 4 July with pride, reflection and hope for our shared future. Thank you, Mister President.

Thank you, Senator Blakespear. The resolution has been placed before the body. I see a microphone up from Senator Jones. Senator Jones, you're recognized.

Thank you Mister President and Senators, I rise in support of Sr 99 and thank our esteemed colleague from San Diego for bringing this to the floor today. With permission to read, Mister President, I'd like to share some founding thoughts on Independence Day.

Without objection.

Thank you Mister President. John Adams when writing about Independence Day was very prophetic in how America would come to celebrate the July 4 celebration or memory honor of what had happened in that signing of the Declaration of Independence. Very poignant.

I think I hope for all of us on what he said and how we have come to celebrate the holiday. As he describes Independence Day will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.

It ought to be solemnized with pompous and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations. Illuminations from one end of this continent to the other end of this continent, from this time forward forevermore. Thank you, Mister President. I ask for an aye vote on SR 99.

Thank you Senator Jones. Any other discussion or debate on this resolution? Any further discussion or debate? Senator Blakestrew, you have the opportunity to close the debate if you wish. I respectfully ask for your aye vote. All right, I'll debate having ceased secretary, please call the roll.

Allen aye Alvarado, gill I archiletto I Ashby I Atkins I Becker I Blakespear I Bradford I Caballero I Cortese I Dahle, I Dodd darazzo I Eggman I Glazer, I Gonzalez I Grove, I otato, I Jones, I Laird, I lemon, I Mcguire I minjabar, Min. I Newman I win I Niello I acho vogue I Padilla, I Portantino I Roth I Rubio ciarto Rubio I c. Arto, I Skinner I smalled cuevas. I sternore aye Umberg I Wahab I Wiener. I Wilk aye.

Senator Blakespear moves the call. Members, we're gonna move next to Assembly third reading and we're gonna take up file item 190. It's Assembly third reading. File item 190. This is Assembly Bill 247 by Assemblymember Marisuchi. The floor author is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 247 by Assembly Member Miro Tsuchi an act relating to education finance by providing the funds necessary, therefore, through an election for the issuance and sell of bonds of the State of California and for the handling and disposition of these funds and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Senator Newman, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mister President. As a proud joint author of AB 247 with Senator Glazer and Assembly Members Murasuchi, Mike Fong, and Lori Wilson, I am pleased to present the kindergarten through grade 12 schools and local community college public education facilities modernization, repair and Safety Bond act of 2024.

When approved by the state's voters in November, this school facilities bond will provide $10 billion in desperately needed state matching funds for k 12 and California community college districts. The last successful statewide school bond was passed in 2016, and at this point, all funds from that bond have been fully expended for k 12 education.

This bond will support repairs and upgrades of existing facilities, new construction projects, lead abatement charter school facilities, and career technical education facilities. Eligible school districts can access the expanded financial hardship assistance designed to aid low wealth districts, which face challenges in generating local funds and enabling them to receive up to 100% of construction costs through state grants.

Enhancing and streamlining this long standing program is a practical solution to addressing funding inequities without compromising the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the program.

AB 247 strikes an essential balance by introducing a sliding scale that increases state grant amounts based on a district's ability to generate local funds and the percentages of low income foster care and English learner students in a district. This balanced approach provides additional support to high need districts while maintaining a sustainable and broadly supported funding model statewide.

AB 247 also creates a mechanism for assisting small and priority school districts, those with Low bonding capacity and high percentages of low income foster care and English learner students, in applying for and accessing facilities funds.

Some of the recent amendments include the following provisions supplemental grants for specific needs such as school kitchens, gymnasiums, libraries, transitional kindergarten classrooms, career technical education, as well as projects to advance state energy goals and adapt to higher temperatures building replacement funding for eligible facilities which are at least 2075 years old authorization for dedicated bond dollars to be used to Fund kitchens, preschools, health services, seismic retrofits, broadband installation and school greening.

Also a requirement for school districts receiving state bond dollars to complete a facility's master plan for community colleges. Under AB 247, new bond funds will be managed in the same manner as current bond funds through the California Community College's chancellor's office.

Overall, AB 247 represents a significant step forward in ensuring more equitable distribution of school facility funds across our great state, while balancing the need for greater equity with the practical realities of our current fiscal constraints, thereby ensuring that all districts, especially those with the greatest need, can receive the support that they require. I am respectfully asking for your aye vote today.

Thank you Senator Newman. I see microphones up from Senator Jones. Senator Atkins will go next to Senator Jones.

Thank you Mister President. Members, I rise in opposition today to AB 247, the education bond, but I want to clarify that I am not opposing funding for school facilities. I think that that's an important issue that we have all discussed here. Education should be a priority in California. The voters in California have given us Prop 98.

That certainly underscores the importance of education for them. It wasn't too long ago that we had $100 billion surplus that we could have certainly used some of those dollars to Fund the projects that have been previously described. We could also divert funding from some other issues that maybe wouldn't be such a priority in a lot of people's and voters minds in California. So I'm opposing the mechanism of bonds in General. Bonds are the most expensive way for government to pay for things.

We're going to be shackling future legislatures and the taxpayers of California with debt that will be continued on for decades. The school facility issue is not new. It already existed a few years ago and has been continuously existing. We should be addressing this issue every single year without bonds.

We should have prioritized the spending then when we had the money rather than putting it on the state credit cardinal that the taxpayers will be on the hook to pay back with many billions of dollars of interest. I'll be voting no.

Thank you, Senator Jones. I want to recognize Senator Atkins, followed by Senator Laird. Senator Atkins.

Thank you, Mister President. Members, I rise. I want to commend the pro tem and the Senators who worked diligently for months to put together this education bond. I support education bonds. I know it wasn't an easy feat. The funds that we invest in this bond are meant to address today's challenges and plan for a more equitable future.

As the floor manager said, in which students can get a quality education regardless of their background, neighborhood, or the income level of their family. As my colleagues have mentioned, the bond made significant investments in k 12 and our incredible community college system.

And while I think this measure addresses many important issues, I am concerned that our CSU and UC institutions were not included. The CSU and UC systems are critical to the economy of our state. They're world class institutions, very competitive to get into. They drives innovation and attracts top experts in many fields to our state.

They educate our workforce, which keeps California competitive globally. And they provide life changing opportunities for young people. On top of that, they offer important resources to our communities, like medical care, veterinary care, labor centers, and so much more. These institutions have spent the last several decades trying to remain competitive.

And to deal with deferred maintenance and continuing to have State of the art classrooms for the students. We should be thinking about our future and that world class institutions remain just that. I think we missed that opportunity.

So I also want to recognize our presiding officer, who spent a lot of time having served as a CSU trustee himself, and working to make sure that we included all of our institutions of learning from k 12 community college and our other higher institutions of learning. I am going to support this. I must.

We need the resources to upgrade our schools. So it is a reluctant yes. And I wish and hope that in future endeavors, that we really try not to leave higher education behind. Respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Atkins. Senator Laird.

Thank you, Mister President. I rise in support of AB 247. And I sit as one of the three representatives of the Senate on the State Allocation Board. We receive all the applications from school districts around the state for new construction, for repairs, for the things they need.

And we ran out of bond money for this purpose roughly three years ago or four years ago. And what we have been doing is we have been, from the General Fund, putting in whatever it takes for one year of the General Fund to make sure that we bridge to this very bond.

And it was said that, geez, when we had a surplus, we should have spent money. Well, for two years we did. For two years we spent that surplus money to bridge the money to schools for construction and new construction to get to this moment.

So that at a time when the budget doesn't have the capability, we can go to the voters. And why do you go to the voters? You go to the voters to do investments that move us ahead, that single allocations from the budget can afford. And that is why it's important. This is jobs.

This is making sure that our schools are constructed over a number of years in we have the money. And when you look at the fiscal situation of the state, your benchmark, and this could come up in another bond discussion later in this evening, your benchmark is that you cannot have bonded indebtedness.

That's more than five to 6% of your General Fund budget. This bonded indebtedness is within that. And so that is what bonds are for. And so clearly what this is, is we will not have the money for school construction if we don't do this.

This is for a number of years and is an investment in our future, in our schools, in our education system, in jobs, investments within the state's fiscal ability to continue what we were able to bridge to the surplus and other stuff to get here. That is why this is very important. That's why we need it.

That's why we should vote yes on AB 247. And it's why each of us should go to the voters and tell them this is a good investment and in November they should make it. I request an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Laird, Senator Min.

Thank you, Mister President. I rise to associate my comments with those of the former President pro tempore, I guess, PT emerita. For three and a half years, until recently, I sat on the budget Subcommitee for education and was faced continually with the severe and longstanding failure to invest in deferred maintenance and many other infrastructure needs at our csus particularly, and also our UCs. And we failed to make those investments when we had large surpluses in this state.

I too am disappointed that we did not see a larger investment in the UCs and CSUs in our higher education institutions with this bond, I'm leaving the Senate, obviously this year, would urge my colleagues, when we again are at a point when we have high water, when we have surpluses to make those investments, because they are becoming very critical, they're impacting these institutions ability to effectively teach the next generation of our workers respectfully ask. That being said, I will vote for this and respectfully ask your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Min. Any further discussion or debate on this measure? Members, any further discussion or debate? Debate. Seeing none, Senator Newman, would you like to close the debate?

I would. Thank you, Mister President. So first, let me affirm and align my comments regarding the omission of the two higher education segments in this bond about which the presiding officer spoke so eloquently and persuasively earlier this week when the measure was heard in the Senate Education Committee.

Let me also point out something you all know, but for the record, there was very clear consensus within the Senate that higher ed should have been included in this bond. And I appreciate the comments bemoaning that fact.

It's unfortunate, but as my colleague from Santa Cruz points out, even without it, this measure is both necessary and highly leveraged. So thank you to all who worked so hard to draft, negotiate, and finalize this measure, including all of the diverse stakeholders whose input and form that work.

And a particular thank you to Mister Ian Johnson of the Senate Education Committee for all of his very hard work, especially and on this measure. With that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote today.

Thank you, Senator Newman. All debate having caeased. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

On a vote of 34 to three on the urgency, 34 to three on the measure. The measure passes. We're going to move next to privileges of the floor. There are none. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read, messages from the Assembly will be deemed read, reports of Committee will be deemed read and amendments adopted.

We're going to move next to motions, resolutions and notices. With that objection, measures reported from policy committees July 3 through the 10th, 2024, with the recommendation do pass as amended and re refer to appropriations will be given their second reading. Amendments adopted, published and re referred to appropriations.

Pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10, the following bills are referred to the Committee on Rules file item 192. Assembly Bill 3259. I see microphones up on motions, resolutions and notices will begin with Senator Dodd.

At the request of the author, please remove file item number 207, AB 3285 from the consent calendar.

Thank you. The desk will note next. Recognize Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Mister President. I request a unanimous consent to return SB 1106 file item 32 to the Assembly floor for further action.

Without objection. That'll be the order of the day.

Thank you. And at the request of the author, I would like to request file item 206 AB 3261 by Mister Mike Fong be removed from consent file and moved to the inactive file.

The desk will note. Thank you. Senator Roth, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mister President. I would request that we pull file number a one SDR 80 off the inactive file for the purpose of amendments.

The desk will note Senator Newman.

Thank you, Mister President. At the request of the author, please remove file item number 200 AB 2886 from assemblymember Agriar Curry. From the consent calendar, the desk will note.

Senator Menjavar she's not prepared.

Thank you, Mister President. At the request of the author, please remove file item 195, AB 2343 Schiavo from consent.

The desk will note

Have another one. At the request of the author, please remove 837 AB 1147 Addis from the inactive file and place it back on file.

The desk will note. Thank you, Senator Menjivar. Any further motions, resolutions or notices, Members? Okay, we are going to move now to an adjourn in memory. I want to ask the Members to be at their desks and to give attention to Senator Ashby for an adjourn in memory.

Colleagues, I rise today to unfortunately adjourn in memory of one of our Senate family. Whitney Elizabeth Hamilton passed away on May 17 at just 36 years old. Whitney is the daughter of two honored Senate staff Durazo Gladden, who currently works in special services, and Dina Lucero, who worked in Senate Public Safety and the Senate Health Committee.

Whitney was a Sacramento native through and through. Born in Sacramento in 1987, she attended Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School, became a very talented athlete at Miraloma High School. Whitney later attended Federico Beauty School and became a small business owner. She loved to help her clients feel and look beautiful.

In September of 2016, Whitney married the love of her life, Katie Hamilton, in Maui. They enjoyed spending time traveling, camping and fishing with family, friends and their little dogs, Marlee Cooper and Phil. Whitney was admired by all who knew her. She was known for her kindness, her generosity, her optimism, passion, and her excellent work as an Esthetician.

She is survived by her wife, Katie Hamilton. Her parents, Deena and Durazo and her sister Jessica, some of whom have joined us today in the gallery. It is with great sadness that I offer the condolences of the State Senate to the friends and family of Whitney Elizabeth Hamilton.

Members, please join me in a journey in memory of Whitney Elizabeth Hamilton.

Thank you, Senator Ashby. The Senate extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Whitney Elizabeth Hamilton. Please bring her name forward so she can be properly memorialized in our Senate journal and that we may adjourn in her blessed memory.

Members, as you know, we are, in some cases awaiting actions from the Assembly this afternoon. So we are managing our time to take advantage of the work we have before us. So we're going to take a short five minute recess. We'd like to ask Members to remain here on the floor.

We'll be back in just a few minutes. Thank you for your patience. You know the ins and outs of the day, Senators. All right, as Members know, there's a lot going on tonight that we have to organize. We're going to have starts and stops, and that's where we are at right now.

In fact, we are waiting for some Assembly items to come back to our house. The Assembly is currently trying to establish a quorum. If you have any Assembly friends, please encourage them to get there. Until then, we are going to have a recess. We are going to have a dinner break.

No, people are excited about that great, great opportunity to catch up on things. So we are going to have a dinner break, a recess until 06:00 p.m. Members, you hear that? 06:00 p.m. we are asking all Members to stay here in the Capitol as we wait for the Assembly to take action. And we'll be back. We'll be back right at it at 06:00 p.m. thank you, Members.

The Taxpayer Protection act removed from the ballot a major loss for democracy in Californians unnecessarily forcing poison pill amendments to what were bipartisan crime bills. Thankfully, those amendments were rightfully removed, trying to jam a soft on crime measure onto the ballot to undermine the one that's already qualified for the ballot with over 900,000 signatures.

Thankfully, that measure was rightfully canceled last night and a major win for democracy and for all Californians. This Legislature has known since December of 2022 that the deadline to place items on the ballot was June 272024. Yet that deadline was ignored, which necessitated this Bill. With that said, I would ask for a no vote on AB 440.

Thank you, Senator Jones. Any further discussion or debate? Any further discussion or debate, Senator Blakespear, you may close. I respectfully ask for your I vote. I'll debate having seath secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

On a vote of 31 to eight, the measure passes. We're going to next move Members to Assembly messages secretary, please read.

Mister President, I'm directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly amended and on this day passed as amended, SB 867 and respectfully request your honorable body to concur in said amendments. Sue Parker, Chief Clerk of Assembly Assembly Bill 2 ordered to unfinished business.

All right. Members, without reference to file, then we're going to take up SB 867 by Senator Allen Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 867 by Assembly Member App. Assembly Assemblymember Allen or Senator Allen, excuse me. An act relating to safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparedness and clean air by providing the funds necessary, therefore, through an election of the issuance and sell of bonds of the State of California, and for the handling and disposition of those funds and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Thanks so much, Mister President. I am pleased to rise to present the safe drinking water, wildfire protection, wildfire prevention, drought preparedness and clean air bond of 2024, which, if passed by the voters, would be the most important investment in public funding for climate resiliency in our state's history in a year where we had to claw back billions in climate funding due to budget challenges, this will allow us to tackle some of our state's most significant challenges both next year and for many, many years to come.

And the bond would provide comprehensive and major new climate investments for every region of the state, investing in water security, drought and flood mitigation, wildfire prevention, parks and coastal resilience, biodiversity, extreme heat, clean energy and sustainable agriculture.

It's carefully crafted, preserving the Legislature's authority to shape appropriations through the annual budget process in line with the funding pots and guidance in the Bill. And this will provide greater flexibility as we learn more in the coming years about the market trends and the bond market and interest rates and all the rest, so that we can really make certain that dollars are not left on the table. There are lots of things to highlight in this measure.

It's got a first of its kind landmark requirement that at least 40% of the bond funds have to be invested in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities, suffer the highest unemployment rates, most serioUs pollution impacts, and chronic underinvestment. This requirement is directly modeled on the JUstice 40 initiative adopted by the Us government.

It also includes another 1st $850 million for clean energy investments to help meet California's zero carbon energy targets through port and offshore wind investments, investing in thousands of skilled, high wage jobs. The biggest portion of the bond, of course, is in water.

Clean drinking water funds, water recycling and groundwater storage, stormwater projects, new water resources, flood funding, funding to improve watershed resiliency throughout the state. There's also very important water. Sorry, fire risk portion, $1.5 billion. Various pots to Fund critical efforts to harden communities, make them more fire resistant. Fuel reduction efforts targeting every at risk area in the state.

Funding to reduce fire risks associated with transmission lines which we know have wreaked havoc in many parts of our state. The Bill also spends more than $1.0 billion to combat sea level rise and improve coastal resiliency, ensuring equitable geographic distribution.

There's investments to address extreme heat, focusing on our most vulnerable communities, including funding for transformative climate communities, urban forests, urban greening, among other programs. There's also over a billion in historic investments to protect our natural resources at risk of climate impacts to help us meet our 30 by 30 goals. Climate smart agriculture and also clean energy.

As was mentioned, this is ultimately about California taking on the leadership role that we have always taken on to address the challenges that we face today with regards to climate change.

Extreme heat, wildfires that we are living in real time today, flooding and coastal cliff collapses we saw last winter, the biodiversity essential to our state's environmental well being, all of which are direct impacts of climate change. In the end of the day, it's about putting forth investments today that will make life better for future generations.

And that ultimately has been the guiding light that has, that has been at the heart of our negotiations. Are these good investments for future generations? Are these things that we can be proud of, these things that, that our children and grandchildren will be happy that we spent money on and invested in.

In the end of the day, we know that the costs associated with climate change are continuing to grow. There's some extraordinary estimates that are coming out.

The fourth climate assessment in the fourth climate assessment, the natural Resources agency states that California could face an annual cost of over $100 billion every year from climate change by 2050 if no action is taken. It's hard to wrap your head around that number.

Ultimately, it's about ensuring that we're putting in the investments now that will reduce those costs in the future. An important issue was raised yesterday at the Senate hearing, the oversight hearing, how to do accountability. And that, of course, was an important part of our focus.

We require the natural Resources Agency to publish a list of projects on a public website so all Californians can see precisely where the money is spent. The list will delineate not just how bond funding is used, but also the, the project's anticipated outcomes, the public benefits, including benefits to vulnerable populations.

In fact, if you're interested, I encourage you to check out the website for past bond measures where you can see each project, how it's funded. And there really are thousands. So, Members, this is an opportunity to address enormous environmental challenges up and down the state. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Allen. Discussion or debate? Senator Dahle?

Thank you, Mister President. Members, I must rise and in opposition, and I wanted to share with you why I'm in opposition. Not that we don't have a lot of challenges out there, obviously, on a day where we have heat hotter than it's normally been. But I was here under Prop 1 where we negotiated a deal that said we were actually going to do storage, above ground storage. And I voted for the bond myself, Prop 1, in 2014, and here we are in 2024, and we've not put one drop of water in storage.

And the projects, by the way, records amount of money in our General Fund to help out cost match. And so what are we laying on the future of our grandchildren and our children? The fact that we can't deliver a project in California when we put bonds up.

Now I'd like to just, I'm going to make this very simple. We're already paying, this is a $10 billion bond. For every $1.0 billion that you bond, it's $500 million in debt service off the top of your General, top of your budget every year. So 10 million, $10 billion when it's fully bonded out, will be a half a billion dollars every year that we have to pay back. It's double the size of the bond. So it'll be $20 billion.

The Legislature passed and the Governor, Governor Schwarzenegger, signed into law AB 32 cap and trade program and it generates, pay attention, $5 billion a year. 2220-2425 budget for cap and trade was $5.6 billion.

I want to read off where those, where the money goes to, 1.179 billion goes to high speed rail, 943 million goes to affordable housing and community programs, transit and intercity rail capital programs, 471 million low carbon transit operation programs, 236 million. Safe and affordable drinking water program, 130 million.

There's still two and a half, almost $3 billion left over every year. So between now and 2050, which the author stated, we're going to have to spend hundreds of billions of dollars. This Fund, staying on the same track that it is, will generate $135 billion off the backs of taxpayers today. To do what?

To reduce carbon and help California lead the way in the nation when it comes to climate change. So, Members, I would love to get up here as somebody who sat on the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board for seven years and did lots of land conservation deals and did a lot of good work.

But at the end of the day, I just can't support a Bill when we already have $5 billion a year going into cap and trade program, which is a tax on energy, gasoline, all the things that make it unaffordable to live in California. And now, on top of that, we're going to add another $10 billion on top of that. So I will be voting no against SB 876 and trying to secure a future for my children to be able to stay in California.

Thank you, Senator Dahle, Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Mister President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. I also rise in strong support and is a proud co author of SB 867, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, drought preparedness and Clean Air Bond act of 2024.

I'd like to take a moment to thank our colleague from Santa Monica for being so diligent on this issue and continuing to lead constantly, year after year on climate change and making sure that, you know, he takes care of future generations. Glad to add my voice to this bond, but I'm really excited about several things.

And I think the investment that's going to be made, and especially disadvantaged communities, is something that I think we were all pushing for collectively. And I think that's very meaningful because this is not about just investing without looking at the bigger picture. You know, these disadvantaged communities deserve to have those investment projects in their.

In their area, especially as we know it, will create good paying jobs. Opportunity. This is not just for us, but generationally, this is going to yield, you know, again, what we fight for. And that is, you know, economic opportunity for our communities. I was very vocal about making sure as well that we included funding for regional conservancies, which is something that's really important. And I'm glad that this is a great balance.

And I want to thank those, not just the author, but all those that said, you know, it was a lot of hours over the weekend at night, and I recognize the commitment to getting this to the finish line. So again, I want to thank everyone that invested their time.

But clearly, 40% invested in disadvantaged communities is key for some of us who have these, you know, communities that are really in need of jobs, in need of opportunities, and thank you for this wonderful opportunity to bring those dollars to our region. So with that, I ask for an aye vote thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.

Thank you, Mister President and colleagues. I too want to thank our fellow Senator Allen for his hard work on this initiative and working with the other house on this SB 6867, which, if confirmed by the voters, would provide 10 billion of dollars in crucial funding for climate resilient infrastructures.

And I want to say how important this is for my district, where I have the largest urban oil field in the country, the Inglewood oil field. That region alone, and the communities that are surrounding it stands to gain unprecedented investment.

This is a growing conservancy of urban communities that are park poor, that are resource poor, and this will ensure that there is equity in our natural resources in California. Happy to support this initiative. That's why I'm excited to see this historic investment come to my community enthusiastically. Ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mister President. I just briefly just want to thank the people who worked on this, including Senator Allen, Senator Gonzalez, and of course, Senator Limon, who led this effort. I also wanted to thank my staff on the natural resources and Water Committee for the many, many hours they spent on this Bill.

This is important. It's addressing critical priorities. And I just want to make one point here. This is the fiscally prudent thing to do. We know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and every dollar spent on prevention saves $6 in the long run. So I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Min, Senator Limon.

Thank you, Mister President and colleagues. I rise as a joint author to SB 867. This is the single largest investment in public funding for climate resilience in the history of California and the largest investment in our country from any single government outside of the Federal Inflation Reduction act.

This funding may not fix all of our climate problems, but the cost of inaction is much more expensive to our taxpayers. Today, we have extreme heat warnings all throughout the state.

We have the Thompson fire and thousands of people evacuated, and we are looking to put a bond to our voters to give them the option on whether or not this is the type of investment that we want to make.

The bond will help with wildfire prevention activities, water resilience investments, all needed to reduce some of the impacts that are being felt across our state. Last winter, we saw devastating flooding and coastal cliffs collapse in our state. Not to mention the constantly declining biodiversity essential to our environmental well being.

All impacts that we see on a regular basis, impacts that are felt in 58 counties and over 480 cities in our state. This Bill provides comprehensive investments for all corners of our state, from the Oregon border to the Mexico border, from the coastline to the Sierra Nevadas.

We want to make sure that Californians feel the benefits of making this investment. Many us in the room and in this Legislature have lived through the impacts of wildfire, droughts, flood and extreme heat. We know them. We've represented communities and know what the impacts are.

The safe drinking water and wildfire prevention bond is a chance to build on the work that we have been doing. It took a lot to get here, and I want to thank the incredible staff in the Senate, staff in both houses, and every Member who weighed in to provide input and direction. There was a working group, and of course, our colleague from Santa Monica led the way. And all of that is how we got to today's bond.

Our communities deserve the chance to make these investments in clean drinking water and also must be protected from the impacts of extreme heat and have the necessary resources to combat these climate change impacts. The bond is an investment that will help Californians, not just today, but in generations to come. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Limon. Seeing no more microphones up, we're going to go to Senator Allen to close.

I want to thank my colleagues for all your wonderful comments. Special thanks to the incredible staff and our Assembly colleagues and friends, as well the leadership of the working group and the exceptional chair, our exceptional working group chair, Senator Limon. Thank you, colleagues, for your engagement in this very important endeavor, and I respect for astronaut.

I'll debate. Having ceased secretary. Please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Is that it? That's a vote of 33 to six. Wait, that's 336 on the urgency. 336 on the measure. The measure passes. Members, we're going to do just a couple quick things here before we can finish today. We're going to go next to the second reading file. Second reading file will be deemed read.

We're going to move next to the consent calendar. We have the consent calendar and the special consent calendar. Is there any Member who would like to remove something from the either consent calendar? Members? Anybody want to remove anything? All right, seeing no microphones up, secretary, please read all the items on both consent calendars.

[Consent Calendar]

[Roll Call]

It's a vote of 39 to zero on file item. On the remainder of the consent calendar. Members, we're gonna go to lift the calls. Just hold on a minute. This is file item 39. We're gonna lift the calls and call the absent Members. Secretary, please call the absent Members. It's a vote of 40 to zero. SR 99 is Adopted. There's no other business before the Senate. Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Hey, there we go. Thank you so much. Would like to be able, if it's all right with the presiding officer, I'm going to turn it over to the Republican leader to be able to say a few words. And then please, through the presiding officer.

All right. The acting Governor defers to the minority leader, Senator Jones.

Thank you, Mister President. Thank you, Mister Pro Tem. I just wanted to address the House briefly and say thank you, everybody, for this incredible week. What started off crazy is ending crazy.

But working together, I think we have shown that Californians, we can all advocate for the issues that are important to us, even though sometimes we disagree, but still honor each other's professionalism and cherish each other's friendship. And I appreciate that. Just want to say thank you and wish everybody a great, fantastic, happy Independence Day.

Let's have a great summer recess and come back in August ready to get back to work. Thank you, Senator Jones. Senator Mcguire, acting Governor Mcguire.

There we go. Thank you so much, Mister President and colleagues. I do want to take a moment and I will be brief and say thank you for the tremendous work over these past several weeks as we closed in on this July 3 deadline. And I got to say, together we have accomplished a hell of a lot.

Before I get into my brief remarks, I want to say thank you, the good Senator from San Diego, for her amazing work honoring our birthday today. Thank you so much, Senator Blakespear. And as a Senate, we work together. We work together for the people of California. We've advanced impactful policies we've advanced impactful policies to the Assembly.

A couple hundred bills that you've all championed that will positively change every community in every corner of this state. We passed an on time balanced budget that protected our progress, kept our rainy day Fund healthy, and lifted up millions of Californians.

This Legislature passed bipartisan bills that brought needed reform to Paga, which will benefit small businesses and will continue to protect working families in this state. We've created an insurance working group led by the Senator from Baldwin park and the Senator from Long Beach that will help stabilize our insurance residential market. And more to come this August.

We promise, and thanks to the leadership of so many on this floor, we passed two bonds, two bonds that will benefit generations of Californians. And we need to say thank you to the leaders who brought them forward. And I'm going to end it right here. Let's be candid. The last few weeks, they're not always easy.

And we always said there are a thousand days in June. And that thousand days in June gave way to the 4 July festivities with inerrant grievances. But, colleagues, we're going to finish strong and we're going to finish what we started. And I want to be specific about that.

We're going to bring forward our retail theft, safer California bills in August, get them passed, and keep Californians safe. The Senate has the best staff team in the nation, and we need to take a moment to say thank you to our amazing Senate staff team.

The individual office teams, the secretary's office, the sergeant's office, California Highway Patrol, and the desk staff led by the one, the only, I want to hear you loud and proud, everybody. Let's give it up for Bernie Mcnulty. We love you, Bernie. And with that, colleagues, we wish you a very happy 4 July. Stay safe. Stay cool. Stay vigilant. Our next floor session is August 5, 2024 at 02:00 p.m. happy fourth, Mister President.

Thank you, Senator Mcguire. The Senate is adjourned. We will reconvene Monday, August 5 at 02:00 p.m.