Senate Floor

Stripes. Stars and stripes day. I got stars and look at my stripes. No. Ready? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. If we can kindly return to our desk. We are getting started. We will be led in prayer by Sister Michelle Gorman. Guests and Members, please remain standing for then the pledge of allegiance. Sister?

So we gather in God's presence, and today we pray. In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, we turn toward the light of loving kindness to direct us. We bow deeply to the awakened one. And to our spiritual ancestors. Today we begin anew to purify and free our hearts with immeasurable compassion. To help humankind. We resolve to live beautifully. May our heart's garden of awakening bloom with hundreds of flowers. May mountains and rivers be our witness in this moment as we bow our heads and request the Lord of compassion to embrace us all. Amen.

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance. Members, welcome to our stars and stripes. Tuesday. Today we got no privileges under the floor of the floor. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly would be deemed read. Reports of Committee will be deemed read.

Now, under motions, resolutions and notices, pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10, the following bills are referred to the Committee on Rules. File item 14. AB 518. Members, any other business? Under motions and resolutions. I am seeing no mics go up, so let's get into the meat of today. Consideration of the daily file.

We have items one through 14 under the second reading file. Secretary, please read.

[Second Reading]

Second reading will be deemed read. We have three items under Governor's appointments. Members, please take your conversations off the floor. We have a very, very long day. It will be even longer if we have to keep stopping. Starting off with file item 17. Senator Laird is prepared. Secretary, please read. Senator Laird, please proceed.

Thank you very much, Madam President. File item 17 is the confirmation of Cliff Rechtschaffen for appointment to the California Air Resources Board. Prior to joining the board, he served on the California Public Utilities Commission. He also previously served as senior advisor to Governor Jerry Brown. And as a special assistant in the Attorney General's Office. He was approved by the Rules Committee on July 3, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Becker, you're recognized.

Thank you. I'd just like to add my voice briefly to the discussion. Just to say that I've worked extensively with Cliff Rechtschaffen. And he's an outstanding thinker and leader on the Clean Energy Transition. And I urge support of this nomination. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. See no other mics. Senator Laird, you may close.

Thank you to the Senator from San Mateo County for his comments. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Laird moves the call. Moving on to file item 18. Senator Laird, please proceed.

Thank you. Madam President. File item 18 is the confirmation of Gloria Alvarado. For reappointment to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Confirmation Control Board. She first joined the board in 2021. And currently serves as Executive Director of the Orange County Labor Federation. She was approved by the Rules Committee on July 3 on a five, I mean on August 7 on a 5-0 vote. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion on file item 18. Mc none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Laird moves a call. Senator Laird, you have file item 19. Please proceed.

Oh, thank you very much, Madam President. File item 19 is the confirmation of Kim Pattillo Brownson, James McQuillen, and Hayden Rodriguez as Members of the State Board of Education. These are all reappointments, Miss Pattillo Brownson is an education policy consultant. Formerly Vice President of first five Los Angeles. Served on the board since 2019.

Mister McQuillen is a Yurok enrolled tribal citizen from Del Norte county. The Director of education for the Yurok tribe. He served on the board since 2020. Miss Rodriguez is a high school teacher in El Centro. She has served on the board since 2020. They were approved by the Rules Committee on August 14. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Seeing no mics up, secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Laird moves the call. All right. Now moving into unfinished under. We're moving into Assembly third reading. Assembly third reading. Senators, right now on the desk, we have 99 bills to get through. I will kindly remind you, if it's a support support asking, we could keep it nice and short and see if we can get more done today. Senator Jones, for what reason do you rise?

Never mind.

Great. The first three up items so you are prepared, is file item 103, 108 and 109. Senator Padilla, are you prepared to kick us off? He is. Secretary, please read file item 103.

Assembly Bill 2779 by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris an act relating to electricity.

Senator Padilla?

Thank you. Madam President. Rise to present AB 2779. On behalf of Assembly Member Petrie-Norris, it requires the California independent system operator to report any new use of grid enhancing technologies, otherwise known as gets, with their related cost and energy savings gets.

Encompass a suite of technologies that can be deployed on existing transmission lines to maximize current transmission capacity in the most cost effective ways. This measure has no opposition and no, no votes. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

See no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

We still have Members off the floor. We're gonna be putting items on call. Senator Padilla moves a call. Next up, file item 108. Senator Dodd, enjoy support. Support. He is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1768 by governmental organization accolading to horse racing.

Senator Dodd.

Madam pro tem and members, AB 1768 simply updates the horse racing law by making technical and clarifying changes. Respectfully ask for aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Dodd. I see no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Dodd moves the call. Senator Seyarto is prepared for file item 109. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1892 by Assemblymember Flora an act relating to criminal procedure.

Senator Seyarto, enjoy. Support. Support.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, today I rise to present AB 1892 on behalf of Assemblymember Flora. It expands the authority of judges to issue in law enforcement agencies to seek court orders authorizing wiretapping or interception of electronic communications related to felony child pornography related crimes. This Bill has no, no votes, and I respectfully ask for an advocate.

No discussion or debate. See none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Siarto moves a call the next three on file a file item 115 at 121 and 123. Senator Jones is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2069 by Assemblymember Gallagher an act relating to alcoholic beverages.

Senator Jones, support. Support.

I'm not ready for that one. Sorry, madam President. I thought I was taking on file item 25. Sorry, we are passed on file moving on. I have it. I'm sorry.

We are back on file. File item 115, Senator Jones.

Thank you, Madam President. I am presenting file item 115, which is Assembly Bill 2069 by Assemblymember Gallagher. This Bill rectifies a discrepancy in current law regarding the sale of domestically produced soju and sho shu by on sale beer and wine licensed wholesalers currently on sale beer and wine license holders can sell imported soju and Shou Shu.

However, they are prohibited from selling domestically produced soju and sho shu, despite meeting the same regulatory standards as their imported counterparts. This putting California at a significant disadvantage. Members, I ask for your. I vote on Assembly Bill 2069.

Thank you for the support. Support speech. Any discussion on this item? I'm seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

We have a full house. Secretary, please call the absent Members. [Roll CAll] Ayes 39 noes zero measure passes. Senator Stern is prepared for file item 121. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2712 by Assemblymember Friedman. An act relating to land use.

Senator Stern.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, this is a response to a Bill that passed in 2022 which limited or eliminated minimum parking requirements for certain developments near major transit stops. This eases some of those restrictions to still allow for parking in certain areas that have been identified in the Bill. Exempts residents, in deed restricted affordable housing units.

Exempts residents in residential developments that are 20 units or less and also has some district implications in the City of Los Angeles, where residents are going to be allowed, as well as visitors of certain developments, for getting parking permits in preferential parking areas. This was received bipartisan support. Support of numerous neighborhood groups. We think will make housing crisis - still address the housing crisis without restricting people's ability to get parking. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

I am seeing no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes: 27; noes: 11. The measure passes. Senator Dodd, you are up again: File Item 123: AB 2047. We are ready to go. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2047 by Assembly Member Mike Fong, an act relating to public postsecondary education.

Senator Dodd, this enjoys support support.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present 2047, on behalf of Senator Mike--Assembly Member Mike Fong. It will establish a systemwide Office of Civil Rights at the California State University. Responding to an Assembly report--higher education report, they'll respectfully ask your aye vote.

This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Ayes: 39; no: zero. Measure passes. Next three on deck: File Item 137, 141, and 151. We're continuing with the Senator Dodd show. This is his third one up in case you're counting for today's champion. Secretary, please read File Item 137.

Assembly Bill 3285 by governmental organization, an act relating to alcoholic beverage control.

Senator Dodd, this Bill extends the sunset and ABC act by five years. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

There we go. Any discussion? Secretary, please read. Please call the roll. This is also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Aye 29, no zero. File item 141. Senator Cortese is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 832 by Assemblymember Cervantes an act relating to the California Transportation Commission.

Senator Cortese.

Thank you, Madam President. Senators appreciate the opportunity to present Assembly Bill 832 on behalf of assemblymember Cervantes. This Bill is a follow up to the Assembly Members own Assembly Bill AB 179. From 2017.

That Bill was approved, pass out of the Senate, was signed into law, and the Bill previously urged the Governor to make every effort to ensure that individuals with professional experience working in environmental justice are represented amongst the voting membership of the CTC, the California Transportation Commission.

Governor Newsom has certainly heeded that call, but there's no assurance that in the future, governors will do so. So AB 832 provides this guarantee by requiring the Governor to appoint at least one individual with professional experience in EJ as a voting member of the California Transportation Commission.

So this Bill really just changes the language from make every effort to shell. It's vital that the CTC continues to have the perspectives of these disadvantaged communities when making important transportation policy decisions. This Bill will make that hope a reality. And, colleagues, for these reasons, I respectfully ask for your I vote.

Thank you, Senator. No discussion or debate. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 30 nos nine. The measure passes. Senator Ashby is prepared for fire to 151. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1807 by Assembly Member Cervantes, an act relating to elections.

Senator Ashby.

Madam President, I rise to present AB 1807 on behalf of Assembly Member Cervantes. 1807 will make updates to the existing Riverside County Redistricting Commission. It applies stricter prohibitions on the communications outside of public meetings, requires commissioners to translate materials on the website to applicable languages, and bars commissioners from endorsing or making contributions to Riverside candidates. These updates will make the supervisors races and redistricting process more transparent. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

I'm seeing no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 31, 8 no. The measure passes. The next three on deck are file item 152, 155, and 161. Senator Bradford is prepared for file 152.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1834 by Assemblymember Garcia. An act relating to electricity.

Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Madam President. 1834, on behalf of Assemblyman Garcia, simply clarifies that the reliability provision of AB 1373, which was passed last year, can be implemented fairly, without increasing administrative burdens for public owned utilities. The Bill also ensures that POUs can voluntarily participate in the renewable energy development provisions of AB 1373 using financing mechanisms that best serve their communities. I respectfully aske for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes, 39. Noes, zero. The measure passes. Senator Atkins has file item 155. She is ready.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2072 by Assemblymember Weber, an act relating to healthcare coverage.

Senator, in support. Please proceed.

Thank you. I rise to present AB 2072 on behalf of Assemblymember Doctor Weber. Legislation chaptered in 2021 allowed association health plans to continue to provide high quality health care to employees in the life sciences industry. That has worked very well.

The important guardrails in this legislation have ensured that the plan is solvent, offers highest quality care and is actuarially sound. 2072 removes the sunset on the program and the amendments enhanced reporting requirements for the Department of Managed Healthcare. Request respectfully an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion? I1tem is eligible for unanimous roll call. I see no objection. Ayes 39 no zero, measure passes. Senator Durazo has filed item 161. She is ready to go with her red, white and blue. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2387 by Assembly Member Pellerin, an act relating to mobile home parks.

Senator Durazo, this enjoys support.

Thank you, Madam President. Rise to present AB 2387 on behalf of Assembly Member Pellerin and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Wonderful, Senator. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Don't ruin it. I see none. Ayes 39. Noes zero. The next three are file item 162, 168, and 169. Senator Newman, you have file item 162. Secretary, please read file item 162.

Assembly Bill 2395 by Assembly Member Quirk-Silva, an act relating to the California State University and making an appropriation therefore.

Senator Newman.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise on behalf of Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva to present Assembly Bill 2395. AB 2395 will provide increased fiscal flexibility for the California State University system to utilize the Continuing Education Reserve Fund more flexibly and more effectively, allowing it to better serve students and fulfill its educational an institutional mission.

Recognizing the state's current fiscal challenges, this measure does not seek additional funds from or for the CSU. AB 2395 has enjoyed bipartisan support in both houses and has had no opposition to date. On behalf of Assembly Member Quirk-Silva, I am respectfully asking for your aye vote.

Senator Seyarto, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. This bill actually does have some opposition. And this year we floated a CalVet fee waiver program, and the Cal State University system used this very money, which they have an overflow of, as a reason to oppose the bill and get it killed. So I do oppose this, and I hope you will join me in doing so.

Thank you, Senator. Seeing no other mics up. Senator Newman, you may close.

Thank you. So what this bill does is make a technical change to the education code to provide additional flexibility to the CSU. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Assembly Bill 2696 by Assembly Member Rendon an act relating to employment.

Thank you. Madam President and colleagues, I rise to present AB 2696 on behalf of Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon. This Bill clarifies that joint labor management committees established pursuant to existing law may bring an action in court against a direct contractor to enforce liability for any unpaid employee wages owed by the contractor.

Wage theft remains a serious problem in our state, especially within the construction industry, and the Legislature has enacted several bills in recent years to help combat the problem. AB 2696 will not affect any contractor that is not breaking the law, and it will help level the playing field for honest contractors that are actually following the law.

The Bill has bipartisan support, and it passed the Assembly with 690 in the vote count. I ask for your aye vote.

See no mics up. We're going to go through the roll call once. We're going to put it on call. Secretary, please read a please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Back to a full house. Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 32, noes five. The measure passes. Senator Durazo is up with file item 169. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2754 by Assembly Member Rendon, an act relating to employment.

Senator Durazo.

Madam President. AB 2754 by Speaker Emeritus Rendon will provide greater employment protection to port drayage truck drivers across the state by ensuring companies that contract with them are held liable for any violations of labor law. This bill will move companies to ensure that their contracts can satisfy legal obligations to their workers. Thank you.

And I ask for your aye vote.

Seeing no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please, please call the absent Members.

[Roll call]

Ayes 28. Noes 10. Measure passes. Next three are file item 181, 184, and 185. Senator Eggman has file item 181.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1111 by Assemblymember Pellerin. An act relating to cannabis.

Senator Eggman.

Thank you very much, Madam President, I'm here to present AB 1111. As a farmer's daughter, knowing the importance of having that direct relationship with the consumer. This allows cannabis farmers to be able to sell at authorized events, cannabis directly to the sellers, bringing the stock right to the person. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion on this item? This requires a two thirds vote. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

We're gonna call the absent Members one more time.

[Roll Call].

Senator Eggman moves the call. Next up is file item 184. Senator Wiener, Senator Wiener, file item 184. He is ready.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1840 by Assembly Member Arambula, an act relating to housing and making an appropriation, therefore.

Senator Wiener, please proceed.

Thank you very much, Madam President and colleagues. I rise to present AB 1840 on behalf of Doctor Arambula. The bill ensures that all Californians are eligible for homeownership assistance programs provided by the Housing Finance Agency, regardless of their immigration status.

Federal restrictions have historically excluded undocumented individuals from housing initiatives, limiting their access to opportunity as they seek to contribute to California's vibrant economy and community. At the state level immigration status can complicate access to home loans and home ownership assistance programs, posing a significant hardship in an already challenging environment.

The bill addresses this disparity and ensures that the social and economic benefits and opportunities of home ownership are accessible to everyone, regardless of immigration status. Ensuring universal access to homeownership is a just, inclusive, fair, and beneficial policy for the success and vitality of California. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Seyarto, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I rise in opposition to this bill, and the reason I rise in opposition to this bill is very simply, we can't afford it. We are already battling with deficits every year, year over year.

And so, to expand a program, we already have a great example of expanding a program and then we're billions of dollars short to be able to fund it.

Another reason to oppose this is because we have a lot of eligible citizens right now that could fully benefit from this if they just had a down payment, because they actually do have the income to sustain a house payment once they have the down payment.

Right now, this program is giving people down payments, 20% down on houses that are arguably at the peak of what our housing prices are going to be. Many of us in this room have been through recessions. 2008, for example, housing prices went from $600,000 to $300,000.

If you're giving somebody 20% down on a house, and that's at the median income, that means they have to qualify for a $500,000 loan.

And if we do not have, if we're expanding this program without any reference to, you know, if somebody is actually a citizen here, I'm not sure how you're supposed to go out and get that person qualified if they don't have the record to get qualified.

And what it does is it incentivizes mortgage brokers to give out mortgages because they get theirs. And then what happens is later on, the people can't afford that payment. And that's what happened in 2008. Easy mortgages. Easy mortgages. And people wound up losing their homes.

They lost all their financial wherewithal, and they wound up having a stain on their financial record going forward. So, there are a lot of reasons not to do this and not to do this now. We can be generous, but we have to have the money to be generous.

And we also have to be able to make sure that when we do do a program, we don't lure people into being basically having a bankruptcy or foreclosure on their financial records because they'll stay with them for a long time.

This is making people, this is incentivizing what we had in 2008, where the loans were easy and they did, they kind of overlooked a lot of the requirements to have a loan.

A $400,000 loan takes you at least $2,500 in today's financial interest rates plus your mortgage, I mean, plus your property taxes, plus the insurance and all of that. You need to make about $12,500 a month just to afford probably some of the cheapest housing in California.

This is a recipe for financial disaster for individuals, especially people that really can't afford it. I urge you to vote no.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Dahle, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Doing a great job today. I rise in opposition of AB 1840. Look, we have veterans, we have folks out there. We have Californians who are not undocumented immigrants who need these services. And for those reasons, I oppose this bill. We should take care of them first before we expand it out.

Along with the comments that my colleague made about the financial state of this state right now, where we're at financially, that we just can't afford it. And I think it's unfair to the citizens here in California to be putting out money that we don't have. So, for those reasons, I oppose AB 1840.

Senator Nguyen, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This has a potential impact on our veterans. When it comes to them and the military, I will always defend improving their living conditions, benefits and pay. Too many of them are homeless and on the street, which is not what we want. These families needs our help.

The latest figures from HUD shows 10,395 homeless veterans on our streets. While these aren't the only people to benefit from this program, having a place to call home would spur many of them who aren't able to work and can't get a job.

And many homeless do actually have jobs, but they don't have a place to live because it's so expensive to find a place in California. For those who aren't homeless, their retirement isn't nearly enough to even buy a house, barely even able to pay rent.

So, this program needs to be looked at and reconsidered and not be expanded to include everybody else. Let's help our veterans and let's help our homeless population first. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Min, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I hate seeing undocumented immigrants being tossed around like a political football in our country's political discourse right now. I hate seeing the headlines from Fox News on demonizing undocumented immigrants.

As someone who's grown up in California watching presidents of both Republican and Democratic affiliation ignore the problem of people coming into this country without documentation, to me this is a moral issue, it is an economic issue.

But the reality is we have over 10 million people in this country without documentation and we have to do something about that. They have to buy homes. There are things we have to do realistically. That being said, I just will be voting against this bill today for different reasons.

I did not vote for the California Dream for All Program when it first came up because I believe that the problem in California with our housing is too expensive and that is a bigger problem than down payment or lack of down payment assistance.

And I believe that that program and programs like it have the effect of increasing our home prices. So, I'm going to be voting against this bill today. But I hate the fact that this has become about undocumented immigrants, that we have demonized people who are just trying to get along in this country.

Senator Wahab, you're recognized.

Thank you. I just want to make it very clear that AB 1840 puts into law existing practices and federal regulations that require anyone applying for these taxpayer funded programs to provide a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number.

More specifically, speaking from personal experience with a foreclosure crisis, the big banks were the ones that benefited during the foreclosure crisis. You know, they kept the property, and they were also still absorbing funds.

And we claim that we are fixing the problem and the fact that people are paying PMIs that are ridiculously high when banks can still, if they foreclose, still keep the asset. This program is not perfect. I don't actually believe it's perfect.

The fact that they ran out of money within, you know, I think 11 days in this last cycle is still evidence that home ownership is still very difficult and still very much sought after by regular residents in California.

One of the things I do want to highlight is that this program should be a program that if you are taking out a down payment assistance and getting support that that be reintegrated into the main mortgage, the individual pays that mortgage, and the state takes their money from that overall loan.

That's the way that the money can continue to funnel into this program and actually help more people. But one of the realities of our housing crisis is that we are not curbing greed. We are not curbing the fact that private organizations and companies and investment firms are purchasing all the single-family homes.

We don't have data of who owns the majority of homes, people claim that they're small landlords, but they own 1000 units in the East Bay alone. We are consider seeing consistent abuses of a lot of programs for developers like LIHTC funds that evicted over 1000 people in California even though they received these funds.

I will say that there's plenty of problems with a lot of the programs that are currently out there, but some of the comments that were provided today is not the problem. So, I will be supporting this bill. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Caballero, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, Madam President. I didn't intend to speak on this today, but I really want to bring our eyes back to what this bill does because we can't solve all of our housing problems with this bill and this bill doesn't even attempt to do that.

Homelessness is an issue that is so huge. Mental health, addiction, a bill away from insolvency. That issue we're going to continue to struggle with for years to come. This has to do with the first-time homebuyers' program. And you have to work in order to participate in the program and to be eligible.

And if you're working, it means you've got, you're using an I-10 if you're not here as a U.S. citizen or as a green card holder. And so all this does is provide an opportunity for you to get in line if you can afford to buy a house.

And many of you live in districts where a house is unaffordable for anybody that is not a wealthy person. But in my district, homes are still available. You can still buy property if you're a working family. And many of these families have 2, 3, and 4 people that are working that contribute to the household.

This is a commonsense bill that allows individuals, many of whom were essential workers during the COVID crisis, to be able to get in line and hopefully buy their first home. It's not going to be easy. The program was oversubscribed immediately. But we need to put more money into the program.

It's the best way to pass on your wealth to your kids. And it's the dream everybody has, which is to have intergenerational wealth leave something, even if it's a piece of property that people can call their own. So, I respectfully ask for your aye vote today.

See no other mics up. Senator Ochoa Bogh, you are recognized.

Thank you. Many of you know that before coming to the Senate, I was. I worked as a realtor, and understanding this program is knowing that it was oversubscribed, and the funds were literally out within the first, what, 11 days it was stated. I do want to point out that I won't be supporting this bill today.

And the reason I won't be able to support the bill today is because it really, I find it to be, not intentionally, of course, but it is disrespectful to the 1 million immigrants that come here, documented, who go through the process and actually go through the process to come to this country legally, that have an opportunity now to be able to purchase a home.

We had brokers, we had agents, we had family members that actually came here legally and are now able to purchase a home.

But if we continue to create a system in which we reward, and this is not saying that people who are working and waiting for the process, the immigration process right now in the United States is completely appalling. It's not, it's not where it should be. That needs to be fixed in the first place.

We have people that are waiting literally 20 years to actually get their citizenship.

But on the other hand, right now, what we're facing in the State of California is the fact that we have, you know, as the U.S. as a whole, 1 million immigrants that come here legally, that are actually, many of them are hoping to get assistance to purchase a home. This particular bill.

What we're doing here actually disenfranchises and disrespects those who have actually gone through the process and are ready to purchase a home or would like to purchase a home.

It disenfranchises and takes away the opportunities for, you know, as mentioned earlier today, veterans who need assistance in order to purchase, who are, you know, we hear from our district over and over again how they're not being fully assisted with services that they need.

It takes away from people who are, you know, on the lower income who need assistance, that don't have parents to help them with a down payment in this area.

So, there's a lot of people that we take away from that are actually members of our community who need assistance and are ready and qualified to be able to purchase a home.

I do disagree with the comments in which, you know, it was implied that individuals who are applying for this program who are undocumented would not be financially responsible. You have to show that you're financially able and capable to get a loan in order to qualify for this program.

So, I do disagree on that, on that point that was made. But I do believe that we should create systems, especially when they're oversubscribed, and we have limited resources that we do respect those that are going through the process legally and responsibly in our system. And for those reasons, I will be opposing the bill today.

Thank you, Senator. Because we keep mentioning veterans, three veterans are up next to talk on their experiences. Senator Eggman, you're first.

Thank you. Again, to take it back to my colleague from Merced. Let's look at what we're talking about here. We're just talking about expanding an already existing program, not just inviting people in, but to expanding it. That immigration status doesn't matter if you meet all the other qualifications. And I deeply appreciate everybody speaking on behalf of veterans.

But I will say, like, this is not a pie. It's not like less for others. And veterans have multiple programs available to us because we served to be able to acquire house loans. So, I appreciate all the support, but we're doing okay. Thanks.

Senator Newman.

Let me just add to the comments of my colleague from Stockton, but also my colleague from Merced. This is actually a clarification bill. This bill does not create a new program or substantially expand an existing program. What it does is it attempts to address ambiguity in the existing regulation, and many buyers have received conflicting information.

The Dream for All Program states that borrower eligibility is limited to either a citizen or other nation of the United States, or a qualified alien, as defined in Eight USC Section 1641.

There was some confusion as to who was eligible, but all those who are eligible are actually aliens in good standing or undocumented residents in good standing who otherwise might be deterred from applying for a loan. And it's also important to note the maximum value of this loan is 150,000 at the most.

And so, we are not putting prospective buyers in a jeopardized situation, and they are still subject to all of the other creditworthiness checks. And so, I urge a yes vote for this bill.

Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I know we all come from different backgrounds. 30 years in business in this state, and I see some of my constituents, and I think you guys see, too, the inflation, the things that go on in the world.

And I think if we go back to the root cause, that's what we as business owners do. We don't try to put band-aids on things. We go back to what the root causes, what's escalating an injury, what's escalating the cost of doing business, those kinds of things.

So, if you go back to the root cause of the cost of housing in the State of California, it's the policies that are passed out of this building when you think about it. If you go back to the root causes of childcare, we increase the cost of childcare.

Then we subsidize childcare for those out of our General Fund budget to be able to afford the childcare, which was the reason a policy was put in place. We look at the cost of utilities. If you look at Arizona, they pay $300 a month where the same kilowatts here in California are like $1,600 a month.

Those are all root causes of policies out of this building. People could afford homes, we wouldn't have the housing situation or the homeless situation if the policies didn't inflate the cost of housing. This bill is similar to all the other ones I just mentioned. When you look at the cost of fuel, again, you guys hate.

I feel like a broken record. But we import fuel, which creates a cost to bring that fuel test instead of producing it here, which raises the cost of fuel. The tax increases that we have every year into perpetuity with bills and policies that have passed out here increase the cost of fuel.

And then we subsidize the cost of fuel. We subsidize the cost of utilities, which affects our General Fund budget. This issue right now that we're debating is the same thing. Policies out of this building increase the cost of housing, and then we subsidize that. In this case, it's $150,000 loan program.

So, even if you go away with the undocumented immigrants or documented immigrants or veterans or no veterans, you're subsidizing a program which created. Which policies out of this building increased the cost of us purchasing homes, which created a problem of housing in our state. So, I guess we could just go back to the root cause.

And instead of subsidizing all these programs, we should eliminate the bills that caused these, the cost of these increases in the State of California in the first place.

I agree with my colleagues that, you know, we are on a complete budget deficit, and, you know, subsidizing housing for people that are not here legally is not something that we should be doing.

I do not support that in any way, shape, or form, especially when there are so many Americans standing in line waiting for a housing opportunity to open up. I know that interest rates have gone up. My kids are paying 7% interest on a new house they just bought.

That's, again, the cost of policies, or the root cause of that is policies coming out of this building and the federal building. So, I get it. But I stand up and respectfully ask for a no vote on this.

And we should address policies that increase cost instead of trying to put band-aids on it and fund and subsidize programs that just aren't working.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Senator Dahle, you're once again recognized.

I just want to share with the body that I was the chair of the California National Homebuyers Program. National, the largest down system of payment in the nation when I was a county supervisor. I want to just point out the fact that this is not, that this is CalHAFA.

So, this is state monies that goes into this program. So, make no mistake, there are a lot of programs that are out there that first-time homebuyers that are tax-exempt bonds put up by corporations that are done nationally and in the state. But this is a California program which is going to affect our budget.

I want the record to reflect that.

Thank you, Senator. I see no further mics up. Senator Wiener, you may close.

This has been an interesting debate. It's where Fox News anti-immigration propaganda collides with housing policy. Just to start out with, as the former long-time chair of the Senate Housing Committee, immigration is not what's causing our housing crisis. What's causing our housing crisis is because we don't have enough homes, period.

I agree with the Vice President and President Obama on that. We need to build a lot more homes. And thank you to those colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have actually supported our efforts to make it easier to build new homes.

That's what's going to solve the housing crisis, not harming immigrants or preventing immigrants from buying homes, but on the actual bill. You know, you can love or hate our immigration system. I think it's completely broken.

But the reality is that we have more than 10 million people in this country without documents, who are working, who are paying taxes, whose kids are in our schools, who are starting businesses, who are members of our community, often for many, many years.

When my great grandparents and grandparents came to this country fleeing anti-Jewish violence in eastern Europe and Russia, they were able to come to this country and have documents and become documented members of the community and pay taxes and work and have children and do all the things that we want families to be able to do.

But the immigration system was very different then.

Now we have people fleeing violence, whether from Central America or elsewhere, and who are risking their families' lives to make the journey to come to this country, whether last year or 10 years ago, putting their families' lives in risk in order to come to this country to make better lives for themselves, which in my book are exactly the kind of people that you want in your community, people who are so.

They want to be here. These are going to be some of the best members of our community working hard and appreciating this country every day of the week, and they are being treated like garbage. And not just by Fox News, by the policies we put in place in this country.

And these are folks, in terms of this bill, who have Social Security numbers or taxpayer-identification numbers. These are people who are working and paying taxes. And, yes, they should be able to buy a home. They should be part of this program. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Senator Wiener moves a call. Senator Hurtado, you have file item 185?

I'm ready.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1864 by Assembly Member Connolly, an act relating to pesticides.

Senator Hurtado.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today on behalf of Assembly Member Connolly to present AB 1864. An easy aye vote on this measure because it helps protect children, those that are attending public schools and daycares in California.

We're supposed to be protected by a regulation that restricts the most drift prone agricultural pesticide applications during the school day from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. In practice, this regulation is often enforceable.

While notices of intent must be submitted to county agricultural commissioners before using classified pesticides, often the information provided isn't specific enough to determine whether or not the method triggers these protections.

AB 1864 seeks to make improvements by requiring annual permits to include method of application and specific site identification for use reports to include method and timing of application. This bill also ensures equity by extending the same protections to children, teachers, and school staff in private schools that public schools and daycares already are afforded. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. We are all talked out. I see no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 32, noes four. The measure passes. Next three we have on deck is 186, file item 181, and file item 209. Senator Stern has been patiently waiting. He is ready.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1889 by Assembly Member Friedman and accolading to land use.

Senator Stern.

Thank you, Mr. President. Madam President. This Bill will require local governments to consider and minimize impacts to wildlife movement and embrace habitat connectivity as part of their conservation element in their next general plan update. We want to make sure that folks are getting ahead of these issues that you face in the wildland urban interface.

We know there's increasing road safety issues associated with those who don't plan ahead, and we're also losing habitat at an alarming rate in this state. Open space and habitats for everybody, and this Bill has no opposition. So respectfully ask for your aye vote.

I'm seeing no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent members.

Glazer. Aye. Jones. McGuire. Nguyen. No.

Ayes 31. Nos 7. Measure passes. Secretary, please read file item 191. Senator Wahab is ready.

Thank you, colleagues and members.

Secretary has to read. Sorry.

Assembly Bill 2106 by Assemblymember McCarty, an act relating to probation.

Senator Wahab, thank you. Support. Support.

All right, colleagues and members of the public, on behalf of Assemblymember McCarty, chair of public safety on the Assembly, I rise to present AB 2106 which provides Californians with previous drug convictions, opportunities to maintain sobriety and return to society with supportive facilities, programs and wraparound services for their conditions and life situations. This Bill has received bipartisan support and no no votes. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

I see no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Aye ayes. 37, no zero measure passes. Senator Roth has filed item 209 and enjoys support. Support. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1788 by Assemblymember Quirk-Silva, an act relating to mental health.

Thank you, Madam President. The bill allows counties to opt in to establish mental health multidisciplinary teams dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of justice-involved individuals. Ask for an aye vote.

Phenomenal. No mics up. This item is eligible for unanimous roll call. No objection. Ayes 38, no zero measure passes. The next three on deck are file item 212, 214 and 216. Senator Dodd, your fourth bill. Are you prepared? Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2048 by Assemblymember Mike Fong. An act relating to Community Colleges.

Senator Dodd.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I rise to present AB 2048 on behalf of Assemblymember Fong. It is one of 12 Bills from the call to action Bill package to produce a report to the Legislature addressing sexual harassment on campus. Respectively act for an aye vote.

Any discussion? This item is also eligible for unanimous roll call. No objection. Ayes, 38. Noes, zero. Measure passes. Senator Wiener, you have file item 214, AB 2132.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2132 by Assembly Member Low and accolading to healthcare services.

Senator Wiener.

Thank you very much, Madam President. I'm presenting AB 2132 on behalf of Assembly Member Low. Will require primary care clinics to offer tuberculosis screenings to adult patients. Earlier this year, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department released new data showing a 19% increase in new TB diagnosis in the county.

Despite the high prevalence of TB, many people do not ever undergo a risk assessment or screening. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No discussion. This item is also eligible for unanimous roll call. I see no objection. Ayes 38. Nos zero. Measure passes. Senator Dodd, once again, might as well stay standing up. You have file item 216. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2326 by Assemblymember Alvarez. An act related to public post-secondary education.

Senator Dodd.

Madam President, Members, I rise to present 2326 by Assemblymember Alvarez. With this bill, we're making a pathway forward to partner with higher education institutions to assist in educational programs free from sexual discrimination. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No discussion. No debate. Item is also eligible for a unanimous roll call. No objection. Ayes 38, no zero. The measure passes. The next three on deck are file item 107, file item 217 and file item 225. Senator Menjivar is not ready.

Assembly Bill 1977 by Assembly Member Ta an act relating to healthcare coverage.

Thank you, Mister President. File item 107. AB 1977 will prohibit a health care service plan from requiring an enrollee previously diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder or autism from needing to receive a new behavioral diagnosis to maintain coverage for behavioral health treatment. Respectfully asking for an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item? Hearing, seeing none. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to applying unanimous roll call? I 38. No, zero. The measure passes. Let's follow item 217. Are we okay? Yeah. For Senator Menjivar.

Secretary, please read. Assuming Bill 2389 by Assemblymember Lowenthal an act relating to alcoholic beverages.

Senator Menjavar, the floor is yours.

AB 2389. On behalf of Assemblymember Lowenthal, will require that if an employee of a bar or nightclub is made aware that a patron has been or believes to have been roofied, the employer of the establishment can take two actions, contact law enforcement or medical services and to the best of their ability, follow the instructions given by that medical or law enforcement personnel over the phone and monitor the drugged individual until these services arrive. Respectfully asking for an aye vote.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Hearing seeing none. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to applying a unanimous roll call? Ayes s 38. No, zero. The measure passes.

Next on deck, it's going to be file item 225. Senator Glazer is prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 3177 by Assembly Member Wendy Carrillo, an act relating to housing.

Senator Glazer.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, on behalf of Assembly Member Wendy Carrillo, Assembly Bill 3177 establishes guidelines on spot widening dedications, a practice in which developers cede a portion of their land adjacent to a roadway to widen it without compensation.

Spot widening requirements significantly increase housing costs, adding between 10 and $50,000 per housing unit, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars per project. This practice is done in a handful of jurisdictions throughout California, often resulting in roads that essentially zigzag parcel by parcel, failing to meet the intended purpose. The bill has some reference to transit stations and transit priority areas. With that, respectfully ask for your support today.

Thank you, Senator. I'm seeing no discussion on this item. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 30, noes seven. Measure passes. Senator Stern is close behind Senator Dodd here. He has file item 227. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2684 by Assemblymember Bryan. An act relating to land use.

Senator Stern.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, this Bill will require cities and counties, when they're updating their local hazard mitigation plans or safety elements, to look at how hot it's getting. It's a pretty simple Bill. Strategic planning, though, and people are dying from the heat, in record numbers. So we think this will improve the ability to get federal funding and make our community safer. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. I am seeing no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes, 27. Noes, zero. Measure passes. The next three on deck are file item 228, 235 and 240. Senator Limón has the next two. She is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 81 by Senator Ramos and accolading to Indian children in declaring the urgency to take effect immediately.

Senator Limon.

Thank you, members. AB 81 would codify sections of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act law info, strengthening protections for California Indian children. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. This needs 27 votes. Any discussion? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call}.

Please call the the absent members.

Dahle. Jones. Laird. Aye. McGuire. Niello.

Ayes 36 on the urgency. Ayes 36, nos zero. Measure passes. Senator Limon has file item 235. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 3283 by Judiciary Committee. An act relating to civil actions. Senator Limón.

Thank you. Madam President and colleagues, I rise to present Assembly Bill 3283 by Assembly Judiciary Committee on claims of exemptions. This Bill proposes a minor procedural fix to a critical issue in debt collection cases. This Bill ensures that appearing for a claim of exemption hearing does not equate to consenting to the court's jurisdiction for the entire case. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. I see no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes, 39. Noes, 9. Measure passes. Senator Durazo, tied with Senator Stern, has file item 240. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2347 by Assemblymember Kalra an act relating into summary proceedings.

Senator Durazo. Thank you, Madam President. AB 2347 will make two updates to landlord tenant law. Extend the time for a tenant to respond to a summons by five additional days, and codify a timeline for demurs and motions to strike hearings.

The danger behind determining something as critical as shelter on such a quick timeline is that due process can easily be compromised. For Low income tenants that make up the vast majority of eviction case defendants, the difficulty is exacerbated deciphering the legal forms is complex.

Procedurally, tenants in most jurisdictions travel to the courthouse, wait in line, fill out forms. To do so, most tenants have to miss work, and if they have children, arrange for childcare.

If the five days run out before the tenant files a response, the landlord can get a default judgment against the tenant and they may lose the case without ever getting their day in court, even if they have a meritorious defense to the eviction.

The purpose behind the summary nature of eviction proceedings is to enable landlords to recover possession of their rental property relatively quickly. Quickly and with feedback from the California Apartment Association and Judicial Council, AB 1082 strikes the right balance. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 23, noes nine. The measure passes, colleagues, because today we're in here, and it's a mostly driveless day. We have some special guests in the chambers. Our special services Members are joining us today. We want to recognize them for their hard work. We are back in business. No more fun.

The next three on deck are file item 243, 244, and 248. Senator Durazzo's tie was short-lived. Senator Stern is back up. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2522 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo. An act relating to air districts.

Senator Stern has the floor.

Thank you, Madam President. This Bill will update compensation limits for Board Members of air districts throughout California. They were last set in the 1980s. This Bill would authorize an increase of up to $200 per day for this very important and underappreciated service to the State of California. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Seeing no mics up, we are about to take roll on file item 243. We're taking roll. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

Let's call the absent Members one more time.

[Roll Call].

Ayes, 28. Noes, 11. The measure passes. Senator Limón, back in the game. She is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 3059 by Assembly Member Weber, an act relating to human milk.

Senator Limón.

Thank you, Madam President and Members. AB 3059 will improve health outcomes for premature infants. The bill clarifies that medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk, known as donor milk, is a basic healthcare service under commercial health plans. Donor milk is a covered benefit under Medi-Cal, but existing law does not clearly define it is a covered benefit under commercial health plans. AB 3059 would ensure parity and require that all commercial health plans provide coverage for medically necessary donor milk. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 36, noes zero. Measure passes. Senator Becker, you have file item 248. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2368 by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris, an act relating to electricity.

Senator Becker.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. Pleased to present this bill by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris on the important topic of electric system reliability. This bill approaches reliability in a comprehensive manner, including directing the CPUC to regularly conduct an assessment of midterm reliability. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

No mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. Aye. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Atkins. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespear. Aye. Bradford. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cortese. Aye. Dahle. Aye. Dodd. Aye. Durazo. Aye. Eggman. Aye. Glazer. Aye. Gonzalez. Aye. Grove. Hurtado. Aye. Jones. Aye. Laird. Aye. Limon. Aye. McGuire. Menjivar. Aye. Min. Aye. Newman. Aye. Nguyen. Aye. Niello. Aye Ochoa-Bogh. Aye. Padilla. Aye. Portantino. Aye. Roth. Aye. Rubio. Aye.

Seyarto. Aye. Skinner. Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas. Aye. Stern. Aye. Umberg. Aye. Wahab. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Wilk. Aye.

Please call the absent members.

Alvarado-Gil. Aye. Grove. Aye. McGuire.

Ayes 39. no zero. Measure passes. The next three on deck are file item 250, 256 and 258. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas is prepared.

Secretary, please read Assembly Bill 3063 by Assemblymember McKinnor an act relating to the healing arts and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Senator. Thank you, Mister President. I am here to present AB 3063, which would clarify that the addition of a flavoring agent to enhance the taste of a prescription does not constitute compounding. Since November 1 of 2023, the number of pharmacies providing flavoring dropped from 3100 to roughly 30.

Total, a 99.5% reduction in access to the service literally overnight. This measure will affirm existing standards and practices at pharmacies across California, bringing the practice of flavoring back to independent and retail pharmacies, thereby making it easier for parents and children and those with developmental disabilities to have access to medicine they will actually take.

This measure is critical to ensuring public health and reflects an urgency cause. Thank you. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Senator, this item requires 27 votes, and it's also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection on the urgency? Ayes 39, no zero measure passes. Senator Allen. He's rocking and he's rolling. Secretary, please read file item 256.

Assembly Bill 2951. By Assemblymembers Cervantes. An act relating to elections.

Senator Allen.

Madam President, Members. This Bill delays implementation of previous legislation updating the process for notifying voters of a cancellation of registration. To provide the Secretary of State with additional time to update the system. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Senator Allen. World record. Any discussion? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

Senator Allen moves the call. Senator Roth has file item 258. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2373 by Assemblymember Rendon an act relating to mobile homes.

Senator Roth.

Thank you, Madam President. This Bill protects mobile home tenants from being evicted or having their rent increased by a mobile home park owner who does not have an up to date permit of operation. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Fantastic. Senator, this item is eligible any discussion? None. This item is eligible for unanimous.

It is ruined. No unanimous roll call. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Roth moves the call. The next three on deck are file item 260. Yeah. File item. The next one up is file item 265. Senator Smallwood Cuevas.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2527 by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan, an act relating to incarceration.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I present AB 2527, supporting the physical and mental health of pregnant people incarcerated in state prisons in three key ways. It requires that incarcerated pregnant people are given at least 120 oz of clean bottled water, codifies requirements for nutrition standards for incarcerated pregnant people, and finally, limits the use of solitary confinement for pregnant people with certain exemptions for safety.

This is a straightforward bill that will protect one of our most vulnerable populations and sets new standards for solitary confinement where there are currently none. This bill is sponsored by the Women's Foundation California, Solís Policy Institute. It is a humane bill, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. I see no mics up for a discussion. Senator Grove is ready for discussion and debate. You are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to applaud the author for coming forward and addressing this issue. You know, we have women's prisons in the State of California that are under attack right now in multiple cases. Postpartum issues like this bill addresses and pregnancy issues like this bill addresses.

And so I applaud the author for bringing forward AB 2537. As my colleague that did the presentation says that it prohibits the use of solitary confinement for pregnant postpartum women, except when there's a safety concern. Obviously, we want to make sure that all women inmates are taken care of and served. And I appreciate this bill and what it's trying to accomplish, and I agree that it will help keep prisoners, women, female prisoners safe like Chowchilla. I do have one problem that I think we all need to look at and address.

If we're going to protect women in these prisons, we need to make sure that all women are protected. In 2021, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations was required during their intake to ask their gender identity for inmates, and they allow them to change them fluently, fluidly, I guess. CDRCR is also requires to house inmates who are transgender, regardless of...

Senator Grove, if you could stick to the merit of the bill, please.

Absolutely, ma'am. I am. Protecting women and postpartum issues. So we have an issue in Chowchilla, and I'll just be brief, and I'd like to read a letter, if I could, from a prison inmate in Chowchilla. So this bill that we're looking at is protecting postpartum women. Women are coming up pregnant in Chowchilla, and they're coming up positive for AIDS. This bill deals with the pregnancy. I have a letter here from an individual...

Senator Grove, so long as the letter is related to the merits of the bill, incarcerated pregnant...

It's from an incarcerated woman. Yes, it is from an incarcerated woman. So in brief, I'm sure I'll get cut off again for this particular bill. I had an incarcerated woman from Chowchilla prison who's dealing with the pregnancy issue of a rape of an individual who has male anatomy in this prison. In this bathroom at Chowchilla... Permission to use a Prop. They hand out condoms. Why do you need condoms in a women's prison? Paid for by...

I'm sorry. Is permission granted?

Senator Grove, stick to the merits of the bill, please.

Why would you send out... Why we would not have to worry about the pregnancy issue in prison, which this bill addresses to protect pregnant women, if we didn't pass out, if condoms were not passed out in a state prison where we have male individuals and in Chowchilla, have pregnancies.

Senator Grove, this is the last warning. Your mic would be cut off. Stick to the merits of the bill.

Pregnancies that are taking place where we allow postpartum to... This bill protects those women after they deliver babies to be able to have time off to recover this. So I applaud the author. I support this bill, and I think we, as a Women's Caucus, need to do more to protect women in prison situations that we have here in the State of California. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Any other discussion or debate on the matter? Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you may close.

Well, I want to thank you, Madam President, for keeping order in this discussion. And this bill is about making sure that we're protecting women in our prisons who are giving birth, that we are treating them with respect and dignity, and that we make sure that they have the simplest things. Clean drinking water, safe conditions, and free from solitary confinement. As we want to make sure, as the bill says, that we are protecting our most vulnerable populations to ensure we have a real standards for women in our prisons. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37, noes zero. The measure passes. The next three on deck are file item 266, 267, and 271. Secretary, please read. Senator Wahab is prepared.

Assembly Bill 2740 by Assemblymember Waldron an act relating to incarcerated persons.

Senator Wahab? Thank you, colleagues and Members of the public. On behalf of Assemblymember Waldron, I rise to present AB 2740 which addresses current regulatory gaps. In prenatal and postpartum care for incarcerated pregnant individuals within California State prison.

This Bill aims to provide a healthier start to a child's life by connecting the incarcerated pregnant woman to social workers within seven days of their arrival. AB 2740 also expands family visitation eligibility and requires the expedited processing of visitation applications, ensuring that mothers and their newborns can have these crucial bonds.

The author has worked with CDCR and the governor's office on technical amendments with the Bill. AB 2740 recognizes both the fundamental health needs and rights of incarcerated individuals and their newborns. I respectfully ask for an an aye vote.

Any discussion? This item is eligible for unanimous roll call. No objection. We're gonna call the roll. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Full. Full house. Ayes 40, no zero. Measure passes. Senator Newman, you have filed item 267.

Secretary, please read Assembly Bill 2907 by Assemblymember Zbur an act relating to firearms.

Senator Newman.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise on behalf of Assemblymember Zbur to present AB 2907, which would resolve an existing disparity under California law which places more stringent firearm surrender requirements upon those subject to a civil protective order than those subject to a criminal protective order.

AB 2907 would require a criminal defendant convicted of domestic violence, stalking, or elder abuse to comply with the same firearms surrender procedures required of those subject to an equivalent civil protective order.

It has long been the policy of this Legislature that the safe and timely relinquishment of firearms by criminals and convicted abusers is critical to protecting victims from further violence, injury or death. AB 2907 has received bipartisan support with no no votes and has no registered opposition. On behalf of Assemblymember Zbur, I respectfully ask for your. aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. I see no discussion or debate. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Eyes 40 no zero measure passes. Senator Wiener has filed item 271. He's prepared. Secretary, please read. Support. Support.

Assembly Bill 1282 by Assemblymember Lowenthal. An act relating to mental health.

Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. AB 1282 tasks the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, to develop a statewide strategy to understand, communicate and mitigate mental health risks associated with use of social media by children and youth. Respectfully ask for an aye vote this.

Any discussion? Item is eligible for unanimous roll call. No objection. Ayes, 40. Noes, zero. Measure passes. The next three on deck is file item 274, 277 and 278. Senator Skinner, AB 3240.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 3240 by Assembly Member Calderon, an act relating to student financial aid.

Thank you, Madam President, Members. AB 3240 ensures that our students eligible for Cal grants are not penalized if they receive private scholarship support. The bill has received unanimous support so far and has no opposition. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Phenomenal. No discussion? Item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Ayes 40, no zero measure passes. Senator Durazo has the next two bills which will put her ahead in first place. Sorry, Senator Dodd. File item 277. We are ready now. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1413 by Assembly Member Ting an act relating to housing.

Senator Durazo.

Thank you, Madam President. Last year, AB 1633 closed a loophole in the HAA where local governments would indefinitely delay CEQA review as a de facto way to deny housing projects. Stakeholders have requested clarifications. This bill has enjoyed unanimous bipartisan support and was only pulled off consent for the purposes of Chapter eight amendments.

I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No mics up item is eligible for unanimous roll call. No objection. Ayes 40. No zero, measure passes. File item 278. Senator Durazo. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2525 by Assembly Member Zbur, an act relating to state highways.

Senator Durazo.

Thank you. AB 2525 will help the City of Los Angeles and other agencies in providing services to people experiencing homelessness. It will do this by streamlining the city's ability to lease property from the California Department of Transportation at a reduced rate to store recreational vehicles while the former inhabitants receive services to relieve homelessness.

Shortly after assuming office, Mayor Karen Bass launched her signature program called Inside Safe, taking immediate citywide action to voluntarily bring people experiencing homelessness inside from tents and other encampments. In order to continue the success of the program, the City of Los Angeles is in need of additional locations to store the RVs that are surrendered off the streets. This bill is sponsored by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No discussion on the item? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes: 31; noes: nine. The measure passes. All right, Senators, we are about to go into our lunch for 45 minutes. We've done 44 bills, but eight of them are on call. Please stay in the building. Now, recognize our Majority Leader, Senator Gonzalez.

Thank you, Madam President. We will caucus now--is 12:30. Democratic Caucus in the Maddy Lounge. 12:30. Thank you.

Senator Jones, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President and Members. Republicans will caucus in Room 215 after we grab our lunch for a brief conversation about something.

Senators, 45 minutes. See you in 45 minutes.

We are back in session. We're starting with file item 156 Senator Skinner. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2099 by Assembly Member Bauer Kahan. An act relating to crimes.

Thank you, Madam President. Members AB 2099 protects reproductive healthcare patients and their providers by updating the penalties for harassment and violation of a patient's privacy. The Bill is critical as violence is on the rise at clinics. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Colleagues, any discussion or debate on file item 156. Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen, I'll route A. Gillenhead. No. Archuleta. Aye. Ashby Atkins. I Becker Blakespear. I Bradford. I Caballero. I cortezy. I Dahle, Dodd. I darazzo. I Eggman. I Glazer. I Gonzalez. I Grove. No. Adato Jones. No. Laird. I limone. Mcguire. Min. Javar. Aye. Min. Aye. Newman. I win no. Niello Chobok, Padilla. I Portantino. I Roth. I Rubio. Seattle. No. Skinner. I small cuevas. I Stern. Umberg. I Wahab. Aye. Wiener. I Wilk. Please call the apps and Members. Allen. Aye. Ashby, Becker. Aye. Dahle, Bertado, Limone, Mcguire, Milo. No. Patrol. Bo. No. Rubio, Stern. Wilk.

Senator Skinner moves the call. The next three on deck are file item 282, 285 and 289. Senator Caballero is next. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2926 by Assembly Member Kalra, an act relating to land use.

Senator Caballero.

Thank you, Madam President. It gives me great pleasure to present AB 2926 on behalf of Assembly Member Kalra. The bill will help California protect our limited affordable housing stock and prevent low-income tenants from being displaced. The California Preservation notice law requires affordable housing owners with expiring restrictions to allow buyers interested in preserving the affordability a year's notice to make a bona fide purchase.

And gives them the right of first refusal to match any other offers. In addition, the bill also makes technical changes to the law to include recently enacted streamlining legislation to prevent tenants from being displaced or priced out with without notice. The bill has received bipartisan support. No opposition. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

This was supposed to be eligible, but we are going to call the roll. If I see no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Senator Caballero moves the call. Senator Min is prepared. Secretary, please read. File item 285.

Assembly bill 1825 by Assembly Member Muratsuchi, an act relating to libraries.

Senator Min.

Thank you, Madam President and Senators. I am proud to present on behalf of Assembly Member Muratsuchi AB 1825, the California Freedom to Read Act. This bill was drafted in collaboration with librarians and First Amendment lawyers. We know that the freedom to read is fundamental to our democracy, but it's been under attack in recent years.

According to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, challenges of unique titles in the United States increased 65% from 2022 to 2023, reaching the highest ever level recorded by the ALA. Censorship and book bans are, of course, not new in America today. At an earlier, uglier time in our history, books like Shakespeare's works, the Diary of Anne Frank, and even Robin Hood were banned as obscene or pornographic, and invariably, these bans turn political.

Today, this primarily targets the lived experiences and voices of LGBTQIA and black indigenous people of colors, as these made up 47% of books targeted in censorship attempts. In California, unfortunately, the ALA reported that in 2023 we saw 52 challenges to 98 titles in public libraries and school libraries.

And this, of course, we've seen several municipalities, including my City of Huntington Beach, pass book bans or ordinances to censor books. AB 1825 would prohibit public libraries from banning books based on partisan or political reasons, viewpoint discrimination, gender, sexual identity, religion, disability, or on the basis that the books contain inclusive and diverse perspectives.

Additionally, the bill requires public library jurisdictions that receive state funding to establish a collection development policy for the selection of library materials and the use of library materials in facilities. This bill seeks to protect the fundamental right of access to diverse and inclusive books and library materials for all Californians. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Min. I am seeing no mics up on this item. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Senator Min moves the call. Starting off a little rough after lunch. Senator Rubio, you're up next. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2543 by Assembly Member Arambula, an act relating to small business.

Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise to present Assembly Bill 2543, on behalf of Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula, which will provide assistance and services to eligible business owners. AB 2543 is sponsored by the Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative and is supported by many rights organizations. Thank you, and I ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. I see no mics up for discussion. We're going to be placing this on call. Secretary, please go through the roll once.

[Roll Call].

Senator Rubio moves a call. The next three on deck: File Item 290, 293, and 294. Senator Wiener, you are up. Secretary, please read File Item 290.

Assembly Bill 3122 by Assembly Member Kalra, an act relating to land use.

Support support, Senator.

Thank you very much, Madam President and colleagues. AB 3122 makes clarifying changes and corrections to SB 35, SB 423, the streamlined housing approvals. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion? Seeing none, secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Wiener moves the call. Senator Rubio, you have File Item 293. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1906 by Assembly Member Gipson, an act relating to persons with disabilities.

Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise to present Assembly Bill 1906, on behalf of Assembly Member Gipson, which seeks to conduct a study pertaining to elderly terminology. I ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Seeing no mics up for discussion, secretary, please call the roll once.

[Roll Call].

Senator Rubio moves the call. Senator Ashby is on deck. Secretary, please read File Item 294.

Assembly Bill 3253 by Assembly Member Berman, an act relating to professions and vocations.

Senator Ashby.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present AB 3253 on behalf of Assembly Member Berman. This bill is the sunset bill for the Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Fantastic, Senator. I'm seeing no mics up for discussion. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Ashby moves the call. The next three files on deck are file item 297, 298, and 299. Senator Cortese is prepared for file item 297. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2725 by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, an act relating to teacher credentialing.

Senator Cortese.

Thank you, Madam President, Senators, for allowing me to present AB 2725 on behalf of Assembly Member Rubio. The bill would provide administrative eligibility for specified therapists in our education settings, which is not the case right now. Authorizing the occupational physical therapist to obtain an administrative services credential will allow qualified personnel an opportunity to move into administrative roles and share their unique experience. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion on File Item 297? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Cortese moves the call. We're actually gonna be skipping File Item 298. The next two are gonna be 2299 and 301. Senator Durazo, you are making a comeback.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 3265 by Assembly Member Bryan, an act relating to environmental quality.

Senator Durazo.

Thank you, Madam President. This bill, AB 3265, will be a catalyst for sustained job growth by streamlining the process for renovating sound stages and updating production facilities to incorporate the latest graphics in audio technology. This bill has had bipartisan support in both Houses. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Fantastic, Senator. I see no discussion. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Durazo moves the call. Colleagues, we have another special guest with us today: former Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway is in the back of the chambers. And in what theme today? Senator Limon has File Item 301. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2508 by Assemblymember McCarty an act relating to student financial aid.

Senator Limon.

Thank you. President and Members, I rise to present AB 2508 on behalf of Assemblymember McCarty. AB 2508, expands access to Calkids for. AB 2508, expands access to Calkids for foster youth. AB 2508, will expand eligibility in first through 12th grade. I respectfully ask for an aye vote thank you.

Senator Limon, any discussion on this item? Secretary, please call the roll. File item 301.

[Roll Call]

Senator Limon moves the call. The next three on deck. File item 306, 309, and 313. Senator Bradford has file item 306. Senator Bradford is on deck. We are waiting for Senator Bradford to be ready.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1877 by Assembly Member Jackson, an act relating to juveniles.

Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Madam President. 1877 by Assemblyman Jackson will require a county probation officer to petition a court to seal certain records of any person previously determined to be a ward of the court who has reached the age of 18 and who is no longer under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court.

1877 gives our young people their best shot at a better life to pursue an education, start a business, or buy a home. This bill has bipartisan support, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion on the item? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Bradford moves a call. Senator Wahab has File Item 309. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 2801 by Assembly Member Friedman, an act relating to tenancy.

Senator Wahab.

Thank you. I rise to present AB 2801, on behalf of Assembly Member Friedman, which strengthens renter protections by preventing unfair security deposit deductions. Under current law, landlords can only claim funds from a security deposit if they are reasonably necessary for the repair of damages to the premises.

However, they are still able to withhold all or parts of the deposit with a valid reason or evidence. AB 2801 limits landlords from deducting security deposit costs unless necessary to restore the property to its original condition, excluding normal wear and tear, and requires detailed documentation and photos for any deductions.

This bill will give some of our most vulnerable renters extra protections regarding security deposits, while still preserving the landlord's right to deduct from security deposit any repairs of damages caused by the tenant. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. No mics up? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Wahab moves a call. Senator Limon has File Item 313. She's ready to go. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1780 by Assembly Member Ting, an act relating to postsecondary education.

Senator Limon, you're currently in first place. Please proceed.

Thank you. I will take that recognition. I rise to present AB 1780, on behalf of Assembly Member Ting. SB 1780 will prohibit California higher education institutions that receive state fundings from participating in legacy and donor admissions. By stopping legacy admissions, AB 1780 will ensure that all Californians have equal opportunity to be admitted to their dream school. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

I see no discussion on this item. Secretary, please go through the roll.

[Roll Call].