Senate Floor

Senators, please find your seats. We're starting in 30 seconds. 30 seconds, Senators.

Secretary will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Quorum is presents. Senators, colleagues, Respectfully asking if you could return to your desk, please. It will be a somber session. Floor. I'm asking if we can return to our desk. Thank you so much. Happy first day back at school. Everyone's excited. Would the Members and our guests beyond the row and in the gallery, please rise.

Colleagues, as we join together today and to begin the work on the 202526 legislative session, we would like to observe a moment of silence for two events that took both, that both shook our well being as Americans and show our resilience and resolve.

First, let us have a moment of silence in honor of those who were killed and those who lost loved ones in the terrorist attack in New Orleans. People who, like so many of us, were simply celebrating New Year's. This week also marks the anniversary of the January 6th attack on our nation's capital.

In our constitutional norms, we especially remember the law enforcement officers who died or have been irreparably harmed in their defense of our nation. Now, please, a moment of silence. Thank you, colleagues. I know we all ask for peace for the families and strength for our nation.

At this time, we'll be led in prayer by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman. After which, please, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Sister.

Let us recall that we are in the presence of the Holy merciful and ever loving Creator. Once again we begin a new year in the Western world. A new year of hope where we remember that it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.

So we pray for our legislators that as they commit to work for the common good, they will, in the words of Howard Thurman, light many candles this new year. Candles of joy despite all sadness. Candles of hope where despair keeps watch. Candles of courage for fears ever present. Candles of peace for tempest tossed days.

Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens. Candles of love to inspire all their living. Candles that will burn all the year long. Gracious God, we thank you for all the blessings you will impart to our lives this year. Amen.

Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. There are no privileges of the floor. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of Committee will be deemed read. Moving on to motion, resolutions and notices. There are none. Introduction and first reading of bills will be deemed read.

Senators, I once again ask you to return to your desk. We are returning to motions and resolution. This is the time to do our adjourn in memory. Senators, I ask we're going to give some time to Senator Archuleta to do his adjourn in memory. That we respectfully seize all conversations and give our attention to our fellow Senator. Senator Archuleta, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President. Before I begin, I would like to look around and see my family. Because each and every one of you is my family. You express your sorrow. You express your wishes and prayers, your calls, personal calls, texts to the Archuleta and Hahn family. It touched us all. It's been tough, no doubt, but as you know, as a veteran, we got to keep pushing on.

And as the grandfather of my granddaughter, which I will read shortly, on behalf of all of us, we'd like to thank you pro tem for sending the flowers to us on behalf of the Senate, the Latino Caucus, for sending the flowers on behalf of its Members, Assembly Members who've called. Thank you all.

I've often wondered how truly much we are a family. But we are one. And I know. Sharon, thank you for your calls. And all of you across the aisle. There was no aisle. There was no red or blue. We were family. And I thank you. May this never happen to you. And thank you for your blessings.

And now, Madam President and Members, today I rise to adjourn in memory of my grandchild, Samantha Alex Robles Hahn, whose life was tragically, tragically taken by a drunk driver the night before Christmas Eve, December 23rd, at approximately 8:30. She was just 30 years of age.

Samantha took on the name Samantha Alex Robles Hahn as she related so closely to her Mexican American roots. She loved her maternal family's name, Robles meaning oak tree. And she will always vow to be strong, diligent, and never forget those who needed help in any way, shape or form.

Samantha was raised in Victorville as the eldest of four children. Samantha was baptized in my district at St. Benedict's Church in Montebello, where she'll be laid to rest with her Services on the 24th of January.

Samantha attended Academy of Language and Performing Arts, where in addition to the standard curriculum, she practiced speaking Spanish and learned to read and write music and play the piano and the trombone. Samantha then went on to high school at Lewis Center Academy of Excellence where she where she honed her leadership skills. Samantha. Samantha was a proud Member to serve as a Member of the award winning Air Force ROTC unit. Just a minute.

Take your time, Senator.

Take a swig of water. I see it's coming. Thank you. Samantha attended the Academy of Language and Performing Arts where in addition to the standard curriculum, she practiced speaking Spanish and learned to read and write music and play the piano and trombone.

Samantha then went on to high school at Lewis Center Academy of Excellence where she honed her leadership skills. Samantha was a proud Member and she served on the award winning Air Force ROTC unit.

Samantha was proud to wear her Air Force uniform honoring her father Tony, who served in the United States Air Force during her high school years. She also was an active Member of the Girl Scouts with troops that drew the troop Members that grew to be part of her extended family.

Samantha was even inducted into the lifetime as a lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts USA. So instead of leaving Victorville and going away to college, Samantha went on to pursue her Bachelor's of psychology locally at Cal State San Bernardino, where her father Tony attended and was battling cancer at the time.

Her father sadly passed from cancer three years ago. She then went on to Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena and lived with my wife Rose and I, which brought her closer to us and to her school in Pasadena at Pacific Oak.

She found a fulfilling community there at the small school the environment where she earned her master's degree in family therapy. While in school, she worked with children and their families in Altadena, California for Five Acres, a child welfare organization with outpatient and residential services.

On her journey, Samantha found deep fulfillment when advocating and serving at risk communities of foster children and with an emphasis on the LGBTQ youth who we all know needs all the help we can possibly give to them and those that love them. Samantha was an angel in that regard.

Samantha was a lovely and wonderful person who was ready to take on a career serving the unfortunate where she had always been her dream. She had many plans for the future and we know without a doubt she would completed her work being a positive person in the big challenging world that she faced.

We all teased her quite a bit about the fact that she wanted to heal the world one child at a time. If Samantha was still with us, I know she would still be on that quest. One child at a time. Words cannot express how broken we are.

And all of us who rely on the good Lord, to strengthen us at times like this. So, Samantha, you are with the good Lord. God bless you. This is a profound loss to my family. And this tragedy should never hit your family. And your family should never face such a terrible tragedy.

But tragedies like this highlight how important it is that we do not ever let anyone drive while they are intoxicated. This can happen to any one of us and to your families. My grandchild's death could have been prevented. We can make a difference.

All of us here in the Senate and the Assembly, all of us can make a difference by making the right choice to never allow anyone to drink and drive. Allow anyone that we know has been drinking beyond the ability to comprehend and get behind the wheel.

Had that drunk driver not been on that road that evening, we would still have Samantha in our lives. Samantha is survived by her mother, Sandra, and siblings Zachary, Kendall, and Cassidy. For these reasons, I ask that we adjourn in the memory of my grandchild, Samantha Alex Robles Hahn, thank you for your time and God bless you all.

Senator Archuleta. Bob, your family, we'll continue to pray for you. I will continue to pray for you during this very difficult time. What you've shared and knowing the kind of person that you are, I know the hole that Samantha has left in this earth, in this world. May God continue to shower your family with, with strength and love. During this typical time, the Senate would forever memorialize Samantha's name.

Thank you. And to my fellow Senators, all of us, thank you so very much. God bless you.

We will now turn to our majority leader, Senator Gonzalez, for her AIM.

Thank you, Madam President and Members, I rise today to adjourn in memory of a beloved community Member, Isa Rashad. Isa was the co owner of the B Room in downtown Long Beach. He was an artist, a visionary, and a tireless advocate. Good, good friend.

He was involved in local causes such as the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition, Downtown Business Association, and a huge icon at only 38 years old within the LGBTQ community, Isa created It's a Drag to Give, where he asked every one of the community leaders, anyone, elected or not in the community, to dress up in drag and give back to the community and usually to LGBTQ youth organizations.

He loved adventure and travel, and his zest for life was unmatched. His life was dedicated to bringing people together, and he leaves a legacy Even in his 38 years of one of boundless generosity, a vision, unwavering positivity, and he touched countless lives.

And at 38 years old, he was survived by his amazing mother Rocio, who he co owned the B room with Hector, his father, his sisters Vanny and Josie, and three nephews, Abraham, Jaden, Nathan and his niece Evelyn. I respectfully ask that we adjourn in his memory and offer our sincere condolences to the rich, Rashad and Kiro's family.

Thank you. Thank you Senator. Please bring your dearly friend's name up to the to the desk so that he may be properly memorialized. Our third AIM and final AIM of the day is going to be by our by Senator Umberg.

Thank you. Madam President and colleagues, I rise to honor the life and memory of Sheriff Brad Gates, former Orange County Sheriff who passed away this past October. Sheriff Gates was born and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He was truly a son of Orange County.

He graduated from Capistrano Union High School, Orange Coast College in Cal State Long Beach where he received a bachelor's and Master's degree in Criminology. Also did extensive graduate study at Claremont Graduate School. Sheriff Gates served as Orange County sheriff for 24 years.

He helped to expand and modernize the Department and and took over the airport, harbor patrol and jail operations from other departments. Orange County's population doubled during his tenure and Brad Gates accomplished the task of ensuring that America's fastest growing county had a first class sheriff's Department.

He gained a national reputation for instituting anti drug efforts including a regional narcotic suppression team and a school program called Drug Use is Life Abuse. Sheriff Gates also was one of three, a troika, if you will, who took leadership after Orange County went bankrupt in 1994.

There are very few of us that remember that time when Orange County actually went bankrupt. And he along with two others really created the process as well as the structure to help Orange County recover from that bankruptcy. Sheriff Gates was a frequent visitor here to Sacramento.

And if you called central casting and you said send me down a sheriff from the west, they would send down Sheriff Gates about 6 foot 4 and he might come in on his horse because that's how he was often pictured.

He was back in the back of the Assembly when I was in the Assembly quite frequently and I have, I think I saw the bruises from where Sheriff Gates, in his inimitable way of advocacy would poke me and tell me exactly what he wanted and when he wanted it.

And he often got his way for the good of Orange County. He led with integrity and strength and was admired for his no nonsense Persona. As I mentioned, he still has. He's left his mark on my chest today. He had an affinity for the West.

He was a frequent participant in the Portolo Ride, which has become famous in Orange County. And he valued his family above all else. He's survived by his wife, Dede, his son Scott, daughter Dede, Jo, her husband Eddie, grandchildren Joanna, Emma and Nathan, and their big brothers, Stillman and Robert, and little sister Margaret. I ask that we adjourn in memory of Sheriff Brad Gates.

Thank you, Senator, for sharing his story with us. Please bring the sheriff's name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. If there's no other business, Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Madam President. Members, we want to officially welcome you back to the State Capitol and want to say that we are looking forward to the work ahead. Senator Archuleta, on behalf of the entire State Senate, we are so sorry for your loss. Your family's loss. Did a beautiful job today.

Your family would be incredibly proud. I know Rose is also thinking about you as well. Well, ladies and gentlemen, Senate, the next floor session is scheduled for Thursday, January 9th at 9am we'll see you on Thursday.

The Senate will be in recess until 3:30pm at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 9:00am Have a great day.