Senate Floor

Mr. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Members, the quorum is present. Would the Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise. We will be led in prayer this afternoon by Sister Michelle Gorman. After which, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Thank you. We gather in God's presence in honor of Black History Month. Let us pray. Loving God, give us a heart that inspires us to love without reservation, to continue to step out in courageous service to one another and never to dig up in doubt what we have planted in faith.

Guard our hearts from the distractions of the shallow and keep us on the critical path for which you have called us this day. Fortify us with your grace to speak kindly, to keep our words and actions on the upswing, and to refuse to allow any brokenness to infiltrate our spirits.

Let your light shine through the cracks and splinters of the less than perfect portions of our hearts. May we forgive ourselves, our imperfections, and in response, return needed compassionate forgiveness to others. Amen.

Please join me as we pledge allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance. Members, we're going to move on to privileges of the floor. I'd like at this moment under the privileges of the floor to introduce Senator Arreguin's guest who is sitting at his desk.

If you could wave to everybody, it is Diana Delphine Polk, who is his fiancé. Congratulations. There he is. Senator Laird at the Majority Leader's desk. Sorry about that.

Thank you very much. Madam President. I'm pleased to welcome to the State Senate today representatives of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. And we are joined on the Senate Floor by Cal Poly's President, Jeff Armstrong and 24 students have won individual or team awards and three associated student body leaders representing the Cal Poly student body.

Cal Poly is part of the 23 campus California State University system, the largest public University system in the United States. It is on the Central coast, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The location gives students unbelievable opportunities for hands on research in agriculture, winemaking and distinctive coastal ecosystems. As well as proximity to tech, industry and cultural hubs in Southern California and the Bay Area

Cal Poly has consistently received high rankings from major publications. For the past 32 years, the University has been named the best public master's level University in the West by the U.S. News & World Report.

It's also named one of Forbes Top 25 Public Colleges. It achieved a five-star rating on Money magazine's 2024 Best Colleges, along with 53 other schools, including Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia. We're here today to celebrate those students. They represent each of Cal Poly's six colleges are among the best and the brightest.

For example, Marlena Delgado, who's from Alameda, and her team received first place at the 2024 American Institute of Floral Designer Symposium. Garrett Schnach from Long Beach and his team earned second place overall at the VEX U Robotics World Championship.

I would like to thank President Armstrong, his Administration and the faculty for educating such an amazing group of students. They secure employment in highly skilled industries important to our California economy. And I know there are alums all throughout the Capitol, so please join me in giving a hearty Senate welcome to these representatives from Cal Poly.

Thank you for joining us here today in the Senate and congratulations on your prestigious awards. We're very proud of you. Thank you for that introduction, Senator Laird. Moving on. 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 motions, resolutions and notice. Without objection, the Senate journals for January 27, 2025, through January 30, 2025, will be approved as corrected by the Minute Clerk. Members, we're going to move on to introductions and first reading of bills. Mr. Secretary, please read.

[Reading]

Moving on to consideration of the daily file Governor's appointments file item number three. Senator Grove, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, file item number three is a confirmation for Stacy Luna Baxter for the appointment of the Gambling Control Commission.

Prior to this appointment, she served as the Executive Director for the Commission since 2015, and she has over 31 years of state service, which includes the Bureau of Gambling Controls Division, Law Enforcement and Department of Justice. She was approved by the Rules Committee on a 5-0 vote. Respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Members, is there any discussion or debate on this item? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes. 38. No, zero. The appointment is confirmed. Moving on to file item number four. Senator Grove.

Hi. Thank you. Madam President. Colleagues. So we have in file item four, there are three individuals. Actually, four individuals. Antonio Benjamin for Health Facilities Financing Authority. Michael Mark and Henry Nutt for the contractor State License Board. And Bene Khalek for the appointment to the Native American Heritage Commission.

All of these individuals were thoroughly vetted by the Rules Committee and approved on a 5-0 vote. Respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Members, is there any discussion or debate on this item? Discussion or debate? Seeing none. Please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes, 38. No, zero. The appointment is confirmed. Members are going to move on to Senate Third Reading, file item number 11. Senator Wahab is prepared. Please read, Mr. Secretary.

Senate Resolution 12 by Senator Wahab relative to the Lunar New Year.

Senator Wahab, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Senators and Members of the public, I rise as the Vice Chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus to present SR12. Celebrating Lunar New Year. You are all familiar with snakes. This year is the year of the Wood snake, which represents transformation. Lunar New Year has many names. Spring Festival, Tet Solol and more.

Over a billion people celebrated across the world, including Many residents in my district, which is 55% Asian. It's a time for families to reunite, resulting in the world's largest annual human migration. The zodiac cycle is 60 years long, symbolizing a full lifespan. It calls upon us to reflect on historical patterns.

The last year of the Wood snake was in 1965, a year of major civil rights battles and wins. In 2025, we've seen political attacks on immigrant communities and our core values. This holiday marks the coming of a new year, bringing new opportunities for growth. With this resolution, we reaffirm that our diversity is our strength.

We are proud to celebrate together and to stand with our Asian community as we welcome the Year of the Snake. I wish you all a year filled with prosperity, wisdom and joy. And I want to highlight that on behalf of the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus foundation, you all have a gift at your tables.

We would like to say and extend a very happy Lunar New Year. I respectfully ask for an aye vote Senator Weber Pearson.

Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, Senators. Today I rise on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus to celebrate Lunar New Year, a cherished and vibrant tradition observed by millions of people around the world, including many in our own diverse communities.

Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and signifies a time of renewal, hope and prosperity. It is a time when families come together, share meals and honor their ancestors, reflecting the deep rooted values of unity, respect and gratitude.

In recognizing Lunar New Year, we acknowledge the rich cultural heritage of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and their invaluable contributions to our society. This celebration not only strengthens our cultural tapestry, but reminds us of the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching our nation's fabric.

As we welcome the Year of the Snake, which is associated with wisdom, intuition and elegance, let us embrace the spirit of this auspicious occasion with open hearts and minds. May it bring us all good fortune, happiness, and a renewed sense of purpose and unity. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR12.

Thank you, Senator Wiener.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise today in support of SR12 as co chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus and as a. As a Senator representing a district with a significant Asian American population, many of whom are celebrating Lunar New Year. And we all celebrated together last week.

San Francisco is home to the oldest and largest Chinatown outside of China, and Daly City is known as New Filipino Town for its rich history. As a home for the Filipino community, I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2025.

As Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino and other Asian American Pacific Islander communities in San Francisco and San Mateo county and across the state celebrate the New Year with parades, dances, gatherings, food were joined in a joyous spirit. Over the centuries, celebrating with family and community for the New Year has remained an important part of Asian American Pacific Islander communities.

I have had the honor to participate in many Lunar New Year celebrations over the years and have seen a number of similarities between Lunar New Year and the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah. During these important holidays, we honor religious and cultural traditions and come together with friends, family, community to reinvigorate our bonds.

I hope that the Year of the Snake brings you and your family success, happiness and good health.

Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I rise on behalf of the Latino Caucus. It is my pleasure to rise and support SR12, which celebrates the beginning of Lunar New Year.

All across our great and diverse state, millions of Californians from various backgrounds and nationalities are gathering together during such an important time and celebrate the Year of the Snake. This rich cultural holiday is filled with various traditions that are rooted in the hope for good fortune and prosperity.

As we wish each other prosperity, health and success, let us go beyond the individual. Let us work towards a year filled with prosperity and success for every individual and every community that makes up this great rich mosaic of diversity. And I find that we become better humans when we take the time to learn from each other.

My district also includes a very large API community and I remember celebrating almost 20 celebrations one year and it was one of my favorite times to celebrate with my API community again. This is such an important time for families traditions, and it's always an important thing when we pass down traditions to. To our.

Those that are going to be left behind. So I look forward to joining my constituents for their celebration, celebrating here in the capital, and I encourage you all to do the same. I thank the Senator from Hayward for. For from introducing this important resolution and I hope that we can share moments together a lot more.

So thank you. With that, I ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Madam Senator Cabaldon.

Madam President, thank you. I rise on behalf of the LGBTQ Caucus to speak in support of SR12.

But also as one of the Senators who was born in the year of the Wood snake, the last time this rolled around, you probably already knew because the Wood snake is about charm and wisdom, ruthlessness and elegance, I think are the. Some of. Some of them.

And this is in the Chinese tradition of the Lunar year, which where the Chinese zodiac, with its 12 animals and the five elements remind us of the importance of coming together and in this year, in the year, each year of the Wood snake to focus on growth and wise decision making and perhaps more important than ever, shedding bad energy.

And so today it's celebrated all throughout California and principally in East Asia and in Southeast Asia has been said, but all around the world, in Africa, in the country of Mauritius, in South America, in Suriname, it is.

It is a celebration of renewal and of the diversity, the rich diversity of our community worldwide, but especially here in California. I ask for an aye vote.

Senator Ashby.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise on behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus in support of SR12 celebrating Lunar New Year. Would also like to add my thanks to the good Senator from Hayward who ably represents women in the API Caucus. The Year of the Snake, as you have heard, symbolizes wisdom, transformation and strategic growth.

Qualities that are reflected in not only the Senator from West Sacramento, but California's ongoing commitment to progress and opportunity for all. Lunar New Year is celebrated worldwide. And like so many of you, I am extremely proud to represent a district with a large and vibrant Asian American community that celebrates this tradition and many others.

Asian Americans have been integral to our state's history and growth, shaping industries, advancing civil rights, and driving economic and political progress. Asian American women have long been at the forefront, emerging as influential leaders, breaking barriers and driving innovation across various industries, making way for many of the rest of us.

These communities have faced countless obstacles with resilience and perseverance, thus shaping California's innovative and inclusive future.

As we welcome the Lunar New Year, may we reflect on how, as a Legislature and as a team, we can continue supporting the prosperity of diverse communities across all of our districts that have been vital to our state's long and storied success.

On behalf of the California State Legislature's largest caucus, the Women's Caucus, I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Senator Cortese.

Well, thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I'm pleased to speak in support of SR12 celebrating the lunar New Year. The holiday is important, I think, for all of my AAPI colleagues and hopefully for all colleagues in General.

It's a time for Members of our communities to bring in the new year, cleanse their homes, bring in a new foundation of prosperity, luck, good health and peace for the coming year. This year will be the Year of the Snake. As has been said in some cultures, the snake is wise, clever, strategic and intuitive.

The Year of the Snake is known to be difficult and filled with obstacles, but it's also led to times of growth and wisdom for all this year and this holiday represent not only the diverse cultures of Asian and Pacific Islander communities, but also their resilience and strength across all the different ethnicities and cultural practices.

I'd like to recognize this holiday not just because of its importance to colleagues as have been so well spoken today, but also because Asian American Pacific Islander residents make up nearly 40% of San Jose's population, over 39% to be exact, and 42% of our county population in Santa Clara County, right where Senate District 15 is located.

Of course, I have strong connections with these AAPI communities throughout my district. I celebrate and recognize this important holiday for the people I represent and for all Californians. It's equally important for us to recognize the many AAPI people who have greatly influenced the cultural and political landscape of California and our Legislature.

I wish my colleagues and all Californians a Happy New Year and wish the Legislature another year of growth and collaboration. And I very much appreciate the Senator from Hayward bringing this resolution forward. I respectfully ask for your aye vote, Senator Choi.

Thank you Madam and esteemed colleagues. I rise today in enthusiastic support of the resolution to celebrate the Lunar New Year in the great State of California. As you know, in fact, the Lunar New Year Day was last Wednesday, January 29th. But being late is better than never.

Thank you everybody in support of the Lunar New Year and recognizing it. And also I appreciate Senator from Hayward for introducing this resolution. This is a moment of a cultural significance that transcends communities, one that reflects the value of unity, values of unity and tradition.

The Lunar New Year is a celebration observed by millions of people around the world, including many of our fellow Californians. It is not just a holiday, it is an opportunity to honor centuries. All the costumes passed down from generation to generation.

When I was a young boy, I remember that I used to dress up in the Korean traditional dress and visit the villages to show my respect to village elders. In California. We are blessed to have diverse and vibrant Asian American and the Pacific Islanders community.

The celebration of Lunar Year New Year here is not just about honoring traditions, but about recognizing the profound contributions by the AAPI community. This resolution is also a statement against the rising tide of anti Asian hate we've seen in recent years.

By officially recognizing Lunar New Year, we are not only celebrating the important cultural holiday, but we are also standing in solidarity with our AAPI brothers and sisters. Acknowledging the richness of our state's diversity, we are making it clear that we embrace and honor the diverse heritages that make California. Unique. I urge you all to support this resolution.

Together, let's ensure that the spirit of Lunar New Year continues to shine brightly in California for generations to come.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Thank you, Madam President. I, too, rise in support of SR12 and join my colleagues and over 2.5 million individuals in the State of California that identify with the Vietnamese, the Korean, the Chinese citizens that we have here and the API in our API communities.

I can tell you that I'm excited that every year we are able to come together and be bipartisan on this issue and honor those that have served before us and those that celebrate this extraordinary beginning of new growth. The year of the Snake.

As it was said earlier, the Wood snake is about growth, about good decisions, about letting go of what the past is and looking forward to the future.

And I can tell you that even in Bakersfield, California, with our API community that we have, I would think, you know, people don't think that we have this amazing community, but we do. Kwan Louie, affectionately known as my prom date, is part of East Bakersfield Rotary.

And they put on this extraordinary event with the Dragons and the entertainment and the culture that they brought to this evening and the dress and the fun and the joy and just the genuine culture of how they bring that culture back from the countries that they came from to America to make American citizens aware of the extraordinary opportunities and the extraordinary culture and diversity that is brought to our community and the communities throughout the State of California.

Again celebrating with food, dance, culture and incredible good times to make aware of the Lunar New Year and the celebration that it brings. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote, Senator Perez.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to first start by thanking the Senator from Hayward for Moving this forward SR12 and recognizing the Lunar New Year. As the Senator representing Senate District 1225, I represent the San Gabriel Valley. And as my colleague, the Senator from Baldwin park knows, we have a very large Asian American community there.

This year is the year of the wooden snake. And wooden snake represents resiliency, regeneration and transformation. And I can't think of anything that better represents the San Gabriel Valley. I have watched our community survive everything from API hate that rose up during the time of the pandemic, survive a mass shooting and now deal with these wildfires.

It is truly incredible. And our API community has continued to fight every single step of the way.

So, you know, I just want to uplift both our community's history and the deep involvement that they've had and just in giving back to others through promoting our businesses and all the small business success that we've seen throughout the San Gabriel Valley from our API community and want to urge everybody to vote Aye on SR12.

Thank you, Senator Umberg.

Thank you, Madam President. Trip Nung Namoi Doi la. Senator Tom Umberg. I hope you're all impressed. I've just used all my Vietnamese to wish you a happy New Year. The Lunar New Year gives us an opportunity to celebrate the richness of of the Asian American community and all the gifts that they bring to us here in California.

Culturally, politically, economically, I've been blessed to represent a very large Asian American community, Vietnamese as well as Korean for many, many years. So I've seen firsthand all the goodness that they brought to California. I urge an I vote. Come on.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Wahab, you may conclude respectfully.

Ask for an I vote. Thank you.

Please call the roll.

Members, this item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to using the unanimous roll call? Seeing none. Ayes, 38. No, zero. The resolution is adopted.

Now moving on to file item 12, Senator Caballero is prepared.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 by Senator Caballero relative to Caledic Awareness Week.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise today to introduce Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, which commemorates January 31 through February 7 as California Earned Income Tax Credit, or Cali ITC Awareness Week. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Cali ITC, a refundable tax credit that provides assistance to households based on size and income.

Eligible filers can receive a maximum credit of $3,529. And according to the California Budget and Policy Center, in my district alone, nearly 160,000 households claimed over $39 million through the CALI ITC in 2021. What this means for the area is that rent got paid, the electrical bills got paid, food was bought.

This is really important money that goes right back into the community that needs it the most. According to the well, over the last decade, the Cali ITC has expanded and become more inclusive of eligible households. And since then, it's become one of the most effective means to combat poverty and help families improve their financial stability.

United Ways of California Real Cost Measure Report concluded that one in three Californians struggle to meet basic needs. One in three our constituents struggle to cover essential necessities like the cost of energy, housing, food, health care, childcare, transportation and other basic needs. And I know you've heard this over the years that these are getting harder to afford.

Remember, these are not just numbers or statistics. They're real people with real struggles. According to the Franchise Tax Board, $1.4 billion went back to Californians in 2024. Research has shown that the EITC can improve child maternal health. They live healthier lives.

And research shows that children whose parents received Cal EITC when they were little were better off economically when they grew up. Which is an incredible statement about how we can end intergenerational poverty by It's a really simple solution. So what can we do for our constituent and most vulnerable communities?

We can support Cal EITC eligible taxpayers so they can claim their full tax credits by supporting the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or Vida sites that provide high quality tax preparation, financial services and connections to other community services at no cost. I encourage you to visit these sites if you've never gone.

They're volunteers that perform this service for people to be able to fill out their taxes and to be able to claim this credit. So a big thank you to all the volunteers that make that possible.

And with that, Senators Ike, please join me to put hard earned money back into the pockets of Californians and increase the number of households that are able to claim the benefits they're rightly entitled to. What we know is many people don't claim the benefit because they just don't know this can make a tremendous difference. And so I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you Senator. I see two mics up. We're going to start off with Senator Becker.

Thank you. I want to quickly add my voice, thank my colleague from Merced. As she said, this is one of the most effective anti poverty programs that we have and these are all people who are working. These are people who are working and, and get this additional benefit.

But they have to know about it and that's why this awareness week is so important so that people know that they can get this benefit so they go ahead and file and that they take advantage of this terrific program.

My very first Bill I worked in when I was in youth in government in Pennsylvania many years ago was kind of along these lines. And so I'm a big fan of this program, enthusiastic supporter and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I rise as a co author to scr14. I believe that this is one of the most important ways of uplifting our communities out of poverty. And I thank the great Senator from Merced for introducing this important resolution.

I've worked tirelessly with a coalition of organizations trying to increase access to the Cal etc because we know that families need it. But more importantly, we also find that the difference between someone receiving this benefit and those that do not is $1.

So several years back I attempted to include mothers that stay at home because if you claim, let's say $5 income, you qualify. But if you stay at home and make $0 you don't qualify. So once again, this is one of those tricky situations where some benefit, others don't.

But I really want to say thank you to everyone that's worked on this issue as it really does help with the Low income families. One in three Californians struggle to meet just very basic needs and more than half of California Low income families are not receiving any support.

So let's use our voice and raise awareness about this important issue. Cal EITC program As already stated, not a lot of people know and don't take advantage of it. And with that, I ask for your I vote. Thank you.

Thank you. See no other mics up. Senator Caballero, you may close. Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen I. Alvarado, Gil. Archuleta, I. Arin, I. Ashby, I. Becker, I. Blakespear I. Cabaldon. Aye. Caballero, I. Cervantes, I. Choi. Cortese I. Dahle. Durazo, I. Gonzalez, I. Grayson, I. Grove, I. Hurtado, I. Jones. Laird, I. Limon, I. Mcguire I. McNerney I. Menjivar, I. Niello, I. Ochoa. Bog, I. Badilla, I. Perez I. Reyes. Richardson. Rubio I. Siorto. Smallwood. Cuevas. Aye. Stern. Aye. Umberg. Aye. Baladers. Aye. Wahab. Aye. Weber, Pearson. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Please call the absent Members. Alvarado, Gil, Troy. Dahle, Jones, Reyes, Richardson. Aye. Sierto.

Ayes. 33, no, zero. The resolution is adopted. Members, we're going to return to motions and resolutions. We're going to take the adjourn in memories. Senator Blakespear.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I rise today to pay tribute to my constituent Lakshmi Uma Krishnan, who passed away on November 24, 2024, at age 72. Uma was a remarkable educator leader whose life journey embodied the American dream. Born in Malaysia to Indian parents, Uma learned to navigate cultural differences as a member of the Hindu minority.

She excelled at traditional Indian dance, performing on television to raise money for charities. But from a young age, she pushed back against social restrictions on girls. She followed her brothers everywhere, even climbing to high mountain peaks where women seldom ventured.

Uma migrated to the United States in 1980 through an arranged marriage to Mohan Krishnan.

She resisted the idea of an arranged marriage at the time, but she later wrote that it was the greatest gift that her mother had ever given her. Her husband, Mohan, had come to the US for graduate studies and settled in San Diego to work for General Atomics.

Joining him, Uma parlayed her passion for science into a job as a cancer researcher at UCSD and then at the Veterans Hospital. After becoming a mother to two sons, she explored entrepreneurship so that she could spend more time with her kids.

She established a retail bakery and then a wholesale bakery, providing specialty breads to places such as Costco. And then she started a digital sign business. One of her campaign signs was even featured in a photo of Bill Clinton in Time magazine.

But Uma's true calling emerged in 2002 when Principal Gary Wilson invited her to create a science lab at Torrey Hills Elementary School. After she had volunteered for years at every school that her sons attended, Uma transformed that science lab into a wonderland of learning, complete with lizards, snakes, turtles and birds.

Students in first through sixth grade rotated through each week and frequently stayed after school to help care for the animals. Other teachers kept their students in line by saying, if you don't behave, you can't go to Uma's lab after school.

Her elementary students won competitions like the Rubik's Cube Challenge, the San Diego Science and Engineering Fair and Science Olympiad, even against middle and high school students. Her dedication was recognized when she was named Teacher of the Year in San Diego County in 2008. Uma's teaching went beyond academic achievements.

She developed deep and lasting connections with her students. One student even came back to her years later for a letter of recommendation to MIT, where the young woman had been waitlisted. And after she got that recommendation letter from Uma, MIT accepted the student.

Uma's sense of fulfillment came not from awards or shiny equipment, but from inspiring young minds and building lifelong relationships with students, their families and her colleagues. Even after her battle with cancer kept her from the classroom, Uma remained committed to community service. She volunteered to glean fruit for food banks and assisted seniors.

Her sons, Arvind, a Harvard educated attorney, and Naveen, an MIT educated doctor and venture capitalist, continue her legacy of excellence and service. Naveen is now using his medical training to identify and fund startups that focus on new cancer treatments. Uma will be deeply missed.

Her story reminds us of the enduring promise of America, a land where a young woman from Malaysia can become a beacon of scientific education and community service. The children she taught have been forever changed by her enthusiasm and confidence in their capacity to learn and grow.

By honoring Uma, we are honoring teachers in California across this state who prepare future generations and give us great hope for our future. Thank you.

Please accept the Senate condolences to her family and bring her name forward to the desk so she may be memorialized. Members were still on adjourn in memories. Senator Choi.

Thank you, Madam. I rise today to ask the Senate to adjourn in memory of Mr. Mark Murphy, who was a former mayor of City of Orange and suddenly passed away on December 13, 2024, at the age of 67.

Mark Murphy, born at the St. Joseph's Hospital and a graduate from Orange High School, was a lifelong resident of City of Orange. He worked for the tech company Hewlett Packard for over 33 years.

In 1990, Mr. Murphy was sworn in to his first role as a public servant, being appointed to the City of Orange Planning Commission and in 1993 appointed to the first term on the City Council. Seven years later, he was elected as mayor of City of Orange in 2020.

During his lifetime he served a total of 17 years on the City Council of Orange and a total of 10 years as mayor. He was named Orange County Local Elected Officer of the Year in 1998 and receiving Orange's as Citizen of the Year in 2010. Mr. Murphy also received a Board Chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority.

Many refer to him as Mr. Orange. Mr. Murphy and his wife were active participants at the YMCA and Orangewood Children's Home. Vicky, his wife, and Mark Murphy were married for over 30 years. Mr. Murphy left behind a legacy of incredible service to the City of Orange and outstanding dedication to Orange County at large. Thank you.

Senator Umberg.

Thank you, Madam President. I join my colleague from Irvine in recognizing and honoring the life of Mayor Mark Murphy. He was indeed Mr. Orange, born there, educated there and served there with great distinction. He didn't actually like to be called Mayor. If you called him Mayor, he'd say, just call me Mark.

He enjoyed riding his motorcycle around town and he made so many contributions that the city will be forever in his debt. Among those contributions were the acquisitions of Grijalva park and also the Steve Ambrose Memorial Park. He served with Steve Ambrose on the City Council.

He was very proud of completing the Orange Public Library across from City Hall and also the new fire station. As was mentioned, he is survived by his wife Vicki and his mother Lois. And our condolences go to those two and the rest of his family. I join in recognition of Mayor Mark Murphy. Thank you.

Please express our Senate condolences to the family and bring his name forward to the desk so he may be appropriately memorialized. Members, we have one more additional adjourn in memory and we're then likely to take a pause for a few moments. We're waiting for two special session legal defense budget bills to arrive back from the Assembly.

So once they are both in our position, we'll open up our special session. So that's just so you're prepared. We're moving on to the last adjourn in memory. Senator Wiener.

Thank you very much. Madam President. Colleagues, it is with great sadness that I rise today to ask that the Senate adjourn in memory of Jeannie Lu Ho who passed away peacefully on Friday, November 29th of last year at the age of 78. Growing up in a close-knit Chinese Vietnamese community in Hanoi, Jeanne understood the importance of family and culture.

Before immigrating to the US, she was a teacher at the Chinese School at Chinese schools in Hanoi, Vietnam. She cherished her role as an educator. Her passion to mentor others and share her culture transcended borders.

She continued to spread her wisdom and Chinese traditions with friends and family in the Bay Area. Jeanne was the moral compass to those around her and instilled the importance of education, integrity, generosity and compassion. Jeanne was an extraordinary cook, a woman with impeccable style, and lived a very active lifestyle.

For decades, she swam at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center and danced at the Golden Gate Park Senior Center. She'll be remembered as the ultimate matriarch. Her legacy will continue, and her charm, grace and kindness will be missed forever.

She leaves behind a devoted family who cherished her deeply, including her children Catherine, Maureen, Mimi, Vincent Ho, and also Lily Ho, who is one of our great community leaders in San Francisco. She left behind eight grandchildren. Please join me in adjourning in her memory.

Please express our condolences to the family and bring the name forward to the desk so that they may be appropriately memorialized. Members, we now have one of the special session bills in our possession. We're still waiting on one more. We're going to take a brief break. Nobody should leave the Capitol. And we'll be back shortly.

So we have eyes on you. So we're going to take a break. Be back in a few minutes.

[No words spoken]

Members are ready to get started again. If you could all take your seats, please. That includes everybody. Please. Members, I want to thank you for your patience. I know it's been a little bit of a delay. I'm going to start calling out names. If we can get started, we'll be finished rapidly.

So at this time, the regular session will stand in recess and the first extraordinary session will be convened. The prayer and the pledge will be deemed complete. There is an Assembly message at the desk. Mr. Secretary, please read the Assembly message.

Madam President, I am directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on this day passed Senate Bill 1 and 2 above bills ordered enrolled. Sue Parker, Chief Clerk of the Assembly.

Thank you very much. At this time, we will move to motions and resolutions to recognize Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to submit a letter to the Senate Daily Journal. Assemblymember Gabriel and I are submitting this letter to clarify the intent of SBX1-2 with respect to its appropriation of $25 million for civil legal assistance for Californians in terms of who is eligible.

The letter has been shared with both sides of the aisle.

Senator Jones.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise and ask for a roll call vote on this letter. The Republican Caucus received this letter just about an hour before Sessions started. As everybody knows, The Republicans opposed SBX1-2 when it was voted upon last month.

While we fully support the authors admitting that the violent felons should not receive taxpayer money for immigration services, we still cannot support giving $25 million of state funding, which is taxpayer funded for Pro Bono legal services for undocumented immigrants.

If the authors are really committed to this clarification, the Bill should be sent back to the Assembly for further amendments. I ask for an abstention or a no vote on this letter to the General. Thank you, Madam President.

Very good. Any further debate or discussion? Senator Durazo.

Thank you very much, Madam President, I rise to support the proposal by our Senator from San Francisco. You know what we're going through. Let's peel back all the things, excuses that are being given. This is really about making sure that the immigrant community has the resources to be able to defend itself.

There are very evil and terrible attacks on our community that is creating enormous fear. It's terrorizing our community. People don't know what they are, what the issues are why, whose laws, Everything 's being Executive order. There's so much confusion that it's creating fear.

And our community, our immigrant community, that puts so much into this country, so much into this state deserves the defense that we should give it. We made a commitment to our immigrant community that we were going to watch their back, that we were going to watch out for them.

For parents to be so afraid when their kids are going off to school, to not know if they are going to see them again, whether their kids are going to end up in cages, they deserve defense. They deserve this.

Thank you so much. Yes, please stick to the letter.

Excuse me, Senator, can you address point of order. Not debate on the issue, but the letter itself. Thank you.

Well, isn't the letter about the resources and under what conditions the resources would be given?

No, the letter is to clarify what the Bill says.

Yeah, I know, but I'm just saying.

Is that if you want to take a minute, we'll give it to you.

Okay. This is about Legal Services for especially. Well, I'm sorry, Madam President, if I could. Yes, okay.

Actually, I think everybody has seen the letter. If you can just address the fact that we're putting this in the Journal. That's the motion.

Okay. Well, this is why I think the letter should be submitted to the Journal. It is. It's for all these reasons that I just said and many more. And we're going to prove that California is going to stand by our immigrant community. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Senator Seyarto.

Thank you. Madam President, I wanted to clarify something regarding this letter. Just because you put a letter into the Journal does not make it law. And if this were, if someone that had a criminal record were to get Legal Services and want it paid through through this law, does this letter make it so? No, it does not.

The judge in a case like that will go right back to the law the way the law is written, not the intent of a letter, and therefore, it wouldn't be standing up in court. So my colleague from San Diego was absolutely correct that this should go back through the Legislature.

If they want this language in the law, in the Bill, then they should put it in the Bill. A letter of intent is not going to get it done. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Caballero.

Members, the real issue here is that the funds will all have the same restrictions on them. And that's the reason for the letter and why this becomes Very important is that there are real opportunities for people to defend themselves and to know what their legal rights are.

Sorry, Senator You'd have to stick to the letter.

So the letter just clarifies what's in the bills and clarifies that the different funds all have the same requirements and restrictions. And I spent the weekend with folks in my district that are terrified and that come

So the point is that immigration is very complicated and that's why this money is being made available. But there are restrictions on how the money can be spent and that's what the intent and the purpose of the letter is.

And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any other Member wish to speak on this item seeing no other mic up. I'm going to turn it back to Senator Wiener to close.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, the arguments on the other side from the other side, to be honest, are red herrings. This sort of very theoretical, not based in fact claim about who's going to be getting legal services. And there's no indication that this has ever been an issue in any of these programs.

And so this is absolutely a red herring.

What actually matters is that millions of Californians may be thrown off healthcare, might lose their special ed, might lose transportation funding, we might see a collapse of our agricultural sector and construction sector with tariffs and mass deportation and that is what matters, not this absolute red herring that the other side keeps focusing on.

I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Please call the roll. The Senator Wiener asked for an aye vote. Senator Jones asked for a no or an abstention.

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Aye's 29 No's 1 The letter is submitted. Members we are going to take another break for just a couple of minutes and then we'll conclude the agenda. We have one resolution to take up.

Members, just to let you know that the Resolution has arrived. It's just going to take us a minute and then we'll wrap up here. Again, thank you for your patience.

Senators, the Senate will reconvene in 60 seconds. Senators, there is an Assembly message at the desk. Mr. Secretary, please read the Assembly message.

Madam President, I am directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on this day adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution 1 ordered held at desk. Sue Parker, Chief Clerk of the Assembly.

Members, without objection, we will take up Assembly Concurrent Resolution Number 1 without reference to file. Mr. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 1 by Senator Member Aguiar-Curry relative to final adjournment of the 2025-26 first extraordinary session of the Legislature.

Mr. Pro Tem McGuire.

Thank you so much. Madam President. Senators, today I rise to present ACRX1-1, which once passed by our house, will adjourn this extraordinary session. Would respectfully ask for an aye vote to adjourn the extraordinary session.

Senator Jones.

Thank you, Madam President. I support the resolution. Ask for an aye vote.

Very good. Is there any further discussion or debate? Seeing none. Please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes, 38. No, 0. The resolution is adopted. There's no further business. The first extraordinary session is adjourned, and we will reconvene the regular session. And if there's no other business there, Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Madam President. Grateful to all the senators for being patient today, for working through these final issues. The next floor session is scheduled for this Thursday, February 6th at 9am; we'll see you Thursday.

Members of Senate is adjourned. We will reconvene Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 9:00am.