Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

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

So let us bring ourselves into the presence of our God and each other. Loving God of mystery. Pierre Terre De Chardin said, we are all called to be pioneers. Pioneers who stand on the edge of great beginnings, of unseen futures. Pioneers filled with unwarranted confidence that visions give.

Pioneers whose eyes and ears are elsewhere, who hear an echo of possibilities as music poised to enter the universe. The movement forward, he says, will not happen by itself. The steps that must be taken can be summarized in five a great hope in common. The future is in our hands. Loving God, holy mystery.

We thank you for the energy within us that drives us to toward creativity and wholeness. In the spirit of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. May our hearts be ever more hopeful as we work to create that beloved community where all can enjoy the thrill of forging life and love on our precious earth. We ask all in your name. Amen.

Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Members, we will now move to privileges of the floor. Senator Cortese, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I do want to acknowledge the Luis Valdez Leadership Academy who's here with us today in the gallery. I have a short introduction I would like to make with the presiding officer's permission. I rise today to recognize Luis Valdez Leadership Academy, also known as LVLA and its tremendous achievements.

This is a free dependent public charter high school located in East San Jose on the Yerba Buena High School campus. And it joined us as part of the community in 2014. LVLA is a space that challenges its students through rigorous coursework.

It emphasizes media and the visual and performing arts, with teaching methods that sustain the culture of the student population. And this particular area of East San Jose, its enrolled student populations 47% English language learners and 88% socioeconomically disadvantaged. Its graduation rate for the class of 2024 was 99%.

It also has a biliteracy component that focuses on native Spanish speakers and Spanish language learners. It's helped prepare students to use their life experiences and the skills they gain to generate a positive impact within the East San Jose community and beyond.

The school has worked to prepare its students through offering a dual credit program allowing students to take college classes while in high school, and this year is collaborating with San Jose City College on this very program. The program challenges students to improve time management, critical thinking, and writing skills that will be helpful on their college journeys.

LVLA initiatives are shaped by Luis Valdez, the renowned playwright and the father of Chicano Cinema and the school's namesake. He settled with his family in San Jose and later attended San Jose State. He went on to create his internationally renowned theater company, El Teatro Campesino or the Farm Workers Theater in 1965, during the height of the United Farm Workers struggle.

He became critically acclaimed for directing films like Zoot Suit and La Bamba. His work continues to communicate the struggles of Chicano Americans through art. In many ways, his inspiration has pushed LBLA to strive for excellence and this is evident with the awards it has been honored with.

In March of 2024, the school was named a 2024 California Distinguished High School by the Santa Clara County Office of Education, and in May of the same year, scholars were awarded first place in the My Name, My Identity Student Artwork contestants, also by the County Office of Education.

They've celebrated their 10th anniversary recently, and many of us have been involved in supporting the school. We're happy to have them here today.

We were able to honor them on their 10th anniversary in October of 2024 with accommodations from the city, the county, a commemorative resolution from Yours Truly Here, the Senate, and a California Legislative Certificate of Recognition by Assembly Member Ash Kalra.

The Luis Valdez Leadership Academy continues on this track, and it's set to thrive even more and make a deeper mark on the culture and community of East San Jose. Thanks to the continued support and hard work of the staff and community.

And again, they're with us here in the gallery and I would just close by thanking you, Madam President, thanking my colleagues and asking you to give them a nice round of applause for all their work over the last 10 years. Thank you.

Congratulations and welcome to the Senate. Members, please let us welcome the following guests to the Senate Chambers: former Speaker of the Assembly and current Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass, L.A. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, and Councilmember Adrin Nazarian. Welcome to the California State Senate, Members.

Members, if you would like to go to the rear of the chamber for a group photo, this would be your time.

Members, without objection, we will now move to Senate third reading to take up File Item 32, SCR 41, by Senator Ashby.

After adoption of the resolution, we will move back to privileges of the floor for the Senate to introduce her guest. Secretary, please read File Item 32, SCR 41.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 41 by Senator Ashby, relative to Special Olympics Day.

Senator Ashby, you may present at the Majority Leader's desk.

Thank you, Madam President. You are doing an amazing job in your debut. Thank you very much for your service. I rise to present SCR 41, which recognizes March 24th, 2025, as Special Olympics Day in California.

The International Special Olympics Games began in 1968, sharing a powerful message that children with intellectual disabilities can be exceptional students, athletes, and through sports, can realize the potential for their own significant growth. Today, the Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for individuals with intellectual disabilities, serving both children and adults.

It includes more than 4 million athletes, supported by over 350,000 coaches, and nearly 800,000 volunteers across 177 countries. The Special Olympics of California partners with over 1,000 schools and engages over 300,000 students, fostering inclusion and providing resources to develop confidence.

The Special Olympics empowers athletes to discover new strengths, to build self-esteem, to foster independence and a critical sense of belonging, both on and off the field. The organization also helps bridge the gap between medical professionals and individuals with intellectual disabilities, by offering a wide range of free health exams and screenings, including physical, mental, and emotional care.

We're going to take our vote on SCR 41, and then I have some special guests to introduce, who have also joined me on the floor today.

Thank you, Senator Ashby. Senator Choi, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President and the fellow Senators. Today, I rise in support of these resolutions celebrating the Special Olympics, California, and proclaiming March 24th, 2025, as a special Olympics Day in our great state. The Special Olympics is not just an event.

It is a movement that embodies the values of inclusion, courage, and the power of the human spirit. It provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities, build self-confidence, and create lasting friendship.

California has long been a champion of diversity and inclusion, and the Special Olympics reflects these core values, by uniting people from all walks of life. When I was Mayor of Irvine, our city became a host city to accommodate the Special Olympians from South Korea, when the Los Angeles hosted the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2015.

The athletes who participate are an, are an inspiration to all of us, demonstrating resilience, determination, and triumph in human will. Their achievements remind us that ability is not defined by limitations, but by the passion to succeed. Today, we honor the athletes, coaches, volunteers, and the families who make the Special Olympics possible.

Let us all join together in recognizing the importance of this day and continue to support the inclusive society where everyone has a chance to thrive. I urge you to support SCR 41. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Choi. Senator Valladares, you are recognized.

Thank you. Members, I rise today in support of SCR 41, to recognize the Special Olympics' Day in California. I've spent much of my adult career being a voice for our special needs community. And I can attest that the Special Olympics is more than just sports.

It's a movement of inclusion, of empowerment, and of opportunity for those with special needs. Through competition, athletes gain confidence, build friendships, and prove that ability, not disability, defines them.

For me, it's personal though. My niece was diagnosed as nonverbal and on the autism spectrum when she was just two years old. At the time, she had not a single word in her vocabulary.

But through early diagnosis, through dedication, support, and love from her family, she found her voice, just as Special Olympics gives thousands of athletes across California the chance to find theirs. Let's celebrate these athletes, their families, and the spirit of perseverance that they all represent. I respectfully ask for your "Aye" vote.

Thank you, Senator Valladares. Not seeing any further discussion or debate. Senator Ash—oh, sorry—Senator Cortese.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today also in support of SCR 41, which proclaims March 24th, 2025, as Special Olympics Day in California, as we've heard. I'm a proud co-author of SCR 41, especially because of the strong local ties to my district in Santa Clara County.

Just this past summer, we hosted the 2024 Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games, at Santa Clara University, in our county, and it's not the first time. Over a 1,000 athletes and coaches from 35 counties came together, for a weekend of competition, connection, and celebration, right in my backyard, so to speak.

I also, as a point of personal privilege, want to recognize Kevin Lee, the senior manager of Government Relations and Advocacy for Special Olympics, who we work with closely, who's also a former staff member on my staff. Kevin continues to be a passionate advocate for equity and opportunity, and I'm very, very proud of his leadership with Special Olympics.

So, I, too, urge your "Aye" vote to honor the incredible athletes, families, volunteers, and advocates who make this work possible. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion or debate. Senator Ashby, would you like to close?

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to thank my colleagues, the Senators from Irvine, Santa Clarita, and San Jose, for their comments. The Special Olympics truly do enrich all of our districts and the young athletes who come from each of our communities. I respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote on SCR 41.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Ashby moves the call. We will go back to Privileges of the Floor. Senator Ashby, you may introduce your guests.

Thank you so much, Madam President. I am so honored to introduce to my colleagues, my guests from the Special Olympics, from Northern and Southern California. President and CEO, David Solo. President and CEO, Kelly Pond. Special Olympics Athlete Leader, Dustin Plunkett. Senior Manager of Government Relations and Advocacy, Kevin Lee.

Colleagues, please join me in welcoming them to the California State Senate Floor. [Applause]

If any other Senators would like to join in the photo, please go to the rear of the gallery.

Members, we will be moving on. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports from the Committee will be deemed read. And amendments adopted. We're now on to motions and resolutions and notices. Without objection.

The Senate journals for March 17, 2025 through March 20, 2025 will be approved as corrected by the minute clerk. We now move on to consideration of the daily file. Secretary, Please read the second reading file.

Senate Bill 98, with amendments. Senate Bill 399, with amendments.

Second reading will be deemed read. We'll now move on to Governor appointments. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. You're doing a great job. File item number four is the confirmation colleagues of Deborah Lee as a chief for the Division of Occupational Health and Safety, Cal OSHA, at the Department of Industrial Relations. Prior to this role, she'd been serving as Cal OSHA's Deputy Chief of Safety since 2015.

Started her career in the division over 31 years ago. She comes highly recommended by several people, including our former Department of Industrial Relations Director, Christine Baker. And she was approved by the Rules Committee on March 5 with a 5-0 vote. Respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Not seeing any discussion or debate. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Senator Grove, you're recognized.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Colleagues, file item number five is the confirmation of Edmund Blagdon as a Director of Division of Enterprise Information Services at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

He first joined CDCR 15 years ago in 2009, and prior to his appointment, he was serving as a Division Deputy Director of Integrated Business and Technology Solutions. This is a wicked smart guy that understands technology and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

Thank you. Senator Grove moves the call. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, file item number six is the confirmation of Jason Elliott to the appointment to the California Transportation Commission. Commissioner Elliot. Oh. Yeah, no, that's not happening.

File item 13.

Is this like a birthday joke or is it real? It's real. Oh, is it really real? Okay, it is real. File item 13. Yes. Madam President, my deepest sincerest apologies.

File item 13. Senator Grove. You are recognized.

Colleagues, completely unprepared for this one. Our colleague, Senator John Laird, the former Secretary of Natural Resources, has an appointment to the Pacific State's Marine Fisheries Commission. Senator Laird, as stated previously, served as a California Natural Resources Secretary and is unanimously approved by the Rules Committee on March 19. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Seeing no discussion. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Senator Grove, you're being recognized.

Oh, I apologize, Madam Chair. I have file item 6 and 7 here. That must be overzealous staff.

Moving on to Senate third reading. File item 24. Senator Wiener. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 22 by Senator Wiener relative to Transgender Day of Visibility.

Senator Wiener, you may proceed.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Colleagues, today I rise on behalf of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus to present Senate Resolution 22 to commemorate March 24 as Transgender Day of Visibility. Transgender Day of Visibility is not just a celebration, but a call to action.

It's a day to recognize the vital role that trans men and women have played and continue to play in the fight for LGBTQ rights and in so many aspects of American society. From Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who helped lay the foundation of the modern LGBTQ movement.

To countless trans activists and individuals in every single industry on the face of this planet, pushing for equality and full humanity. Trans people have always been at the forefront of this struggle. We also need to, I think, be very eyes wide open about what's happening today in this country and why it's even more important for trans people to be visible today and for all of us to have trans people's backs today.

We're in a terrifying moment in time when the very existence of transgender people is being questioned and is under assault from some of the most powerful people in this country, including Trump and Musk, who are trying to push trans people into the shadows. Trump has signed...

Point of order, Madam President... Over and over again.

Point well... What is your point of order?

Point of order. Asking that the good Senator from San Francisco respect the duly elected President of the United States with the title of President of the United States.

Point well taken. Senator, please refer to the President or give him the title President.

Madam President, could I just... Just to clarify, because I said Trump and Musk, and so does that... Am I allowed to say Elon Musk without calling him President, or do I have to call him President too?

Point of order.

What is your point?

Certainly the Senator from San Francisco knows that Elon Musk is not the President of the United States or the Vice President of the United States. I would think that the Senator would know that, knowing civics and his involvement in public policy.

I'm aware who's running the country, Madam President. Thank you.

Point well taken. Please refer to our President by his elected name.

Yes. So the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has taken aggressive action to effectively eradicate trans people from public life. The President of the United States has an unhealthy obsession with trans people.

In his first two weeks in office, with all the problems facing the world of war and peace and health care and inflation and cost of living, with all the problems facing this country, the President of the United States issued more than five executive orders dehumanizing trans people just in the first few weeks in office.

Just imagine that for a population that's about 1% of Americans. The President of the United States purported to ban trans people from existing, saying that there are two genders only, and they are both determined at birth. The President of the United States threw trans people into limbo by prohibiting issuance of passports consistent with their gender identity.

The President of the United States decided to transfer trans women from women's prisons to men's prisons in a blanket way and in a completely dehumanizing way, subjecting these women to brutalization in men's prisons. The President of the United States blanket banned trans people from serving in the military.

People who literally have given their lives to serving and defending our country, and he's dehumanizing them by saying they're no longer allowed to serve. The President of the United States decreed that transgender young people were no longer allowed to have health care, even if their parents are supporting them. They're just not allowed to have it anymore.

The President of the United States threatened to arrest and prosecute teachers if they recognize the basic humanity of trans kids in their classrooms by, God forbid, letting them use the restroom. Imagine that. Arresting teachers because they support their students.

The President of the United States and Elon Musk as well, have been blanket removing reference to transgender people from government websites. Black people, too. It's not just trans people, but trans people have been targeted. And they actually are changing LGBT to LGB, including at Stonewall Inn, which is a national monument.

On that website, they removed the T, even though it was trans people and drag queens who stood on the front lines with gay men and lesbians at Stonewall demanding equality. And they are being erased by this President of the United States. There is so much more.

We know that Elon Musk is out announcing that trans people are deranged and public safety risks. All of these things dehumanize trans people, particularly young people. And I have parents come up to me in San Francisco asking in complete seriousness, parents of trans kids, do I need to leave the country?

Is my kid even safe in this country anymore? The amount of fear, the amount of terror that's being spread in the community, the incitement to violence that this President and his Administration are creating, it is hard to overstate it. We must have trans people's backs now more than ever.

I know sometimes the politics are hard because they have spent so many years dehumanizing and delegitimizing these folks. But that's when it's most important for us to have their backs, when it's not popular to do so. To be able to say to people, I don't care if the polling isn't good, we're going to have these folks backs.

These are our neighbors. These are Americans. We're there for them. Trans people existed long before the United States was born. Trans people exist today. And trans people will exist long after this wretched presidential Administration is on the dustbin of history. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Senator Becker, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus in support of SR 22. Transgender Day of Visibility is a moment to recognize and celebrate the lives, stories, and resilience of our trans community. It's a day to affirm that trans people are seen, valued, and loved, not just today, but every day.

California has led the way, protecting, uplifting our transgender siblings and schools and workplace, even here in the Capitol. But we cannot take that progress for granted nor be complacent. Across the country, trans people, especially trans women of color, are facing an onslaught of discrimination, violence, and, as mentioned, dehumanization. Their existence being minimized, debated, and legislated away.

We stand today with the trans community with love, advocacy, and action. Within the Jewish tradition, there's a deep and ancient recognition of gender diversity. The Talmud and Kabbalistic teachings speak of figures whose lives in modern terms might consider be considered trans or non-binary.

Our faith tells us that all people created b'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God, are deserving of dignity, respect, and protection. I'm proud to be part of the Jewish tradition that affirms and uplifts the dignity of all people. And I respectfully asked for an aye vote on SR 22.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Durazo, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in proud support of SR 22, recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility. Each of us is served by good staff. In my case, Evan Minton prepared remarks for me to deliver on Senate Resolution 22. But on this occasion and on this measure, I want Evan to be visible. Here are the words that Evan wrote.

Science is science. Trans people exist. Full stop. Trans people have always been here. Their existence is recorded thousands of years ago in ancient Sumer, in indigenous nations across the Americas, and in cultures around the world. Long before colonization, trans people weren't just seen, they were honored. They held sacred, respected roles in their communities. That legacy still lives.

And yet today, their lives are being used as political pawns. There are an estimated 1.4 million transgender adults in this country. And in the last election cycle, over $215 million was spent attacking them. Not because they're causing harm, but because scapegoating works in a broken political system. That is not leadership. That is dangerous.

California has a responsibility to lead. While others legislate fear, we must legislate dignity. Because dignity is not optional and history is watching. Let me be clear. There is nothing moral about trying to erase a community to gain power. Leading with dignity means action. It means protecting access to affirming health care.

It means identification that reflects who you are. It means being able to live, work, go to school, and move throughout the world fully and safely. And, yes, it means having the right to play sports. We hear a lot about getting government out of people's lives.

Then let's stop passing laws that police how people show up in the world. If we truly believe in freedom for all then that freedom must include the right to live fully and authentically. That's what trans liberation is, and it makes all of us more free. To my colleagues, don't legislate what you haven't taken the time to understand.

Sit down with your transgender constituents. Break bread with them. They are teachers, parents, students. They are artists, organizers, and healers. They're raising families and showing up at PTA meetings. But they're also reshaping what justice looks like in our time. You'll come away with your opinion changed, and you'll be the better for it.

To the trans community, this day is yours. Your courage is generational. Your leadership is undeniable. Your joy is revolutionary. You are part of the long tradition of justice in this country. And you are not alone. Celebrate with resistance. Celebrate with community. Celebrate with love. I'm not just standing with you. I'm fighting alongside you. Colleagues, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Durazo. Senator Perez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today in strong support of this important and timely resolution to acknowledge and celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility in our State Capitol. Members, among the various challenges facing our society today are the divisive political tactics weaponizing hateful rhetoric targeting transgender students and peoples.

I am saddened and sickened by the hate our transgender youth is facing on a daily basis. I've had transgender students share with me that they've experienced hate and bullying on school campuses. Parents of transgender children have shared with me that, in many cases, they are debating changing their children's school when the bullying becomes too much.

All students should have access to a safe and inclusive academic environment. Let's be clear, Members. Attacks against transgender persons have only recently become a political trend due to the hostility of our federal Administration towards transgender people.

And due to these obsessions, there are sweeping actions throughout the country to require that any student can be subjected to invasive genital exams and harassing sweeps of their physical person just based off of somebody else accusing that student of being transgender. This, in addition to the aforementioned threats for educational institutions to completely abandon them.

And we've seen laws like this in Florida, Ohio, and Idaho. Actions like these are taking us backwards and only promote a hostile communities that further isolate transgender peoples. Transgender individuals are our neighbors, they are our friends, and they deserve to be treated equally, just like everyone else. With all this, I rise as an ally to say that I stand with the transgender community and respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Perez. Senator Padilla, you are now recognized.

Thank you very much, Madam President and colleagues. I rise in strong support of SR 22, in particular as a proud sibling of a trans woman whose journey I have watched and shared in over many decades very personally. When my sister transitioned and wrestled with many of the issues of gender dysphoria early in her life, one of the things my family and I reflected upon in looking back on our family history are the things many, many other families reflect upon.

Looking at photo albums and recalling memories of holidays and times together. And one of the things that we all noticed as my sister transitioned, every one of us in our immediate and extended family, was at so many times during her adolescence, her presence in those photos was not happy, it was not complete. There were not always smiles, but clearly pain.

And to a person, when my sister transitioned, with the help and love and support of professionals and of her family, every one of us said the same thing. Have you noticed the smile? Have you noticed the smile? And those that questioned or were uncomfortable or didn't understand, we tried to remind them it's the same beating heart.

It's the same beating heart. It's the same soul. It's the same human being. The genius of America was always supposed to be that though many of us are different, we come together as one. And though we are a republic where our voices decide questions at the ballot box and not at the point of a gun or with violence, while majority does rule, the framework of our laws and our Constitution and our branches of government guarantee that that rule is not oppressive.

Just because a majority of our society, or even voters, disapprove of interracial marriage, same sex marriage, of equal rights and of voting rights, does not mean in our democracy that that is right morally or legally. When Loving vs. Virginia was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, the overwhelming majority of Americans politically and culturally disapproved of interracial marriage and thought that laws should still prohibit it.

That's not our system. It's never been our system. The genius of America is supposed to be that for many we are one and that there is room for all of us all the time, and that we're equal before the law. When any political leader of any party in any Administration utilizes the great power of their bully pulpit to perpetuate one of the great sins of humanity throughout the centuries. That is to express disapproval, personally, morally, politically, culturally, of any minorities in order to gain political advantage.

It's the worst in us. It's the worst in our society. And it is more than reprehensible, and it is more than irresponsible on the part of any leader to encourage vehement dislike, disapproval, and hatred of any minority because they are different. And the great irony, Madam President and colleagues, whatever happened to seeing everyone as a precious child of God?

Whatever happened to looking upon one another without judgment, but with unconditional love? We're living in a time when those very ideas are being put to the test. My sister is a beautiful, beautiful child of God. She's professionally successful, happily married, and happier than she ever was growing up. And I love her unconditionally.

And the idea that in this country, in the 21st century, we would even be having this conversation is disgusting and abhorrent to me and beyond painful. We are all guaranteed a place in this country. That is what sets us apart. Madam President and colleagues, I strongly ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Padilla. Senator Cervantes, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise in strong support of Senate Resolution 22. As a proud co-author and Member of the LGBTQ Caucus, I want to thank our colleague from San Francisco for authoring this vital resolution at a critical moment for our transgender siblings.

Discrimination and violence against our LGBTQ community, especially our trans siblings, remain a harsh reality, and we must stand united against those who lead with hate and bigotry. While other legislatures enact hateful, discriminatory laws, we in California reaffirm our values. Diversity, acceptance, and the protection of all people's rights. Let me be clear.

Senate Resolution 22 reflects those values, not the bigotry we have seen attempted, even in this very Legislature. To our transgender community, your existence, your dignity, and your rights are undeniable. No elected official can take those away. You deserve to live full and joyous lives, free from discrimination and free of fear. Colleagues, I strongly urge an aye vote on Senate Resolution 22.

Thank you, Senator Cervantes. Senator Alvarado-Gil, you are recognized.

Question of the author, please.

Will the author take the question? Will the author take the question?

Yes.

Wait. Thank you. Through the President, we have seen national headlines of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youth, particularly throughout California and in rural areas, predominantly held by conservative legislators, Republican legislators, being attacked for their choices in who they love, who they want to marry.

I had one of these cases in my district, and being that we have a LGBTQ Caucus here in the Senate, humbly reached out to the Senator from San Francisco for guidance and help for Californians in my district. So the question I have is, since I didn't receive a response from him, what would he offer conservative rural Californians who battle with this issue in terms of protections? What would he offer for them? Because I didn't hear from him. He didn't answer my email or my text message.

Thank you, Senator. Would you like to answer in your close?

Yeah. I didn't realize we were doing personal attacks today, but I'm happy... Listen, we... I dedicated my life to queer kids. I have the San Francisco Police Department bomb dog is familiar with my home because of the work that I've done for LGBTQ youth.

I've received thousands of death threats because of the work that I've done for LGBTQ youth. And I know that that is true in terms of that commitment of every Member of our LGBTQ Caucus and many non-LGBTQ Members of this body.

And so if we want to have a debate about who's committed to queer kids or what party is committed to queer kids, we can have that. But I'm not going to have someone, particularly someone who decided to completely pivot from one political perspective to the extreme end of the other, question that commitment, Madam President.

Okay. Thank you for answering that question. We'll go back to...

Another question, please, of the author.

Will you take another question?

I'm happy to, Madam President.

Not as a personal attack, but as a question of clarity. My initial question was...

I'm sorry, Senator Alvarado-Gil. This needs to be in relation to the scope of the resolution.

Correct. In scope of the resolution, Transgender Awareness Day. Right. So my original question was, how would the LGBTQ Caucus and the author, assistant conservative represented districts and our constituents that are battling with these issues. And I didn't hear an answer, so I'm going to be more specific. Approximately two weeks ago, here in Sacramento County an LGBTQ bar, there were Log Cabin Republicans that were asked to leave that facility.

Excuse me, Senator, I'm asking you to just pause for a moment. Thank you.

Senator Wiener, a question has been asked. Would you like to respond?

Yeah. First of all, every Member of this body has the capacity to help their constituents when they're under attack. If I have someone in my district who's under attack that is not a Member of my community, I still help them. And so I would encourage.

I know many Members of this body do that, and I think every Member of this body should do it.

I also just want to say our LGBTQ caucus over the last few years has done work around the state, visiting areas, not just blue districts, but red districts and rural districts up and down the state, meeting with community Members in those communities who often do not feel represented because the people who are elected to represent them do not vote for their ability to exist and to have rights.

And they met with our caucus, and we are absolutely committed to all LGBTQ residents of the State of California, whether they live in the most conservative areas or the most liberal areas. And so that is a priority for our district, for our caucus.

And our caucus has studied, stepped up over the last couple of years and done that work. And I want to thank our leadership, including our Senator from San Fernando Valley, for helping lead in that effort.

Thank you, Senator Weener. Senator Alvarado-Gil.

Thank you. Madam President, permission to proceed with the second question.

The question must be in relation to the motion or the resolution on the floor.

Correct. I understand.

And, Senator Wiener, are you willing to take a third question?

More than happy to, Madam President.

Senator Alvarado, go. Please ask your question and limit it to the scope of the resolution on the floor. Thank you.

That's right. Thank you. So in reading the resolution, and I. Will say that I did support a. Version of this resolution with. Without the intensity of the debate that's happened on the floor today. But right here in Sacramento county, just weeks ago, we had a situation where a business owner excluded Lgbt.

Senator, I'm sorry, if you can please limit it to specifically this resolution, to the question that you have, not a debate. The question that you have for the Senator. Thank you.

Would this resolution also protect LGBTQ Members that are registered Republicans or that are part of the Log Cabin Republicans who were kicked out of a bar here in Sacramento without.

Senator, I think you've asked your question. Would you like to answer?

Yeah. Thank you, Madam President. So this resolution is specifically about. About Trans people. We'll have many other opportunities to talk about LGBTQ people in General. This is about Trans people. And the idea of this resolution is that it's really actually basic, and it's really frankly, mortifying that we even have to. That I even have to say this.

The basic notion underlying this resolution is that transgender people are full human beings. Full stop. That's what it's about. And we have to make that. It just. I, I. It's hard for me to get my brain around the need to say that sentence.

Transgender people are full human beings, but that's where we are today because of what's happening from the President and others in trying to eliminate, eradicate, erase, dehumanize Trans people. So this is about all Trans people being full human beings. That's what it's about.

Thank you, Senator Wiener. We are going to now go back to debate and discussion. Senator Ashby, you are recognized.

Yes. I rise in support of SR22 and thank the Senator from San Francisco for not only his work today on SR22, but his lifetime of accomplishments in this space.

And would like to reiterate, I am not a Member of the LGBTQ Caucus, but I do not believe it is the job of the LGBTQ Caucus to stand alone in these spaces, and therefore, I am standing up today.

Just like I do not believe it is the job of the Women's Caucus to stand alone in the advancement of women or the job of the Black Caucus to stand alone in the advancement of black people. I think we are strongest when we operate together.

If something happened in Sacramento county, as the Senator of Sacramento County, I am happy to address it on behalf of my constituency.

Urgent I vote. Thank you, Senator Ashby. Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Wiener, would you like to close?

I think everything has been said. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

[Roll call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

Alvarado. Gill. Becker. Choi. Dali. Grayson. Grove. Hurtado, Jones. Niello. Ochoa. Bog. Reyes. Siorto. Smaller. Cuevas. Valaderes.

Secretary, please call the roll.

Alvarado, Gill. Becker. Aye. Choi, Dali. Grayson. Grove. Hurtado, Jones. Niello. Ochoa. Bog. Reyes. Sierto. Smallwood. Cuevas valaderes.

IAS 26 noes one resolution is adopted. Moving on to file item 26, SCR number 32.

Secretary, please read Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 by Senator Allen relative to Arts Education Month.

Senator Allen, you may proceed.

Thanks so much, President. Madam President, you've handled your first session very well. Appreciate it. This is about recognizing March 2025 as arts education Month. Perhaps less controversial than the last item. The creative arts are a foundational. But who knows? Maybe not. The creative arts are a foundational component.

Of our educational curricula, critical to shaping young Californians into curious and capable, creative. Dynamic Members of our community. Arts education, as we know, has a profound impact on student success, leading to increased academic performance across subjects, improved analytical skills, long term engagement with the learning process.

We also know that the arts can be really critical with regards to dropout rates because oftentimes an arts class will connect with a student in the way. That the traditional curriculum does not and. Tell the student, hey, I can do well at school. There's something here for me.

And it's been found to have a real impact on a lot of kids that may be more traditionally disengaged from the traditional curriculum. I've had the privilege of leading the Legislature's Joint Committee on the arts for most of my time in the Senate.

I can't overstate how directly California's investment in the creative arts has led to so much of our success as a state. Technological innovation, our expansive entertainment industry, the cultural richness of our state, including our. Cultural diversity, our continued commitment to arts education both supports our world class creative industries and ensures that young Californians are.

Prepared to step into those opportunities successfully and continue to push our state forward. And I respectfully ask, and aye vote on SCR 32.

Thank you, Senator Allen. Senator Rubio, you are recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I also stand here in support of this resolution, which I think it's critically important that we highlight and continue to promote.

I was a theater kid myself growing up, and I know what the arts did for me in terms of shaping who I am now as an adult. But more importantly, as a student, arts kept me engaged, kept me focused, and kept me loving school.

Later, as a teacher, I saw the spark in my students when arts were introduced as part of the curriculum. I saw how much they enjoyed expressing themselves, which is something that I think is important.

We sometimes talk about children misbehaving or those outside the classroom misbehaving, but if we gave them an outlet to express in a positive way, I think we would see much more positive result in our students and our young adults. I know that I've had music and I had art and other forms of art.

And no matter what type of art I introduced in my class, it never failed to inspire and increase my students confidence and the love for what they do in the classroom. The arts are more than just a creative outlet, but it's a way of growing well rounded students that really understand the big picture.

And more often than not, the arts continue to disappear. And when there's cuts to our classrooms or schools, the district tends to cut art first. And I would encourage us to continue to keep pushing for the arts. Not every child can afford to go to theater.

Not every child could afford to buy their own music instrument or go see a play. And it is up to us as society, as Californians, as educators, to continue to ensure that it's accessible and available for them as well.

I know that in Bakersfield right now, Centennial High School students are bringing big fish to life on stage, which shows how kids connect to the outside world. And theater. At Red Bluff High School, dance students are right now preparing for a spring performance that also is celebrating movement and expression.

In my own district, we have Ayala High School Band and Color Guard, which continues to earn national recognitions, setting the standard for excellence in music education. And I have another school, Ayala Marching Percussion Ensemble. It's one of the most accomplished high school percussion programs in the nation.

And it's true testament to how bringing students together for a beautiful art, it just not only inspires better students academically, but also better human beings. And I hope that we continue to push for them. I want to thank my colleague from Santa Monica.

I know that we've been part of a lot of committees and conversations about the arts, and we'll continue to push for it. Thank you. With that, I ask for an aye vote. Thank you, Senator Rubio.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Allen, would you like to close?

Thank you. To my colleague. I respect for. Ask for. I vote.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

[Roll call]

[Roll call]

Aye.

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll call]

Thank you. I 35 no 0, the resolution is adopted. You all hold on just one moment. We're going to lift the calls before we move on. File item 32. Secretary, please call the absent Members. We're lifting the call now.

[Roll Call]

Ayes. 35 no 0. That resolution passes. File item 4. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 35 no 0. The appointment is confirmed. File item 5. Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 35 no 0. The appointment is confirmed. File item 13. Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

We'll pause and we're going to call the absent Members. Secretary

[Roll Call]

Members, one at a time. Are there any Members that are wishing to change their vote?

[Roll Call]

Ayes. 34 no 0. The appointment is confirmed. Moving back to Senate. Third reading file item 31. Excuse me. SCR 39.

Secretary, please read Senate Concurrent Resolution 39 by Senator Durazzo relative to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Day, Senator Durazo. Thank you, Madam President. We can't end this Women's History Month without first honoring the life and legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Her historical and brave leadership is a reminder to all of us that we can never let our guard down when it comes to the protections of our Constitution and rule of law in this country. Before her appointment to the Supreme Court in 1993, Justice Ginsburg had a respected legal career.

I want to take a moment now to acknowledge the women in our own Senate who have earned law degrees and dedicated their lives to strengthening our laws. Senator Ashby, Senator Caballero and Senator Gomez Reyes. And of course, the women who made an enduring mark on our work, like our former Chair of Judiciary, Hannah Beth Jackson.

I earned my law degree in 1985 at a community run law school and a center of activism. Justice Ginsburg was an activist herself at Harvard. She was the first female Member of the Harvard Law Review and Columbia Law Review and became the second woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court.

And excuse me, I mistakenly left out Senator Blakespear, who's also one of our very own. Thank you. Thank you. And I apologize. Justice Ginsburg once said, I'm sometimes asked, when will there be enough women on the Supreme Court? And I said, when there are nine, people are shocked.

But there had been nine men, and nobody ever raised a question about that. Justice Ginsburg was instrumental in fighting for gender equality. She fought for women Left behind and for men facing discrimination. Through litigation, community outreach, advocacy, and public education, she empowered poor women, women of color, and immigrant women.

She was a champion for abortion rights, voting rights, the rights of LGBTQ individuals, and the rights of immigrants. In fact, she relentlessly defended the rights of those denied equal legal protections in our immigrant communities. She helped overturn President Trump's decision to end daca. She blocked an Arizona law criminalizing people who looked undocumented.

That law would have allowed state law enforcement to detain anyone they suspected of being undocumented. She upheld the constitutional right of noncitizens to challenge their detention. Now, as President Trump summarily removes immigrants without a hearing before a judge, I tried to remember her words.

So that's the dissenter's hope that they are writing not for today, but for tomorrow. Justice Ginsburg died on September 182020. She became the first woman and the first Jewish person to lie in State in 168 years, and only the second United States Supreme Court justice to lie in state.

I urge you to vote on SRI on SCR 39 to honor the life and legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a vibrant guardian of equality for all. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Durazzo. Senator Richardson.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today to honor and celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg, fondly known to many as notorious rbg.

As we approach the conclusion of Women's History Month, as my colleague from Los Angeles State stated, it is both timely and fitting to recognize a woman who not only shattered glass ceilings, but profoundly shaped the trajectory of justice and equality in our nation. When I think of Justice Ginberg, I think of her relationship with Justice Scalia.

Kind of interesting of our discussion today. And when we think about the fact that the two became fast friends, bonding. Over a shared love of opera, good. Food and wine, and also their childhoods in New York, maybe there's hope for us all as well. Requesting permission to read a quote of. Justice Ginsburg, fight for the thank you.

Fight for the things that you care. About, but do it in a way. That will lead others to join you. With that, I urge a I vote for for SCR 39. Thank you, Senator Richardson.

Senator Rubio, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I also stand as a proud co author and to thank the great Senator from Los Angeles for bringing this resolution forward.

I rise because we know that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was really an inspiration to so many of us on this floor, not just as a Supreme Court justice, but as a woman who spent her life proving that justice belongs to all of us, and we need to continue to fight for fairness.

Ginsburg refused to accept limitations on herself, on women, or anyone denied their rightful place in society. That fight is deeply personal to me. Like Ginsburg, I was told many times I didn't belong, that my place and my future had limitations.

When I was in high school, I remember wanting to go to college, and I remember often being told that I needed to take home economic classes, as if that's all I was meant to do. And I didn't see myself in these positions of leadership because that was the expectation of some of our Latina sisters in school.

Justice Ginsburg faced the same dismissiveness at Harvard, where she was just one of only one women in a class of 500. Even the dean questioned why she was taking a man's seat. A man's seat? Let's be clear. There is no man's seat. There never was.

And Ginsburg saw that and fought to ensure that she had a place at the table. She works to make sure no woman ever had to justify being anywhere. Not in the courtroom, not on this floor, and not in college.

Her decisions reshaped our legal landscape, not by just changing laws, but by ensuring that the Constitution's promises of equality actually meant something in practice. She knew that women's rights, civil rights, and human rights were all bound together and that the fight for one was a fight for all of us. Permission to read a quote. Permission granted.

Thank you. Justice Ginsburg once said, real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. And we can see on this red carpet in this Senate Floor that the stairs have been long and difficult. But here we are. More than 50% of this Senate are women. Justice Ginsburg's legacy isn't just written in court rulings.

It lives in every woman who refuses to shrink back down, in every young girl who dares to dream bigger, and in every fight for justice that continues today. So for Justice Ruth Ginsburg's day. I ask that we recommit ourselves to working, to doing the hard work the that she left for all of us to continue.

Because the fight for justice is truly never over and we need to continue to push and fight and continue to break barriers so that the next generation continues to follow our footsteps and even go further. I thank the great Senator from Los Angeles again for bringing this forward and I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Rubio, Senator Blakespear, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today as a principal co author of this resolution designating March 152025 as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Day.

As a woman and as a lawyer who practiced law for more than a decade, and as a fierce advocate for gender equity and the elimination of discrimination of all types from American society, I'm proud to recognize Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her accomplishments and her lasting legacy.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1933, Justice Ginsburg overcame extremely challenging obstacles to become one of the most influential legal minds of our time. Her journey from a working class neighborhood to the highest court in the land is a testament to her brilliance, determination and intelligence and the power of education.

And her story is an inspiration to every woman and to every lawyer and to every warrior for social justice and equal rights. Justice Ginsburg is known for her tireless advocacy for gender equality. Long before her appointment to the Supreme Court, she was the architect of a strategic campaign to challenge laws that treated men and women differently.

As co founder of the ACLU's Women's Rights Project, she argued six landmark cases before the Supreme Court in the 1970s establishing the principle of equal treatment under the law for both sexes. Her approach was both innovative and effective. Recognizing the challenges of convincing male judges, she often represented male plaintiffs to demonstrate how gender discrimination specifically affected men.

This strategy helped dismantle gender based stereotypes and paved the way for our more equitable society. In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the second woman and the first Jewish woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. During her 27 year tenure, she continued to be a strong advocate for equality and justice.

Her majority opinion in United States versus Virginia opened the Virginia Military Institute to women and was a crowning achievement in her campaign for gender equality. Her impact extended beyond gender issues. She was also a very strong voice for civil liberties, racial equality, LGBTQ rights, and voting rights.

Her powerful dissents, foreshadowed by her famous dissent collar, which many of us are wearing on the floor today, include Shelby County v. Holder, a case that essentially gutted the Voting Rights Act. And this inspired a new generation of activists. Justice Ginsburg's legacy involved much more than her legal triumphs. She became a symbol of resilience and perseverance.

Despite facing personal setbacks, including five bouts of cancer, she rarely missed a day of work. Justice Ginsburg's impact on American society is almost impossible to underestimate. As my colleague just said, the quote. Many of us repeat the same quotes because they speak to us. Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.

And it's this understanding and the tenacity to push through all of the incremental steps that leads to big change, which is the same thing that we are all here doing in the State Senate. And that is what made Justice Ginsburg so successful and formidable. She also understood that although she created progress, much more needed to be done.

My very favorite quote of hers, which I have on a shirt at home, is, women belong in all places where decisions are being made. Today, there are still many places where important decisions are made by very few or any women. In California, we have always been at the firm forefront of advancing civil rights and justice.

And I am sure that Justice Ginsburg would be thrilled to see if she were alive today, that the California State Senate now has reached gender parity. So for the first time in 175 years, since the California Senate's first legislative session convened in 1849, we have reached gender parity.

When she was asked that question of how many should be on the Supreme Court, and she said, when there are nine. Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life and work reminds us of the power of perseverance, the importance of equality, and the influence one person can have on shaping a nation, even when it's in dissent.

The quest for gender equity, equal rights, and social justice continues. And we should remember her words, whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don't do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived. Please join me in supporting this resolution and reminding all Californians of.

Of Justice Ginsburg profound positive impact and the high ideals for which she stood. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Blakesbier. Senator Cabaldon, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. My favorite quote actually isn't from Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself. It's from Drake. And it is a line from a song from Beyonce's album, All them fives need to listen when the 10 is talking, which became a nationwide meme. If you're a younger millennial or an older gen Z, this was the hot moment.

And it was because it was pictures of Justice Ginsburg with this Drake line. All them fives need to listen when the 10 is talking. And it represented the. That Ruth Bader Ginsburg influence was everything that we've talked about today, her advocacy, her strategy. But also it was.

She represented in so many ways what the law is, what constitutional democracy is, how laws change and evolve, what respect for tradition, what respect for precedent, what respect for colleagues. And talking with and being unafraid to sit with and talk to people who disagreed with you.

And still, in fact, because of that, advancing so fundamentally, so profoundly what so many of my colleagues have said on the floor today, that she represented the power and the promise of our Constitution and our law to meet the moment while protecting everyone in our society.

And so all them fives do need to listen when the 10 is talking. And I ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Cabaldin. Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Durazzo, would you like to close?

Thank you for the comments by my colleagues and I thank our principal co author. Thank you very much. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

[Roll call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

Dali, Grayson. Hurtado, Jones. Reyes. Smallwood, Cuevas.

Ayes. 34. No. 0. The resolution is adopted. We will now move on to Committee announcements. Senator Becker.

Thank you, Madam President. The Senate Committee on Energy and utilities will meet 20 minutes after session in room 1200.

Thank you, Members. We will now be returning to motions and resolutions. Please. If you have any discussions, take them to the rear of the chamber as we move into our adjourn. In memory, Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Today, colleagues, I ask you to adjourn in memory of Cheryl White, a devoted, loving wife, mother and friend to so many in Kern. County. She was born.

She was born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, in 1941, eventually moving to Al Alene College to attend Magic Valley Christian College, where she met the love of her life, Jimmy Raywhite. They were blessed to have three daughters, Tamara, Jean, Julie, dawn and Jamie. Raylene, her husband and daughters are in the gallery with us today.

Cheryl and Jeryl and Jimmy moved to a small farming town in Mcfarland, California in 1964. She immediately became active in the community, embracing Mcfarland's Latino culture and and its people. She volunteered with Girl Scouts and made brownies and provided educational books to schools through the Gumdrop Books program. She hosted quinceaneras and learned how to make tamales.

She loved her lifelong friends and she made an impact in that very small farming community. Behind every incredible woman there is a successful man. Cheryl's husband saw something remarkable in these farm worker kids that surrounded the area. They'd get up at 4:30 in the morning and they would work in the fields to help their families.

And one day he saw one of them running. Running. Not walking, not riding and not driving, but running to school to beat the late bell. Before school started.

Most of you know Jimmy in the audience or up in the balcony as Blanco or Coach White, as he's fondly remembered by the hundreds of runners from Mcfarland High School, Mcfarland USA in Kern. County. I've even heard they've made a movie about him and these runners since 1987.

These champions received nine CIF championships in Fort in a 14 year period while Coach White was at the helm. Cheryl loved these kids that Coach White brought home. She treated them like they were her very own. She baked them brownies, made them burritos and cookies and birthday cakes.

She was extremely proud of her husband's efforts and the success of the entire Mcfarland team. She also participated in international sports exchange, sponsoring student athletes from Germany, China and Singapore, raising funds with the scholarships from McFarlane USA Foundation. She continued to serve and support the community she so dearly loved for many, many years.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jimmy Ray White, their three daughters and so many student athletes that have fond memories of this beautiful, strong woman that have supported them and their families throughout the years. Please join me in remembering. Remembering an amazing woman and a journey in the memory of Cheryl White. Thank you, Senator.

Our condolences to the family. Senator, please bring the name forward so that she may be properly memorialized. Senator Gonzalez, you are recognized for your adjourn and memory.

Thank you, Madam President and Members, I rise today to adjourn in the memory of a dear friend who passed away suddenly on Friday. Carmen O. Perez. Carmen Perez served Long beach for more than 30 years and is best known as the Port of Long Beach's first Latina harbor Commissioner, significantly helping to increase trade at the port.

During her 12 years on the Commission. Carmen first began her service to the city as a teacher's aide at Long Beach Unified School District while raising her four children. She was involved in the PTA, the Girl Scouts Council, Parents Against Cancer, a number of organizations. And to her very last day, she was still so involved.

She was a very close friend to our dearly departed Long beach former Senator Jenny Ropesa. And she served as the Vice Chair for the National Democratic Party and as the Democratic National Committee Vice Chairman for Chairwoman for California.

She was also, in her many roles, an Assistant Chief Deputy to Honorable Kenny Hahn and was also appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Narcotics Authority Parole Board. She had her hands in everything and made sure that Long beach was shining through. She was tough, bold, and you always knew where you stood with Carmen.

What she would say in her very bold way is, nothing is easy. You want change, you make it happen. No one will do it for you. I respectfully ask that we adjourn in her memory and offer our sincere condolences to her family. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Gonzalez. And we do offer sincere condolences to the entire family. Please make sure to bring her name forward so that she may be properly memorialized. Memorialized. Senator Becker, you are recognized for your adjourn and memory.

Thank you. Good afternoon, colleagues. Thank you for the opportunity to adjourn the Senate in honor of a cherished Member of my district, Sam Harris, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 40. A UCLA grad, Mr.

Harris dedicated his entire career to teaching in my district, first in South San Francisco, and then nine years at Menlo Atherton, where he taught my own kids. He was a shining example of the impact that a teacher can have. He was born in 1984 in Fresno, California, to Hal Harris and Sarah Hedgebeth Harris.

He taught a variety of subjects. Government, US History, world studies, life skills. At his memorial this weekend, one of his friends compared him to Ted Lasso. Always positive, always curious, and he had a deep passion for government and for politics.

And he felt a responsibility, and that the kids feel responsibility to walk out of the classroom, to do. To know the Constitution and to do their part to preserve democracy in this country. He had me in several times to talk to the students and answer their many, many questions, and it was something that I looked forward to.

Over the years, he inspired many young Members of the community to get involved Very directly. In fact, one of our high school trustees now, while still in college, is now a trustee in our High School District who is a student of Mr. Harris. And he said this.

He said his belief in his students and his unwavering optimism about the power of education left a lasting mark on everyone who had the privilege of learning from him outside the classroom. He was a scratch golfer and competitive golfer and he enjoyed golfing with his brother Charlie. And anyone knowing him knew of his love of animals.

My good friend and his fellow teacher, Andy Stewart, told stories this weekend of his dog Ollie, who he always described as a dog unlike any other. And his loved ones pay tribute to his life and continue his work through memorial contributions to the Peninsula Human society and the SPCA. Mr.

Harris is remembered by his parents, Hal and Sarah, his brother Charlie, his nephews Nikos and Noah, his niece Nina, and his many family Members and friends who miss him dearly. We send so much love to the Harris family during this difficult time. We are a better community for having had Sam Harris in it. Thank you, colleagues.

Thank you. Senator Becker, condolences from the Senate to his family. Senator, please make sure to bring his name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. And before we close, I do want to take a point of personal privilege to first off, thank our PT for giving me this opportunity.

Really thank all of the staff for all of their support and all of their time that they took in preparing me to stand up here before you all. And lastly, to thank you all so much for your patience, your encouragement. I really needed it. And with that, there's no other business. Senator Mcguire, thank you.

The desk is clear there.

Madam President, I was just going to. Take a moment to say, really nice job today. Very impressive. And especially today when there was some. Controversy on the floor. You handled it eloquently and just want. To say thank you for stepping up. To be able to do the job. One more round of applause, please, for Madam President.

Really great job. Thank you. Members, we are here till Friday. The next floor session is scheduled for Friday, March 28th at 9am we look forward to seeing you later in the week.

The Senate is now adjourned. We will reconvene Friday, March 28th at 9:00am.