Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present with the Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery. Please rise. We will be led in prayer this morning by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman. After which, please remain standing for the pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

57 years ago today, Reverend Dr. King gave his mountaintop speech the day before his assassination. Let us pray that we continue to practice the non violence that he lived and died for. Spirit of God, we long to heal the fractures in the world around us and within our own hearts.

We long to recognize the innermost sacred dimensions of ourselves and all other beings. Merciful God put us in touch with our deepest yearning for a world pulsating with justice and truth. Where all sit down at the great banquet and eat until they are full. Help us discover anew the courage to see and to listen. To take steps to stop the cycles of violence in our neighborhoods, in our country and in our whole world. Amen.

Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag. We will now move to privileges of the floor. Members, on behalf of Senator Cervantes, please welcome the future farmers of America students, Students from San Jacinto High School and Senate District 331. Welcome. Thank you for being here.

And Members, can we please welcome the County Health Executive Association of California who are in Sacramento for Public Health Week on behalf of Senator Weber Pearson. Thank you so much for coming. Senator Umberg, you are recognized for introduction of your guest.

Alrighty. Thank you very much. Madam President and colleagues. I'm pleased to draw your attention to the gallery where we're joined by today by State Independent Living Councilmember Alan Cruz, who's right above me. Council Member Cruz is visiting us today from Anaheim and he's joined by Independent Council Living staff Member Allison Villamantes. Nan.

The State Independent Living Council is an autonomous state agency that is dedicated to improving Independence in the lives of people with disabilities across the state. Council Member Alan Cruz is one of 18 Members of the Governor appointed State Independent Living Council.

He is also actively engaged with the California Youth Leadership Forum, YLF and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living. April Allen is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve success in their lives. Colleagues, please join me in welcoming Council Member Cruz and the State Independent Living Council.

Welcome to the Senate. Thank you for coming. Senator Menjivar, you are recognized for introduction of your guest.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, today I am proud to welcome two schools from my district. I have making up half of the gallery here. I have Magnolia Science Academy 1 and 5.

Two amazing schools in my district who participate in a variety of school activities and clubs including technology, Engineering, language and Culture, community service and visual and performing arts. Really pushing the STEM categories through their teaching curriculum and activities. MSA 1 and 5 advance their student skills, knowledge and prepare them for the outside world.

Recently, we partnered at their location to put on the annual Tacos in Taxes. If you don't know about this wonderful event, people come get their taxes done for free. We give them free tacos. It's a win win situation and they're an amazing host. Colleagues, please help me welcome my two schools to the State Senate.

Welcome. Thank you so much for being here. Members, without objection, we will now move to Senate third reading to take up the following items. Out of order. File item 19, SCR 36 by Senator Seyarto and file item 28, SCR 40 by Senator Blakespear.

After adoption of each of the resolutions, we will go back to privileges of the floor for the Senators to introduce their guests. We will start with file item 19, SCR 36. Secretary, please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution. 36 by Senator Seyarto relative to Crime Victims Rights Week.

Senator Seyarto, you may proceed at the Majority Leader's desk.

Thank you. Madam President and colleagues, I rise today to present SCR 36, which recognizes the week of April 6 through April 12, 2025 as Crime Victims Rights Week in California. Every day, individuals across our state experience the devastating effects of crime, not just as statistics, but as real people whose lives are changed forever.

While the impacts of violent crime are most directly felt by its victims, the ripple effects reach all of us, touching families, neighborhoods and communities across California. This year, the national theme for Crime Victims Rights Week is Kinship. It calls on all of us to stand in solidarity with survivors.

Creating safe environments for crime victims and arming them with information on how to navigate and participate in the criminal justice system are vital in this effort. It's about restoring power to survivors who often feel powerless in the aftermath of a serious crime.

California has long been a leader in victims rights movements from the creation of the first battered women's shelters in Pasadena in 1964 to launching the nation's first crime victim compensation program in 1965.

Moreover, California has enshrined victims rights in the state constitution by passing the Victims Bill of Rights in 1982, which was reaffirmed in 2008 with the passage of Prop 9, known as Marcy's Law. This resolution affirms our ongoing commitment to protecting victims, supporting survivors, and strengthening the services that help them heal.

Observing Crime Victims Week promotes awareness of victims issues while acknowledging the combined efforts of citizens, the government and the criminal justice system to improve victim services in California. Please join me in sending a message to victims of crime that they are not alone and they have support. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

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

Briefly, I just rise in support. Wanted to point out that we should always remember that victims of crime are a reflection of every segment of our society and of our communities. It is about exploitation, the abuse of. Power, and many other things that we as Democrats constantly argue for and claim to represent.

We cannot allow support for crime victims. Or support for law enforcement who come from every stripe of our community, every color, every race, every religion to become a partisan issue or to be claimed by any one party or political ideology as their exclusive domain.

We as Democrats have to stand proudly in support of crime victims and of those that seek to help them. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

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

Thank you. I just want to thank my colleague from San Diego for standing up and recognizing the importance of Crime Victims Week and simply ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Just be a few moments. Senator Searcho moves the call. Senator Syarto, you are now recognized for introduction of your guest.

Thank you. Madam President and colleagues, again, it is my honor to introduce to the floor today Harriet Salerno and her daughter Nina Salerno, who is the District Attorney of Modoc County. Harriet has spent the last 50 years as an advocate for crime victims rights. She co chaired California's Crime Victims Bill of rights effort in 1982.

And she founded or founding Crime Victims United and was pivotal in passing Marcy's Law as a ballot measure in 2008, enshrining 17 victims rights into California Constitution. Members, please join me in a warm Senate welcome, welcoming Harriet and Nina Salerno to the floor of the California State Senate.

Any Members wish to take a picture, please go to the rear of the gallery.

Members, before we move on to the next file item, we will lift the call on file item 19, SCR 36. Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll call]

Ayes. 39. No. 0. The resolution is adopted. We will now move to file item 28, SCR 40. Secretary, please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 40 by Senator Blakespear relative to women in law.

Senator Senator Blakespear, you are recognized at your desk.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise today as the author of Senate Concurrent Resolution 40, which proclaims April 2025 as women in Law Month in California.

As a woman and as a lawyer who practiced law for a decade and who had a mother and father who were also working attorneys, we have all watched the number of women in the legal profession grow over the years, but we know there is still work to do at this time in our country, the three letter acronym of DEI has become a four letter word, and in some circles that concept is mocked, and in other areas the efforts are being eliminated.

But while this specific term may be falling out of favor for some, it's more important than ever that we in California affirm the values that underlie dei, which is broadly that representation matters and that positions of power should look like America and California. Being an attorney is both a noble profession and a highly esteemed job.

And women who are 50% of the state should be in 50% of the positions in law. But what we know is that while women are graduating from law school at about 50% levels, by the time they get to being partners of law firms, there are fewer than a third of partners are women.

I also just want to give as an example my colleague, the Senator here from Merced, who worked as a practicing attorney, and she would wear a tie in court so that she could compete with and have the legitimacy and the status of her male colleagues. I appreciate the Senator sharing that story with me.

There are many examples like that. So recognizing that representation matters, that women in law are important. It's more important than ever that we uplift these values, that we highlight them and speak about them them and articulate them as important.

Because we do not want an erasure of the progress that we have made for women in law or women in all professions, but particularly this one today. So with that, I would like to ask for your support for the diversity and strength of our great state in supporting SCR 40.

Thank you, Senator. Not seeing any debate or discussion. Members, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Does any Member have any objection to to using the unanimous roll call? Seeing none. 38 ayes 0 no. The resolution is adopted. Senator Blakespear, you are now recognized for introduction of your guest.

Yes, thank you. We had. Yes, thank you. So we had a reception this morning for women in law and there were a third were male allies. I was so thrilled to have so many men in the room. Many of them are all up here in the gallery, filling the gallery.

And so I would like to say thank you for being here and to recognize 3rd District Court of Appeal Associate Justice Shama Messiwalla. Angelina Ray and Dustin R. Amren of the of the Sacramento County Bar Association. Natalie Fujikawa of the Women Lawyers of Sacramento. Savina Thakkar, Consumer Attorneys of California. Ruth Ashley, California Legal Pathways Collaborative.

Rosalynn Pulmano, Assembly Speaker's Office. Justin Ward, the Ward Firm. Michelle Flores, Flores Family Law. Kara Jenkins, Legislative Counsel with the Office of Legislative Counsel. Deputy Legislative Counsels Jamie Cooperman, Allison Felkins. Brook Hill. Sarah Brandon and Nikki Rosetta. Jasmine Deroon of Deroon Investigations. Jennifer Muzis of Sacramento Public Defender's Office. Amanda Gualdarama from Cal Broadband.

Juanita Martinez from Martinez Consulting. Sharon Riley, Executive Director of the California Law Revision Commission. Thank you all for coming and for all that you do.

Welcome. We will now move to messages from the Governor. They will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of Committee will be deemed read and amendment adopted. Members, we are now moving to motions, resolutions and notices. Senator Wiener, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I move adoption of authors amendments for budget bills across the desk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 4th, 5th and 6th, these amendments will be adopted, published and the bills returned to the Committee. This is in order for the bills to be in print as soon as possible. There will be a full Budget Committee hearing next week to hear the amended bills.

Thank you. Senator Niello, you are recognized at your desk.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm sure you're all wondering why I have risen to speak to this. I actually thank my colleague from San Francisco for presenting this resolution because it proves a point. Recently we had an extended discussion here. About the transparency, or lack thereof, relative to. To our budget process.

Those on our side of the aisle alleging that the process lacks transparency. And those on the other side of. The aisle saying, well, there's complete transparency. We have all these public hearings. We have all these budget Subcommitee meetings. It is completely transparent. But here's the thing. There's going to be significant budget and. Perhaps policy developed this weekend.

And we, that is, those of us on the Republican side of the aisle who, by the way, I will point out, represent 10 million Californians, will have absolutely no input on what happens this weekend. We will be able to entertain them. In public hearings, but we will have. Absolutely no input on the substance of those bills.

I challenge anybody here to tell me how that meets the test of transparency. I urge a no vote.

Thank you, Members. Can we keep the chatter down, please? Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Wiener, would you like to close?

Thank you, Madam President. Respectfully, to my colleague, Mr. Vice Chair, and we have a fantastic working relationship on the Committee, which I appreciate, but I do respectfully disagree. Our budget process is very transparent.

We have had many budget hearings since the beginning of the year, multiple hearings as a full Committee doing oversight, many budget Subcommitee hearings going into the deep details of the administration's proposed budget and other issues as well.

The action that we will be moving forward with next week, we'll have a full budget hearing, will be fully vetted, will be debated on this floor. And then, of course, there will be many more budget Subcommitee hearings and full Budget Committee hearings between now and the adoption of the full budget in June.

So it's a very transparent process, and I appreciate all of our budget sub chairs and budget staff for the work that they do. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Senator Wiener is asking for an aye vote. Senator Niello is asking for a no vote. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Ayes. 29, nos. 10. That motion passes. Members, we will now move to consideration of the daily file. We will start with our second reading file. Secretary, please read the second reading file.

[Second Reading]

Second reading will be deemed read. We will now move to Governor appointments for file item number seven. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, File Item number seven is a confirmation of Dr. Mark Toney for reappointment to the State Bar Board of trustees. Dr. Toney was served as the Executive Director for the Utility Reform Network turn since 2007, and he was first appointed to the State bar board in 2020 and currently serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee. He was passed by the Rules Committee on a 5-0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Ayes 39 knows 0. The appointment is confirmed. Senator Grove, you are recognized for file item eight.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleague's file item eight is a confirmation of Michelle Minor for reappointment to the Board of Parole Hearings. Commissioner Minor first joined the board in 2014. Prior to this role, she had various positions within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 1985.

A dedicated public service, including 20 years of the Division of Jury Juvenile Justice. She was approved by the Rules Committee on March 19 on a unanimous vote. Respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Seeing no further discussion. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 31, noes zero. The appointment is confirmed. Members, before we move on to this special consent calendar, are there any Members who would like to remove an item from consent? Seeing? None. Please read. Secretary, please read all the items on the consent calendar.

[Consent Calendar]

Thank you. We will now call roll on file item 47. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Members, okay, Ayes 39, no 0 on file. Item 47 Ayes 39 no 0 on the remaining items. The consent calendar is approved. Members, we will now move to Committee announcements. Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Budget Subcommitee 1 on Education will meet in the swing space in room 2100 immediately upon adjournment.

Thank you, Senator Cabaldon you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Budget Subcommitee number four will meet downstairs, room 113, immediately upon adjournment.

Budget Subcommitee will meet in five minutes in room 112. And for inquiring minds who'd like to know what we're going to talk about. We will be covering transportation in our budget Subcommitee. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Allen, you are recognized.

We'll be discussing water and parks in budget sub two in room 2200 upon adjournment.

Thank you. And budget sub three will be meeting in room 1200 immediately upon adjournment. Members, we will now be returning to motions and resolutions. This is the time for our adjourn and memories. Please take all conversations to the back of the gallery. Senator Ashby, you are recognized for your adjourn in memory. Thank you, Madam President.

I rise today with a sad heart on this one to adjourn in the memory of very young Adrian S. Penn, a talented and beloved man from Elk Grove who passed away far too soon in March of last year at just 25 years old. Adrian was an entrepreneur, an artist, a fashion designer and a musician.

He poured his heart into everything he created, from launching Susei clothing brand in his parents home to opening a shop and a gallery on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. He lived by the Golden Rule, treating others as he wished to be treated.

And he used his talents to uplift and mentor fellow artists, encouraging them to pursue their passion in arts and being a hero to his little brother, Nico. Adrian served his community with his whole heart, including serving as a Member of the Elk Grove Youth Commission, where he advised the City Council to honor his legacy.

Adrian's family established the SUSE foundation to support aspiring artists and entrepreneurs in building their dreams, just like Adrian did. Adrian is the son of Pablo Espinoza.

Many of you may know Pablo from his 19 years of service working with the California State Assembly or his work in the Sacramento community as a news anchor and reporter for Univision here in Sacramento. Adrian's father, Pablo, and his beautiful little brother Nico are with us today in the gallery.

They are joined by other family friends, including Elk Grove City Council Member Rod Brewer. The Senate offers our deepest condolences to the entire Espinosa family, friends, the capital community and the Elk Grove community in honor of Adrian's Life.

In just 25 very short years, Adrian made a profound impact through his art, his kindness and the lives he touched. Though his time was far too brief, his legacy will continue to inspire all of us, primarily through his loving father Pablo and the beautiful smile of his little brother, Nico.

Members, please join me in adjourning in the memory of young Adrian Espinosa.

Thank you, Senator. Our condolences to the family. Senator please bring the name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. Senator Wahab, you are recognized for your adjourn in memory.

Thank you. Colleagues, I rise today to honor the life and service of Fremont Firefighter Anthony Gansler. Firefighter Gansler passed away off duty on March 17202025 after suffering a cardiac event in Elk Grove, California. He joined the Fremont fire Department in 2019 as part of a lateral academy class 2019

In addition to his service as a firefighter, Anthony was also a veteran who brought the same sense of duty and discipline to his work in the fire service. He was known for his professionalism, courage and strong commitment to protecting others. A valued colleague, mentor and friend.

His loss is deeply felt by his family, his his fellow firefighters and the broader Fremont community. We honor Anthony's dedication, his sacrifice and the quiet strength which he served. On behalf of the California State Senate, I offer our deepest condolences to his loved ones and to the Fremont Fire Department.

I respectfully ask that we adjourn today's session in memory of firefighter Anthony Gansler. May you rest in peace. His service will not be forgotten. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Deepest condolences to the family. Please bring the name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. Senator Ochoa Bogh, you are recognized for your adjourn in memory.

Thank you, Madam President and ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, it is with great sadness that I rise to adjourn in memory of David Myers, who passed away on March 9 at his home on the Oakland Preserve.

Dave was a well known conservationist who founded Hills for everyone in 1977 and co founded the Wildlands Conservancy with David Gelbaum in 1995. In 2014 in my hometown of Yucaipa, Dave worked with city officials to obtain and dedicate the 334 acre El Dorado Ranch park which will remain an open space in perpetuity.

Dave grew up in Chino Hills where he developed a love for nature during summer camping trips. He also was profoundly influenced by the writings of John Muir. While at Cal State Fullerton in the 1970s, he worked with other conservationists to ensure the land west of Yucca Valley wasn't developed for use as an international airport.

The Wildlands Conservancy, with its motto of Behold the Beauty, built a reputation as one of the most effective conservancies in the country with a unique vision that combines land stewardship with outdoors education for young people.

Dave was a cherished Member of the Inland Empire community and was recognized for his leadership roles in conservation and for showing undeserved children the wonders of nature. Not surprisingly, Dave was recognized as Oak Glen's 2016 Citizen of the Year. Those who knew him best described him as a man of vision, drive and courage.

David Gelbum remarked that Dave's vision of conservation was not simply based on science, but also on the way that natural beauty can improve human lives. Along with his wife Sarah, siblings and many Beloved nieces and nephews, Dave will be missed by the many people whose life he touched through his conservation work.

I wish Dave Dave's family and friends peace and comfort during this type of deep sorrow. I would be honored if this body would adjourn in Dave's Meyer's memory.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Seyarto, you are recognized.

Thank you. Madam President. I would like to take a moment to echo my colleagues sentiments regarding Dave Myers. He was a conservationist and that came naturally to him. But he had one other great achievement in one of the cities that I represent. That's Chino Hills.

His tireless efforts led to Chino Hills State park being preserved for perpetuity so other people could enjoy walking through the same hills that he used to when he was young.

And so we will be forever grateful for his advocacy and determination to make Chino Hill State Park a reality and join the community in mourning him while upholding his legacy.

Members, I thank you for this opportunity to speak about Dave and would like to ask that you please join us in a journey in the memory of Dave Myers.

Thank you. Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. We are all familiar with public conservancies and yet the Wildlands Conservancy is one that was an initiative that was taken by an individual and group of people to step in where nobody else would step in.

They have a major Reserve that's maybe a half hour north of Palm Springs that actually hosted Senator Feinstein for a huge community meeting of 800 people about the designation of national monument. And Dave was the host. He also spirited one in the southern San Joaquin Valley that is home to condors.

He stepped in where government wasn't available to do it. And there are just tens of thousands of acres of land that are preserved because of his efforts efforts. And I am proud to join my colleagues that to ask that we adjourn in his memory.

Thank you. Senators. Our deepest condolences to his family. Senator, please bring the name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. If there is no other business. Senator McGuire. The desk is clear.

Madam President. Thank you. Really nice job today. Members up know that we are in the busy season with committees. I want to say thank you to each and every Senator for their work on behalf of the people of California. Know that everyone's going to be busy this weekend in their districts. The next floor session is scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2025 at 2:00pm Have a wonderful weekend.

The Senate will be in recess until 3:30pm at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Monday, April 7, 2025 at 2 p.m