Assembly Floor

The Assembly is now in session. Assemblymember Wallis notices the absence of a quorum. Sergeant. Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent Members. Clerk will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. Members, please come to your desks. Without objection, we will defer the prayer and pledge until later in the session. Members, can you please come to your desk. Without objection, we will defer the prayer and pledge until later in the session.

However, we want to observe a moment of silence in memory of His Holiness, Pope Francis. I ask that everyone please stand. For. A moment of silence and reflection in honor of Pope Francis. Thank you. Members, please be seated.

To our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative proceedings or disrupting the orderly conduct of official business. Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest or other appropriate legal remedies. Reading of the previous day's Journal .

Assembly Chamber of Sacramento Thursday, March 6, 2025. The Assembly met at 9am The Honorable Josh Lowenthal, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly presiding.

Majority Leader Aguiar curry moves and Mr. Flores seconds, that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with presentations and petitions. There are none. Introductions and references of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the Governor? There are none. Messages from the Senate? There are none.

Moving on to motions and resolutions, the absences for the day. For personal business, Assemblymember Gallagher. For legislative business, Assemblymember Ramos. For illness, Assembly Members Sharp Collins and Assemblymember Papin. Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural motions.

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez to speak on an adjournment in memory today. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly rule 118A to allow Assembly Members Harabedian and Celeste Rodriguez to have guests on the floor and to allow Assembly Members Michelle Rodriguez and Wilson to have guests in the rear of the Chamber today.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Joint Rule 62A and Assembly Rule 56 to allow the labor and Employment Committee to notice AB 1365 Garcia for their hearing on Wednesday, April 23 pending re referral from the Banking and Finance Committee

Without objection Such shall be the order.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 56 to allow the following committees to notice bills. Pending referral Health Committee to notice AB255 Haney from their hearing on Tuesday, April 29 pending re referral from the Housing and Community Development Committee Insurance Committee to notice AB 1531 Committee on Emergency Management for their hearing on Wednesday, April 30 pending re referral from the Emergency Management Committee Education Committee to notice AB 1296 Banta for their hearing on Wednesday, April 30 pending re referral from the Housing and Community Development Committee and Housing and Community Development Committee to notice the following bills for their hearing on Wednesday, April 30 pending re referral AB 48 Alvarez from the Higher Education Committee, AB 609 Wix and AB 1244 Wix from the Natural Resources Committee and AB 660 Wilson AB 818 Avilafarias AB 920 Coloza AB 1308 Hoover and AB 1445 Haney from the Local Government Committee.

Without objection. Such shall be the order.

Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to re refer the following bills to Committee AB314 Arambula from the Natural Resources Committee to the Transportation Committee AB601 Jackson from the Public Safety Committee to the Appropriations Committee AB637 Flora from the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee to the Insurance Committee, AB667 Solache from the Health Committee to the Appropriations Committee AB975 Gallagher from the Natural Resources Committee to the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee AB 1113 Mark Gonzales from the Emergency Management Committee to the Health Committee and AB 1253 Schultz from the business and Professions Committee to the Revenue and Taxation Committee.

Witout objection. Such shall be the order. Thank you, Mr. Assistant Majority Leader. Moving on to guest introductions, Assembly Member Ortega, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Speaker. I would love to introduce some very special guests today. Joining us in the gallery are fifth grade students from North Star Elementary School along with their teacher and some parents.

North Star Elementary School is an Islamic faith based school Located in my district, City of Hayward, they are dedicated to providing a holistic education to their students which not only promote their intellectual growth, but also their individual growth. Their curriculum inspires a love of learning, mastery of core concepts and respect for the natural world.

Speakers and Members, I ask that we welcome these young and brilliant 5th grade students of North Star Elementary School.

Welcome, Northstar. Welcome. Welcome, Assemblymember Gipson. You are recognized for your guest introductions.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and Members, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome the Members of the California Supply Chain Federation here with me in the gallery.

A nation's advocate organization dedicated to securing and strengthening America's supply chain by uniting business and labor to protecting jobs, investing in infrastructure and ensuring supply chain stability in the face of global domestic challenges. While most of us realize our strongest resilience and efficiency is our supply chain, it is the truth, the backbone of California's economy.

It is important to take time to recognize and realize the mass impact and the systems on our state and also our economy. As the world's fifth largest economy. California impacts. Impacts on the nation's supply chain cannot be overstated. It is critical.

Whether you are a patient in the hospital needing vital medication or whether you're a parent who need a specialized formula from the grocery store, it is important that one that our economy and our supply chain doesn't fail us yet. And so, Members, you please help me welcome once again the Supply Chain Federation to the People's House. Let's give them a round of applause for being here.

Welcome to the California Assembly. Continuing on, Assemblymember Wallis, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, today I rise to welcome a group of California's best and brightest students who hail from Shadow Hills High School in Indio. Thank you to their teachers, Mrs. Courtney Anziano, and my personal favorite, Mrs. Desiree Wallis, my wife, for bringing this outstanding group of juniors and seniors to Sacramento today to learn about the legislative process.

I have no doubt that these students are future leaders and I'm excited to have them here with us today to tour the Capitol, join us for floor session, and maybe even participate in a Committee hearing or two this afternoon. Let's give them a warm welcome and go Knights.

Welcome, Shadow Hills. You know, we just can't trust that Desiree Wallis. Okay, Assemblymember Wilson, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

I'm just making sure my guests are going to the back of the chamber. I don't think they're ready yet.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Members. I'm Excited to recognize some very special guests. With us this afternoon. In the back of the chamber we have John Carlyi, Ann Mcintyre, Dylan Epperson and Zach Kellerman with the San Francisco Bar Pilots.

The Bar Pilots have been a part of California's history since 1850, safely guiding ships through the tricky and often dangerous waters of the San Francisco Bay and Delta. For 175 years, they've played and continue to play a critical role in protecting our coastline, supporting our economy, and making sure goods move safely in and out of our ports.

I've had the privilege of personally witnessing the incredible work they do. Work that demands unmatched precision, professionalism and a deep commitment to public safety. We are lucky to have them here with us and we are lucky to have them in our waters.

Please join me in giving them a warm welcome to the Capitol as they celebrate 175 years of dedicated service.

Members, I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful recess over the last week. On Thursday, April 17, we didn't have one Assembly Member birthday. We didn't have two. We actually had three. Will you all please join me in celebrating Happy birthday for Members Stephanie Nguyen, Matt Haney and Blanca Pacheco. Ah, but we're not done there tomorrow.

We also have a very special birthday. In fact, two special birthdays tomorrow. Assemblymember Soria's birthday is tomorrow. And the kindest person in this body, Assembly Member Phil Chen's birthday, is tomorrow. Happy Birthday Members. Okay, I'm going to ask for decorum. Please, please take conversations off the floor.

We're going to ask our guests and visitors in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please stand for the day's prayer and the flag salute in honor of the Assembly's Armenian Genocide remembrance ceremony.

The day's prayer will be offered by our guest chaplain, Father Datev of the St Andrew Armenian Church of Cupertino and Vikar in Northern California. Father Datev.

Thank you. Happy Easter to all who celebrate. Almighty God, we lift up our prayers to you with reverence and trust to guide us and strengthen us all in our calling to serve and protect the people of God.

We praise you for blessing us with the gift of life, bestowing upon us all bounties of the world and challenging us to become your good hands in our communities. Almighty God, we know well the honorable Members of this Assembly have responded to your call to bring their wisdom for the well being of the State of California.

We are here today with dual responsibilities to guard and cherish their God given gifts. And we are also here as citizens of the United States of America.

Filled with the spirit of the founding fathers of this great nation to become exemplary leaders of our communities, the United States of America has inspired us to cherish the true value of democracy and freedom, as well as the universal respect for humanity as the reflection of God's love.

Today, on the 110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we remember the one and a half million victims who now are martyred.

Since this year is especially significant as the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument in Montebello was designated as the California State Historic Landmark, the designation is not just an honor, but a solemn duty to remember, to educate and to ensure that the truth of history is never erased.

Standing tall since 1968, the monument serves as a beacon of remembrance for the one and a half million martyrs who perished in the Armenian genocide. California's commitment to truth and remembrance affirms that the great state stands as a beacon of justice, ensuring that history is preserved and honored for generations to come.

We pray for your world peace and beseech you guidance and mercy. Enlighten our hearts with your love and compassion in order that we may serve with justice and prudence in mind. Almighty God, bless the Assembly with their Members and their mission.

Grant them divine wisdom and love to carry on their duties diligently to uphold firm justice for the past and be the part of justice for all generations to come. Amen.

Before we have the Flag salute the ...Minutemen Scouts are here with us for today's ceremony. Scouts, please present the daily colors.

It Assemblymember Harpidian will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members and guests, please place your right hand over your heart. I pledge allegiance to the flag.

Color guard is dismissed. You may be seated. Please be seated. We're going to move on to business. On the Daily file the second reading. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bills 1046, 831, 76 with amendments. 1479, 518 with amendments. 259 with amendments. 467 with amendments. 49 with amendments. 235 with amendments. 727 with amendments. 772 with amendments. 860 with amendments.

908 with amendments. 1005 with amendments. 1123 with amendments. 1230 with amendments. 281, 291 with amendments. 395 with amendments. 422 with amendments. 453 with amendments. 1306 with amendments. 503, 962, 948 with amendments. 1111 with amendments. 1264 with amendments. 1412 with amendments. 632 with amendments. 16 with amendments. 1161 with amendments. 1279 with amendments. 703 with amendments.

And Assembly Bill 969 with amendments.

All bills will be deemed read and all amendments will be deemed adopted. Onto the Assembly third reading. Without objection, we are going to move on to Item 48, House Resolution 25 for the Assembly's commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The Clerk will read House Resolution 25 by Assembly Member Harabedian and others relative to the Armenian genocide.

Assembly Member Harabedian, you are recognized. You may open on the measure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to Father Date for that wonderful prayer. Colleagues and guests, it's my distinct honor as an Armenian-American, but also the chair of the Armenian Caucus to present HR25, which celebrates and notes the 110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

This is presented every year on this floor and it is my honor to do it this year. As many of you know already in 1915 there was a genocide against the Armenian people that saw 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered.

They were targeted because they were Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, the modern day Turkish government, and they were subjected to atrocious things. They were led into the Syrian desert on death marches. For those that survived, they were put into concentration camps.

Men were separated from women and children and were systematically killed to the extent that they survived manual labor and other atrocious things. And this happened 110 years ago. And there's plenty of people that continue to ask, why do we continue every year at the local level and the state level to recognize it and to bring these resolutions?

And the reason is, is because for decades after that happened, in 1915 and 1917, there was a denial. There was a denial throughout the world that it actually happened. This country and many other civilized nations actually lobbied international tribunes to not hold Turkey accountable for what they did. They wanted silence.

And so we went decades without calling the first genocide of the 20th century actually what it was, a genocide.

In fact, In August of 1939, Adolf Hitler, while he was going forward and in the middle of the Holocaust, where he was systematically attempting to erase Jews from this world, he said, "Who today actually speaks of the annihilation of the Armenian people?"

And he sent that into a letter to a colleague to confirm and reassure them that, don't worry, we will get away with this, because no one speaks of the ethnic cleansing and the genocide which we do now, and that the Armenians were subject to decades before. That is why this is so important.

It's to not only celebrate an Armenian people and everything that they have accomplished since the genocide, and it is a proud people. I am a product of the Armenian genocide. My family facing the massacres from the Turkish government, fled and they ended up in Southern California. And I am here because of that.

And I am grateful and humbled to be a member of the United States and a citizen here and a citizen of California. But it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for the genocide. But the silence and the attempt to actually erase this from history continues today. Fast forward to a few weeks ago.

I had to present HR 25 in Rules Committee because the Turkish government, to this day, the perpetrators of this genocide continues to claim and continues to argue that it never happened. That the 1.5 million Armenians who perished wasn't a genocide. And until the perpetrators and everyone else around the world admits to it, we have a big problem.

And we have a big problem because of what happened after the first denial. More ethnic cleansings, more genocides, more atrocities by authoritarian governments occurred. And I am proud today to tell you unequivocally that genocide happened. It was a targeted ethnic cleansing of the Armenian people because of who they were and because of the religion that they practiced.

Just in 2023, Armenians continue to be subjected to this. Over 100,000 Armenians were forced from their ancestral homeland in Artsakh. Artsakh is an independent region of Azerbaijan. The Azeri government gave this city a choice. You either become Azerbaijani citizens or we will starve you until you die.

They cut off with a blockade all food, all water, all gas, anything that you would need to survive. And 100,000 Armenians were forced to migrate away from their homeland. The Azeri government continues to deny that this was any form of ethnic cleansing whatsoever. There are POWs that continue to sit in jail. Civilians were killed. Those POWs have not been released.

Thank you to many of you who have sent a letter to the White House and to D.C. to demand the release of the POWs. But we haven't come that far since 110 years ago.

And that's why HR25 is so instrumental and it is so meaningful, not only for the Armenian community, but any ethnic or racial minority who faces any sort of persecution for who they are, for how they were born and just being who they are on this world. And because of that, I ask for your aye vote.

I appreciate your support for HR25 and I appreciate the moment here to share this history with you. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Harbidian. Assemblymember Tangipa, you are recognized.

Mr. Speaker and Members, today I too rise in support of HR25, which recognizes the 110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, a tragic chapter in history during which 1.5 million Armenians were killed under the Ottoman Empire and millions were displaced from their homes.

Although this event took place over a hundred, over a century ago, its impact is still deeply felt by Armenian families worldwide and by the communities here in California who carry these stories forward. I'm proud to represent Fresno, home to one of the oldest and most established Armenian communities in this country.

For generations, Armenian families have contributed to the strength and character of the Central Valley through faith, culture, education, small business and public service. As the Vice Chair of the Armenian Caucus, I'm honored to stand alongside a community that has shown incredible resilience despite enduring unimaginable losses. They rebuilt their lives and helped shape the future of this state.

Representing this community also means standing with them in their ongoing call for recognition, remembrance and truth. It's about ensuring that what happened is not forgotten and that we continue to honor this legacy of those who are lost by telling their stories and standing up for justice.

And it's an honor to join the chair of the Armenian Caucus in support to recognize this genocide, to realize that it did happen, and to stand in strength. I remember two years ago, I was in an Armenian wedding in Yedam.

I remember one year, one year ago, I was in an Armenian baptism for the baby that was made because of that wedding. And just this last weekend, that same baby, Peter Bedros Edward Babagyan, is going to be an older brother.

And that shows the strength, resilience of what all of the Armenian families did when they came to this country to set their foundations and to grow that future. And I proudly stand and ask for your aye vote on HR25.

Thank you, Assemblymember Tangipa. Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, as you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the Latino Caucus and as a proud assemblymember representing the City of Montebello, home to one of Southern California's largest and most vibrant Armenian communities, I rise with my colleagues from the Latino Caucus and wholehearted support of HR25, which designates April 24, 2025 as the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Just two months ago, I joined survivors, descendants and community leaders at Montebello's own state historical landmark, the oldest and largest Armenian genocide memorial in our region.

Each year on April 24, thousands of Armenians from across Los Angeles gather there not only to mourn 1.5 million souls lost and over a million displaced, but also to celebrate a people whose courage and resilience refuse to be erased by hate or denial. Those eight soaring 75 foot columns stand as both solemn warning, as an inspirational beacon.

They remind us that monuments are not inert stone, they are calls to conscience. They demand we remember our past and send vigil over our present, lest the darkest chapters of human history repeat themselves.

In Montebello, where Armenian churches, businesses, and families enrich our city's cultural tapestry, we see every day how survival turns into strength and tragedy into commitment to justice. And we confront new threats of ethnic cleansing around the world. Our resolve here in California sends its vital message. We will never look away.

I thank my colleague from Pasadena for bringing forward this life-affirming resolution. And I'm honored to stand with him and every member of the Armenian Legislative Caucus in this chamber today.

Today, let us honor the memory of those we lost, lift up the voices of survivors and recommit ourselves to a future where never again is more than a promise. It is our collective action. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Gonzalez. Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, you are recognized.

Colleagues. I rise in support of HR25, but I want to commend the author of this. What you did was be a leader and a voice for the Armenian community here today. And I'm thankful for that. Moreover, I'm thankful for how you brought us together down in the basement.

Not because of party, but because of past actions that have taken place to say that we are united and stand behind you in this. So I'm thankful for your leadership, your bipartisan approach to saying we can stand together. And by the way, this isn't a Republican issue, nor a Democrat issue, or an independent issue.

This is a horrific issue that took place, and we stand united and we stand with you. So with that, colleagues, I rise in support of HR25.

Thank you, Assemblymember Gonzalez, Assemblymember Caloza, you are recognized.

Mr. Speaker and Members, I rise in strong support of HR25, introduced by my colleague from Pasadena and Chair of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation, to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. 110 years ago, the world witnessed one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.

From 1915 to 1923, more than 1.5 million Armenians and hundreds of thousands of Assyrians and Greeks were systematically targeted, displaced and murdered by the Ottoman Turks in what would become known as the Armenian Genocide. This was a deliberate and calculated attempt to erase the people from their ancestral homeland.

The United States played a critical humanitarian role through the Near East Relief Movement, saving countless Armenian lives. Many of the survivors found refuge in this country, and their descendants formed the backbone of the Armenian-American community.

Survivors brought with them their culture, faith and identity to new lands, including here in California and in District 52, which I'm proud to represent. Home to one of the largest Armenian communities outside of Armenia. The resilience and contributions continue to shape our state's social, cultural and economic fabric.

And in 2021, President Joe Biden took a historic step by officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Turkey and Azerbaijan's ambitions toward Armenia unfortunately haven't changed. In 2023, Azerbaijan ethnically cleansed the entire population of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh. 120,000 Armenians were forced to leave their ancestral homeland.

And to this day, Azerbaijan continues to hold prisoners of war. By recognizing the Armenian genocide and the ongoing injustices that Armenians continue to face, we affirm our commitments to human rights, historical truth and justice. Today, we honor the lives lost and uplift the voices of survivors and their descendants.

And to everyone here in commemoration of the genocide, thank you so much for coming all the way to the Capitol to be with us. And so thank you to the author and I urge my colleagues to join me in passing and voting aye on HR25.

Thank you, Assemblymember Caloza, Assemblymember Haney, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. I want to thank my colleague from Pasadena for his leadership and his representation here. I think it is so important that you're here to share your own story and your own family story and your community story, who I know are so proud to have you in this chamber with us.

I rise in support of HR25 with humility and resolve to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a crime against humanity which claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923. These atrocities were not the result of war. They were a campaign of extermination, systematic, state sponsored and brutally effective. Families were torn apart.

Communities and ancient people were nearly erased from their historic homeland. And we have to be very clear that this was a genocide. But the Armenian people survived. They rebuilt, they remembered. And they came all over the world, including here, to California, where we now have the largest Armenian-American population in the country.

And I know there are leaders from all over the state who are here with us today. In San Francisco, the Armenian presence is also deep, resilient and proud. In 1924, just nine years after the genocide began, a group of survivors and their families came together to establish St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, the first Armenian Apostolic church in Northern California.

This wasn't just a place of worship, it was a declaration. We are still here. San Francisco is also home to one of the most powerful genocide memorials in the western United States, the Mount Davidson Cross.

Towering 103 feet atop the city's highest peak, this monument was transferred to the Council of Armenian American Organizations of Northern California in 1997 and officially designated as a memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide. Every April 24, it is illuminated as a beacon of memory and resistance. At its base, a plaque offers a haunting reminder from Armenian writer Avetis Aharonian.

"If evil of this magnitude can be ignored, if our own children forget, then we deserve oblivions and earn the world's scorn." I had the honor and privilege of visiting the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan last year. And I spent hours there, laid flowers at the eternal flame. I spoke with descendants of survivors.

I had the opportunity to learn from the incredible documentation of this genocide. And as my colleague from Pasadena said, genocide is denied for a reason. And it is its denial that has helped to allow it to be repeated. Its denial still exists. And it is our responsibility as elected officials to speak truth clearly and unequivocally.

We pledge to ensure that these lessons of 1915 are not erased, diminished, or forgotten. This was a genocide. It should be recognized as such. And we honor your resilience and your strength. And we will never forget. I respectfully urge an aye vote on HR25.

Thank you, Assemblymember Haney. Assemblymember Zbur, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Members. As the Member representing historic Little Armenia in Los Angeles, it's my honor to join our colleague from Pasadena and his strong and compelling words as a proud co-author of this resolution. This resolution is a clear and strong statement that the Armenian people do not stand alone, that the State of California stands with you.

Over a century has passed since the Armenian genocide, yet Turkey and Azerbaijan still deny basic historical facts. This refusal has helped pave the way for continued and profound injustice, including Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Artsakh in 2023.

HR25 expresses both California's recognition of the horrors of the Armenian genocide and our unwavering solidarity with the people of Armenia and Armenians in the diaspora, including in our State of California.

Today, as some in the United States look to ignore, deny, or rewrite chapters in American history, it's more important than ever to make clear that we stand for the truth. This resolution assures that Armenian-Americans that in the face of over a century of denial, California remains on the right side of history.

I want to join my colleague in thanking leaders of the Armenian community from across the State of California for coming to our the Assembly today to bear witness to the horrific genocide and ethnic cleansing that has occurred. I respectfully request your support for HR25. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymembers Zbur. Assemblymember Schultz, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And thank you of course, to my colleague from Pasadena for bringing the measure forward. I rise today as a proud co-author of HR25. And of course I ask for everyone, and I expect everyone to vote aye in favor of this resolution.

I haven't been on this Assembly floor very long, but I would, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that of all the things that I've heard and all of the things that I have read, those rising in opposition to this resolution have spoken and have written things that I find reprehensible, inexcusable and shameful.

It is more important now than ever in 2025 that we speak with one voice and we speak truth to power. A genocide did happen. 1.5 million lives were lost. We say that so easily, it comes off the tongue so quick. 1.5 million sons, daughters, children, grandchildren.

An entire generation in this corner of the globe wiped off the map. And some would dare to rise and say that a genocide never happened. How dare they? And shame on each and every one of them who would dare utter that word.

It's important to understand that while the genocide happened over a century ago, decades of violence and blockades continue to this day. Justice has not been served. Healing has not taken place. But history has not forgotten what Azerbaijan and Turkey did to the Armenian people and what they continue to do to this day.

So, Mr. Speaker, in closing, I of course ask all of my colleagues to vote aye. But I give my word to all of those in attendance today and watching from home. I will never stand here and profess to truly understand the full scope of the Armenian experience.

But as long as I sit at this desk and have a voice on this floor, I will rise against tyrants and bullies, whether they are foreign or domestic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Assemblymember Schultz. Assemblymember Calderon, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Resolution 25 on behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus. During the Armenian genocide, women and children were targets of gender-based violence, stripping them of their dignity, culture and identity. Despite this trauma, Armenian women remained resilient. They became teachers, nurses and authors.

They shared their language and traditions to prevent the erasure of Armenian culture. The atrocities these women and children faced can't be ignored or forgotten. California must uphold its history of condemning injustice and human rights violations by rejecting the denial of the Armenian genocide.

Our state thrives because of its rich diversity and we will always support the Armenian people and their contributions to our communities and state. On behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus, I respectfully ask for your support of HR25.

Thank you, Assemblymember Calderon. Assemblymember Gabriel, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise today as a proud co author of HR25 and on behalf of the Legislative Jewish Caucus to lend our voice to this diverse chorus of Californians that are standing with our Armenian-American colleagues here, with our Armenian-American friends and neighbors.

And I'm truly privileged to represent a large and diverse Armenian community in the San Fernando Valley. And indeed, the City of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley would not be what they are without the contributions of our incredible Armenian-American community.

And I want to just lift up a couple of the points that our colleagues have made so eloquently. Our colleague from Burbank mentioned that the denial of the genocide is shameful. And I think that that's exactly the right word.

And you think about all of the history that has unfolded since then, the other genocides that have taken place, and what we've seen in most of those instances is accountability. The German people have very seriously grappled with the Holocaust. They have public monuments. They think about it. They teach their young people about it.

They have struggled with it and wrestled with it and acknowledged it in ways that are profound and meaningful, particularly to those who were victims of that genocide. And the fact that the Turkish government refuses and protests even to come to our Rules Committee to object to the basic acknowledgement of historical truth is shameful.

And for that reason, is it incumbent upon all of us to double and triple and quadruple down on speaking truth to power and telling, speaking truth to history? I also want to mention that, and we've heard a little bit about this, that this. The violence of this genocide in many ways is not complete. And we've heard about this as it's manifested itself internationally in really deeply troubling ways.

But one thing I think is really important that everyone in this chamber understand is that it is not just Armenians in Armenia that have been targeted and in historic Armenian homelands, it is Armenian-Americans who have been targeted, schools and churches in my district that have been targeted with hate crimes.

And the Armenian-American, our Armenian-American constituents that are being targeted by people who deny the genocide and who continue to try to inflict violence against this community. But the flip side of that is the incredible resilience of this community.

I want to commend our colleague from Pasadena who I think in many ways embodies that resilience, the fact that this community is here. And for those of you that have not interacted with Armenian-Americans, go spend some time with them.

See the way in which they have preserved their religion, their culture, their language, their history, the pride with which they share that with their next generations.

And you will come away undoubtedly impressed by the resilience of this people who have endured so much in this century, who continue to endure the pain of being targeted and yet stand here so proudly as examples of the fact that the genocide was ultimately not successful.

And so, on behalf of the Armenian community on my district, with, with great thanks to the chair of our Armenian Caucus, respectfully request an aye vote on HR25.

Thank you, Assemblymember Gabriel. Seeing and hearing no further debate. Assemblymember Harbidian, would you like to close?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And let me just quickly thank the Members from Fresno, Los Angeles, Indio, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Glendale, West Hollywood, Whittier and San Fernando Valley for those touching words. Would respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Harbidian, would you like the first roll to be open for co-authors. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll for co-authors. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Members, this is for co authors. All those vote who desire to vote.

Clerk will close the roll. There are 70 co-authors added without objection. We will now take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed no. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Assemblymember Harbedian, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. We have many fellow Armenian Americans who traveled hundreds of miles to be here, to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. I am not able to name all of them individually, but we do have some elected officials. Glendale Councilmember, Elen Asatryan and Glendale City Clerk, Suzie Abajian. Burbank School Board Member, Dr. Armond Aghakhanian.

We also have a number of different organizations. The Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian Assembly of America, Southern California Armenian Democrats, AYF, ARS, AGPU, and many other community members. Thank you all for being here. And Members, let's give them a round of applause.

Members and guests, please. Can I ask all Members to please stand right now. And for all our guests in the rear of the chamber. Members.

We will now observe a moment of silence in remembrance for all those who. Who lost their lives during the Armenian genocide. Thank you. This concludes our ceremony.

Members, we are going to be moving back to the business on the daily file. Before we do that, we have a very special guest in the rear of the chamber. Retired Assembly Member, former majority leader and former Speaker Pro Tem, Mike Ruse is here. Where is Mike? Welcome, Mr. Ruse.

Okay, Members, we are back to the Assembly third reading. We are going to pass and retain on file items 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. Which brings us to file item 46, AB 789 by Assemblymember Bonta.

The Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 789 by Assemblymember Bonta, an act relating to healthcare coverage.

Members, can I have decorum, please? Assemblymember Bonta, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, today I rise to present AB 789, which strengthens California's ability to protect consumers from unreasonable health insurance rate hikes. The Affordable Care Act expands access to quality affordable insurance and health care, for millions of Californians. It also includes provisions to control consumer costs, by requiring transparency and oversight of premium rate increases.

Most of the ACA's provisions have been codified in California statute, which ensures that the protections and processes it provides will remain in place, even if the federal law were to be repealed or altered. However, the definition of "unreasonable rate increase" in state law is still tied back to federal law.

This is a simple Bill, which allows for removal of the tie back to the definition of "unreasonable rate increase" to federal law, securing the ability of state regulators to review and protect consumers from unreasonable and unjustified rate increases. I respectfully ask for your "Aye" vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Bonta. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk, we'll close the roll and tally the votes. "Aye's," 53, "No's," 4. The measure passes.

Moving on to file item 47, ACR 56 by Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez. The clerk will read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 56 by Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez. Relative to Parkinson's Disease Awareness month.

Assembly Member Rodriguez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members for allowing me to present this important non controversial resolution. Over 120,000 Californians live with Parkinson's disease. It is the fastest growing neurological disease, costing the state over 5 billion annually in direct and indirect costs. Parkinson's. Parkinson's is chronic, progressive neurological disease and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer's.

This is. There is currently no cure for Parkinson's, which is why the Michael J. Fox foundation, our state government and research institutions and many of our districts are committed to advancing research and treatments to improve outcomes for patients. Over the past 20 years, the Michael J.

Fox foundation for Parkinson's Research has raised over $3 million for Parkinson's research in California. The number of Parkinson's patients in the US is expected to double over the next 15 years. There are millions of Americans who are caregivers, family Members and friends greatly impacted by Parkinson's disease.

We want to take this opportunity to thank the patients, volunteers, researchers, caregivers, nonprofits and medical professionals who are working to improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson's disease and their families. I ask for your aye vote and that the first roll be open for co authors.

Thank you, Assembly Member Rodriguez. All debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll for co authors. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Members, this is for co authors. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 68. No. 0 without objection.

We'll now move to a voice vote. There's 68 co authors added. We'll now move to a voice vote. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, no. All those resolution passes. Assembly Member Rodriguez, you are recognized for your guest introduction,

Speaker and Members, please.

Speaker and Members, please join me in welcoming our guests here today, as we recognize April as Parkinson's Awareness Month. With me on the floor are Julia Pitcher, with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Patrick LoSasso, President of Parkinson's Community Los Angeles. Jan Whitney and Harry Starkey, with the Parkinson's Association of Northern California.

Marty Acevedo, with the Parkinson's Association of San Diego. In the gallery, we are joined by dozens of patients and advocates from around the state, from the Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson's Research.

Welcome. Welcome to the California Assembly. Thank you for your tireless advocacy. We appreciate you so much. Thank you. Okay, Members, we are—have already dispensed with File Item number 48. That is going to bring us to file Item 49, AB 652, by Assemblymember Alvarez.

The clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 652 by Assembly Member Alvarez. An act relating to Air pollution.

Member Alvarez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Members. I rise to present Assembly Bill 652, which seeks to address operational efficiencies within the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.

This initiative would permit each appointing authority to designate alternates to conserve, vote and receive other rights in the absence or disqualification of the regular Members that have been appointed. By adopting this measure, the Bill ensures that the continuity of decision making while maintaining rigorous qualifications for alternates that mirror those of regular Members.

This is pertinent because of the inability to appoint alternate Members has created some challenges for the San Diego APCD, which disrupts its capacity to respond promptly to the needs of air quality issues and meeting our constituents concerns.

This provision require ensures that no vacancies disrupt board proceedings, allows alternates to step in as needed while adhering to the same rigorous selection criteria as regular Members. And for that I respectfully ask for your aye vote on AB652. Thank you, Assembly Member Alvarez.

Assembly Member Demaio, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And Members, with all respect to my colleague from San Diego County who does a lot of great work on this one, I rise to urge a no vote on Assembly Bill 652.

We have a problem in San Diego County where we have a large city, the City of San Diego, and a somewhat large city, the City of Chula Vista. And frankly, they're not satisfied with just having a voice at the table. They want to dominate the decision making.

They've already had a change similar to what's being proposed in this bill on our transportation agency, our regional transportation agency, San Diego Association of Government, SANDAG. And it has had a catastrophic impact on all the communities outside of those two cities.

Because what these two cities are doing is they're ganging up on all the other rural communities, the unincorporated areas, the smaller cities.

And the reason why we do a balanced vote in many of these agencies is because you don't have a regional transportation system unless you take into account the perspectives of the rural areas and all communities irregardless of their size. This bill will once again repeat that mistake but for the Air Quality district.

And so I urge you take a look at the problems we're having with sandag. Don't repeat the same problem by giving the two biggest cities in our region unbridled decision making authority. There's a reason why we protect the rights of minorities. We want to make sure we have balanced policies.

Sandag's weighted vote for these two big cities has led to cancellation of much needed projects in our unincorporated and rural areas. Air quality is a regional concern and that is why we need to make sure that we balance the perspective of all of our regions in San Diego. County.

I urge a no vote and perhaps an alternative way to address this issue through future legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Demaio, seeing and hearing no further debate. Assemblymember Alvarez, would you like to close?

Yes, thank you. I would just appreciate my colleague from San Diego standing up and sharing his thoughts. I want to just remind everybody this particular bill is focused on making sure that there's alternates to the board.

This board currently does not have alternates, which means when there are vacancies or if there is this disqualification by some of the board Members, there is an inability to actually take action by this board. We've seen that already happen. This bill corrects that.

And I am very familiar, I served on the local transit system board and the SANDAG board, familiar with the comments that my colleague made. However, this is a different type of bill ensuring again that there is representation there.

As alternates, they would have to have the same exact qualification as the those who get appointed by their appointing body. And so for that reason, so that we can make sure that this body continues to function, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Alvarez. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 58, nos. 2. The measure passes.

We're going to pass and retain on file Items 50 and 51, which gets us to File item Number 52, AB 1414, by Assemblymember Ransom. The Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1414, by Assemblymember Ransom, and accolading to tenancy.

Assemblymember Ransom, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Colleagues, I rise to present Assembly Bill 1414. As we know, access to the internet is critical for living. During the pandemic, we learned how essential high-quality Internet connection is for work, school, health care, and daily life.

And we were clearly and quickly able to identify the difference between the haves and the have-nots. With that said, I believe we all agree that everyone, regardless to whether they are a renter or a homeowner, should have the freedom to choose an internet service provider that aligns with their needs and their budget.

Assembly Bill 1414 ensures that renters across California are not compelled by landlords to subscribe to a specific internet service provider, safeguarding their ability to select the service that meets their needs. This Bill also provides a clear remedy—if a landlord violates the provision, tenants can deduct the cost of the imposed subscription from their rent.

Assembly Bill 1414 represents a balanced approach to enhancing tenant rights and fostering a competitive market for internet service providers. This Bill enjoyed unanimous bipartisan support in Committee, and I respectfully ask for your "Aye" vote today. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Ransom. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk, we'll close the roll and tally the votes. "Aye," 72; "No," 0. The measure passes.

We are going to pass and retain on File Items 53 and 54. Gets us to File Item 55, AB 931, by Assemblymember Kalra.

...the Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 931 by Assemblymember Kalra, an act relating to attorneys.

Assemblymember Kalra, you are recognized.

Thank you Mr. Speaker, Members. I rise present AB 931. This Bill is a common sense consumer protection measure that adopts ethical rules for the regulation of litigation finance industry. Litigation finance agreements are contingent loans that a plaintiff takes out, takes out to help pay for the necessities of life during the pendency of their legal case.

For plaintiffs who are injured and cannot work, these loans offer a critical lifeline until they can recover a judgment or settlement to compensate them for their injuries.

However, in the absence of regulation, too often legal funding agreements contain terms that include excessive interest rates, requirements that the funding company steer legal strategies, and unrealistic repayment timelines.

To ensure that these vital financial products remain available while protecting consumers, this Bill requires all legal funding agreements to disclose key terms in plain English, provides consumers a five day right of revocation, prohibits conflict of interest between attorneys and litigation funders, and prohibits legal funding providers from making any decisions about litigation tactics.

This Bill also clarifies existing rules to make it clear that California attorneys cannot share revenue with non-attorneys. This Bill clarifies existing law to apply to cases in which other states may permit law firms to share fees. This provision ensures that non attorneys are not making legal decisions for clients.

This Bill was unanimously approved in Policy Committee and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you Assemblymember Kalra. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 53 noes 0. The measure passes. On to file item number 56...

...AB 890 by Assemblymember Lee. The Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 890 by Assemblymember Lee and others, an act relating to juveniles.

Assemblymember Lee, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. I am pleased to rise as the author of AB 890. AB 890 revises residency requirements for foster youth who are over 18 and wish to move to a different county.

These foster youth, or non-minor dependents, are adults between the ages of 18 and 21 who are participating in the extended foster care program.

The Bill presents a simple solution to the current inflexibilities that prevent these foster youth from being able to access the services to which they are entitled and that taxpayers pay for by reducing the current residency requirement from one year to six months. The Bill passed unanimously out of the Human Services Committee, and I respectfully asked your vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Lee. Assemblymember Davies, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I rise in support of AB890. This measure was modeled off an identical Bill I introduced earlier this year, and I'm pleased to see this issue gets the attention it deserves.

As someone who represents different counties, I heard from stakeholders in my district about the challenge non-minor dependents and our foster care system face when trying to build a new life, either for work or school purposes, in new counties.

This measure will ensure critical services, including mental health treatment, follow these individuals in a timely manner in whatever new county they choose to reside in. Members, if the Member from Milpitas and a Member from Orange County can partner together on a measure, I think that's a pretty good Bill. And I urge you an aye vote on AB890.

Thank you, Assemblymember Davies. All debate having ceased, Assemblymember Lee, would you like to close?

I would like to thank my colleague from Orange County for her work ensuring our foster youth are properly taken care of and respectfully ask your aye vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Lee. The Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 69, noes 0. The measure passes. Moving on to file item number 57, AB40 by Assemblymember Bonta...

...the Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 40 by Assemblymember Bonta. An act relating to healthcare and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Assemblymember Banta, you are recognized.

Good afternoon, Speaker and Members. AB40 simply clarifies the state law defining emergency services includes reproductive health services as necessary to relieve an emergency medical condition, including abortion. About 50,000 people in the US develop life threatening pregnancy complications each year.

And in rare cases, doctors might need to terminate a pregnancy to protect the health of the pregnant person, especially in cases where there is no chance for a fetus to survive.

Unfortunately, there have been instances where parents in the middle of a miscarriage or other pregnancy related emergency have been turned away from an emergency room and told to go to a different facility. This Bill is a simple clarification of law. I respectfully request your aye vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Bonta. Assemblymember Schiavo, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. Every second counts when it comes to an emergency. And yet following the Supreme Court's decision around Dobbs, we've seen an increase in confusion and hesitation that can happen with healthcare providers. And so when we see that happen in emergency rooms, it can be life or death.

Abortion is healthcare, plain and simple. It's not political, it's not up for debate. When someone is bleeding or in pain or facing life threatening pregnancy complications, it's a medical necessity. No one should have to beg for the care that they need, especially in a moment of crisis.

So including abortion care, making sure that it's clear that this is part of emergency care and essential when you go into an emergency and need whatever care you may need at the time is critical for us to clarify in the state.

And I appreciate the author from Oakland for her leadership on this issue and I urge an aye vote on AB40. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Assemblymember Schiavo. All debate having ceased, would you like to close, Assemblymember Bonta?

Thank you Speaker. The Bill has an urgency clause to ensure that the provisions of this Bill go into effect immediately upon enactment. With that, I respectfully request your aye vote.

Thank you Assembly Member Bonta. Members, as Assemblymember Bonta said, this Bill has urgency on it. Requires 54 votes. Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote.

Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 54, noes 9 on the urgency. Ayes 54, noes 9 on the measure. The measure passes. Moving on to file item number 58. AB322 by Assemblymember Ward...

Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 322 by Assembly Member Ward an act relating to Pupil Health.

Assembly Member Ward, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Rise to present AB320, which will require the California Department of Education to encourage local education agencies to participate in programs which offer reimbursement for school based health and mental health services.

In doing so there will be increased access to and leveraging of funds for local education agencies which importantly will expand access to critical health and mental health services for school age children. Respectfully request your aye vote.

Thank you. Assembly Member Ward. All debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote, all those vote who desire to vote, all those vote, who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes, 56. No, 0. The measure passes.

Members we're going to pass and retain on file items number 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, brings us to file item number 67. AB639 by Assemblymember Soria. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 639 by Assemblymember Soria. An act relating to dams.

Assembly Member Soria, you are recognized.

Thank you Mr. Speaker and Members. AB639 makes a narrow exception to the definition of dams to ensure it does. Not inadvertently apply additional unnecessary regulatory burden on weir operators. Weirs are structures that allow for temporary impounding of water to assist in water deliveries to farms and ranches.

They do not restrain water in anywhere near the same amounts or for the same length of time as dams, significantly reducing the risk and impact of a structural failure. AB639 simply recognizes this difference in statute, reducing the cost of operating these facilities and allowing the division of safety of dams to focus their attention on actual dams.

This Bill has been narrowly tailored and only applies to 10 facilities in the state and has no opposition. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you Assemblymember Soria. Seeing and hearing no further debate, the Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote all those vote who desire to vote all those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 70, noes 0, the measure passes.

We are going to pass and retain on File Item 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 and move on to the second day consent calendar. Moving to a vote on the consent calendar—File Items 89 through 93. Is there any Member who wishes to remove an item from the consent calendar? Seeing and hearing none.

The Clerk will read the second day consent calendar.

[Roll Call]

We're moving onto announcements. Members, following committees are going to meet today, immediately after adjournment. Budget Subcommitee One, on health, in Capital Room 127. Natural Resources in Capital Room 437. Rev and Tax, in Capital Room 126. Transportation and Swing space, Room 1100, and Banking and Finance—that's not until 3:30—in Capital Room 444.

All of those, with the exception of Banking and Finance, meet right now. Session schedules as follows. Tuesday, April 22nd, check in session. Wednesday, April 23rd, check in session. Thursday, April 24th, floor session at 9:00 AM. Seeing and hearing no further business, I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn.

Mr. Assistant Majority Leader Garcia moves and Mr. Flora seconds that this House stands adjourned until Thursday, April 24th, at 9:00 AM. Quorum call is lifted, and we are adjourned.