Senate Floor

Secretary will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

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

We gather in God's presence, Gracious God. We desire you to be a God of joy. And we ask ourselves, what if God is joy? What if creating is God's play and the Big Bang was an outburst of happiness and the galaxies are spun from pure Delight?

What if Earth is God's great celebration, inviting everyone to feast and wonder? What if God doesn't own a throne most uncomfortable. And has never handled a gavel but has a million musical instruments? What if the work of justice is to enable everyone to truly know joy?

And would that not mean that cruelty and injustice are most heinously sinful? What if even in our grief and our despair, the root of our being is joy? And resurrection means passing through our sorrow into God's Delight? Why not? Do we think that God is all somber and serious?

What if even now, as we consider this, God is laughing and waiting for the culmination of our joy? Amen.

Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag Republic. Members, it's with great pleasure that I am have the opportunity to introduce former Assembly Members. Member Cheryl Brown, who is with us today, standing in the back of the chamber there on the floor. Welcome to the chamber.

And going to privileges of the floor, we will recognize Senator Weber Pierson from the Majority Leader's desk for your introduction and resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus, it is my distinct honor and privilege as chair to welcome Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority to the state Capitol and congratulate them on hosting their 26th annual AKA Day at the Cap Capital.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is the first African American Greek letter sorority founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C. in 1908. They have led with distinction since, championing scholarship, civic engagement and service to the underserved. Their enduring commitment to advancing equity and justice continues to uplift Community communities across California and beyond.

Alpha Kappa Alpha is composed of over 114,000 active Members and approximately 1,040 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Liberia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Liberia and South Korea. They are led by International President Danette Anthony Reed.

The membership engage in local, national and international service, professional and personal growth, and social activities that emphasize high scholastic and ethical standards, unity and friendship among college women, empowering of women and girls, and leadership opportunities. The Far west region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated consists of nine states, including California, which constitutes the sorority's largest geographic region.

And all of you, each and every one of you have Members that are AKAs in your respective districts. Notable Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha include Maya Angelou, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, and California's very own Kamala Harris.

With me Today for the 26th annual AKA at the Capitol are many AKAs, as you can see in the gallery, including my first big sister and beloved Terri Wilson, Hyson Williams. And here joining us on the floor is Nicole S.

Jordan, Director of AKA Far West Region, Lanise Jones, AKA Day at the Capitol Co Chair, Luana Bevins, AKA Day at the Capitol co chair, Patrice Marshall Mckenzie, AKA Day at the Capitol Co Chair. And even though I am dressed in green, I am not a Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

I am a very proud Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. However, we are all Members of the D9. We are all sisters, and we are all working to improve and uplift our communities. And so, Members, please welcome these amazing ladies to the Capitol today for their 26th annual day of AKA at the Capitol.

And as I said, these women do amazing things in our community and in our state, including working with other organizations. And so they not only brought themselves to, but they are working with other organizations who are here.

And so please join me in welcoming Desi Woods Jones, President of bawapa Kelly Todd Griffin, founder of California Black Women's Collective, Regina Wilson, who I saw up in the gallery, who's Executive Director of California Black Media, and Shari Woolridge, President of National Coalition of 100 Black Women Incorporated, the Oakland Bay Area chapter. Thank you.

Members. If you'd like to take a photo with the Members down in the back of the chamber, that would be great. Members, we will return to business in 30 seconds. Senator Cabaldon, you are recognized for your guest introduction from majority Leaders desk.

Thank you, Mr. President. On April 12th, in the community of Davis in my district, the town was rocked by a shooting in Central Park on picnic Day one of the most important holidays of the year in Davis.

And today I want to acknowledge the bravery and the quick action of the Davis Little League coaches and parents who during that incident went above and beyond to protect the lives and the safety of the Little League family and the young people.

With us today on the floor are Kelly Martinez, Jessica Chang, Luis Quinones, Jeff Merritt and Abby Collins. They are just a few of the parents and coaches. I know some of you saw one of the videos of that day with no sound, but you saw a video that we've all seen millions of times.

Young people playing Little League on the field at the local municipal park, enjoying the game. And then suddenly the video takes a different turn as all the children run to the dugouts to their parents arms. But then another thing happened.

You see coaches and parents rush from the dugouts into where they heard the shots to do something, to protect the whole community. That's what happened in Davis on April 12. The fact that we have to worry about children while playing baseball, worrying about getting shot, it's profoundly wrong.

But the parents and the coaches of these young people were profoundly right in their immediate and selfless response. In that terrible moment when the shooting started, at least 100 young people were at the park playing on all four fields, plus their family Members and friends who were watching. The coaches immediately acted to safeguard everyone in their community.

Another led players to safety and others led to close the snack shack and make sure that every possible precaution was being taken. As that moment ended, parents and coaches went back and collected all the kids bats and gloves, other belongings.

The coaches held follow up meetings to make sure that the young people and themselves could process this violation of the security of their neighborhood. Coach Kelly Martinez and coach Abby Collins of the Double A Yankees had this to say. If I may have permission to read, Mr. President, we can say without objection. Thank you.

We can say with complete pride that our Davis Little League community was absolutely incredible. In these moments, there was not a single case of someone taking their kid and running without regard to the collective. In that moment, every child was your child and everyone worked together.

So much so that even with a few hundred people in that small space, no one was hurt. Everyone was accounted for and the fields were cleared quickly. I'm so proud of the Little League in Davis. Safeguarding the children and working together make sure that this never happens in any community.

But when it does, our commitment to each other, to the collective safety and security and to the health of our young people and each other in a community mean all the world. Thank you so much to the coaches and parents of the Davis Little League for showing what Citizen looks like.

We're joined by our guests here on the floor, but also by team Members and parents in the gallery from the Mariners, the A's and many, many other Little League teams. We're so glad that you're with us.

Other Members on the floor that would like to take a picture, you're welcome to join it. Members without objection, we will move to Senate third reading to take up the following items. File item 56 and file item 79. File item 56. Senator Richardson, you are recognized from the Majority Leader's desk.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 39 by Senator Richardson, relative to National Safe Boating Week.

Senator, when you're ready.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to present SR 39, which recognizes May 17th through the 23rd as National Safe Boating Week. Every year, the Department of Parks and Recreation estimates that that 4 million Californians engage in boating, fishing, and other recreational activities on California's waterways.

The Division of Boating and Waterways estimates that California owns 2.6 million recreational boats. In 2023, the United States Coast Guard counted 339 boating accidents, including 33 deaths, 164 injuries, and approximately $4.6 million in property damage. The majority of boating accidents are caused by human error or poor decisions and alcohol use, accounting for 14% of fatal boating accidents.

Navigation rules' violations were a contributing factor and 53% of the accidents, 34% of the deaths, and 60% of the injuries in 2023. 87% of reported boating accident victims who drowned in 2023 were not wearing life jackets. Let me repeat that. 87% of reported boating accident victims who drowned in 2023 were not wearing life jackets.

A significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today, had they worn life jackets. Boating safety courses and boating safety campaigns can teach people how to adhere to better boating practices and make safer decisions.

For these reasons, the Senate recognizes May 17th through the 23rd inclusive as National Safe Boating Week and the start of a year-round effort to promote safe boating in California.

Thank you, Senator. Seeing no other discussion or debate. Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Richardson moves to call. We will move back to privileges of the floor for Senator Richardson's guest introduction.

President Pro Tem and Members, in conjunction of what I just shared with you, National Safe Boaters Week, I rise to present to you the Members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a uniformed, all-volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard that supports the Coast Guard in all nonmilitary and non-law enforcement missions, including search and rescue, boating safety, education, and maritime security. The Auxiliary was established in 1939 and currently has over 32,000 members nationally.

Since its establishment, the men and women of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary have volunteered millions of hours in support of the Coast Guard and the recreational boating public. In my district, Flotilla 5-9 in San Pedro, the Port of Los Angeles, includes activities such as water patrols, recreational boating safety, marine safety, and environmental protection.

With us today, we have Auxiliaries, Randel McCormick. He's the Coast Guard Auxiliary Chief of Staff in the northern 11th coast district, which covers parts of California, Nevada, and Utah. He has served in many leadership roles, with his most recent being Division 5 Commander.

He is currently an active Boat Crew Coxswain and serves as the Finance Officer for Division 5. We also have with us Auxiliaries, Timothy Smith. He's a part of the Auxiliary here in Sacramento, Division 3, District 11.

He joined three years ago and heads up a vessel inspection for the Flotilla AUX-OP in 2024 and is also boat certified—boat crew certified. And then finally, we have with us Commander Jim Losey and others who are in the gallery.

Ladies and gentlemen, Members, please welcome the incredible Coast Guard Auxiliary that serves us well both on land and sea.

If anyone else would like to join in the photo, please go to the rear of the chamber.

Thank you so much for being here and thank you for your service. Members, we will now move to File Item 79, SCR 67, by Senator Grayson. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 67 by Senator Grayson, relative to Family Justice Center Day.

Senator Grayson, you are recognized at the Majority Leader's desk.

Thank you and good afternoon, Madam President and Members. I am honored—thank you again—and I am honored to present SCR 67, which designates today, May 19th, as Family Justice Center Day in California. Family Justice Centers, or as we call them, FJCs, provide collaborative trauma-informed wraparound services for survivors of interpersonal violence.

These centers offer a dedicated space for victims' services and recovery, where they can access multiple service providers and agencies under one roof. Without an FJC, a survivor may need to visit up to 23 different locations to receive services and legal support, repeatedly sharing their story over and over and over again.

And FJC offers a supportive and safe environment, where seamless, continuous, and comprehensive care can be accessed, all in one single place. The California Family Justice Center Network presents—represents—27 Family Justice Centers across the state that serve over, are you ready, 70,000 trauma survivors annually. Through these centers, California leads the nation in a multi-sector, collaborative approach.

Family Justice Centers are more crucial than ever, and they have always risen to meet the needs of survivors. Through their collaborations, they are able to provide a wide array of services, like housing assistance, legal support, mental health counseling, family court assistance, and much, much more. These centers help break cycles of violence and abuse, saving individuals and families.

And they represent a beacon of healing, hope, and safety for those in need. SCR 67 acknowledges the lifesaving and hope-restoring work of the California Family Justice Center Network and its 27 ember centers, ensuring that survivors can access the necessary supports and services all in one place.

Colleagues, thank you for your attention and recognition of Family Justice Center Day, and I respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote, at the appropriate time, on SCR 67.

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

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support also of SCR 67. The value of the program was well described. We have had a Family justice center here in Sacramento for about 10 years. The Executive Director, Faith Whitmore, just retired recently, but it was started really by Jan Scully, former District Attorney of Sacramento County—close personal friend.

In fact, her retirement party was a fundraiser for that organization. I think I heard they raised $750,000 initially for that. It was a, a passion of hers and she ran it for a few years, and I personally have supported the organization ever since it began.

And I do that because they truly do provide an essential service to people truly in need, as was described. So, I urge an "Aye" vote.

Thank you. Senator Ochoa Bogh, you are recognized at your desk.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I rise today in support of SCR 67, which not only proclaims May 19th as Family Justice Center Day, it also recognizes that Family Justice Centers across California provide vital services that help meet the immediate needs of victims of abuse.

The Family Justice Center that serves the Inland Empire was originally founded in 1998 by the Temecula Valley's Women's Club. Known as Safe Alternatives for Everyone, it emerged with Riverside County in 2019. Today, the Safe Family Justice Centers of Riverside County serve the Inland Empire, with locations in Riverside, Temecula, and Indio.

SAFE provides multiple community-based services to victims of crime, under one roof, bringing justice-based services and confidential community partners together. Through these collaborative partnerships, SAFE is dedicated to protecting families seeking justice for victims and securing better futures for those who have been affected by violence.

I'm thankful for safe Family Justice Center service to the constituents of Senate District 19 and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting SCR 67.

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

Thank you. I want to join the other Senator from Sacramento, from Fair Oaks, who made mention of the Sacramento Family Justice Center, which is a very involved entity in the State of California, and I, I thank the good Senator for bringing this Bill forward and allowing us to vote on this resolution.

They do such good work, and one of the bills I was able to work on with the Sacramento group was a first in the nation called Joanna's Law, which was based on a woman here in Sacramento whose death was ruled a suicide, but in fact, was the result of domestic violence.

However, at the time, the Law only allowed for the domestic partner to be the person who could seek secondary review. You could see how this would be a problem in a domestic violence situation. The individual, who was her victimizer, actually went on to hurt other people in other states, where he then was held accountable.

But we changed that law. You changed that law, colleagues. You changed that law. And now, your parents, your adult children, your brothers and sisters, they can ask for a secondary review, too. And that way, your family can seek justice, and your loss would not go down as a suicide if it was, in fact, a homicide.

I appreciate the Family Justice Centers for the work that they do to support families, but also to bring light to the issue so that we can prevent, ultimately prevent, domestic violence in all of our communities. I urge an "Aye" vote.

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

Much thanks to my colleagues for their supportive remarks. I respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

"Ayes," 32. "No," 0. Senator Grayson is going to move the call. Senator Grayson, you are recognized for recognition of your guest.

Thank you, Madam President. With me here today on the floor and at the gallery, I'm honored to have members and advocates of the California Family Justice Center Network.

The California Family Justice Center Network, we also know as CFJN, is a powerful alliance that strengthens and supports Family Justice Centers across our state, providing education, training, and coordinated assistance to over 70,000 victims of interpersonal violence each year. CFJN and its members champion support for victims of interpersonal violence in the State of California.

They're committed to sharing information to education and best practices due—to reduce violence and enhance healing and recovery from violence-induced trauma. Please join them in creating a safer and more supportive community for everyone affected by these challenges.

And with me on the floor is Ron Friedes, San Joaquin County District Attorney, Patrick Espinoza, San Diego County Chief Deputy District Attorney, Mike Jump, Ventura County Chief Deputy District Attorney, Susan Kim, Contra Costa Family Justice Center Executive Director, Natalie Olias, Contra Costa Family Justice Center Director, as well, and then, Kristen Fiorelli, Sacramento Family Justice Center CEO.

We have Joyce Belew, Sacramento Family Justice Center Deputy Director, and Taraneh Sarebanha, Assistant Executive Director, One Safe Place North County Family Justice Center. Please welcome my guests, if you will, both on the floor and in the gallery.

If anyone would like to join in the photo, please join them in the rear of the gallery.

Members, on behalf of Senator Strickland and the gallery, please welcome the young Republican residents from his district, district and around the state. Welcome to the California State Senate.

We will now move to messages from the Governor. They will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted. We are now on motions, resolutions and notices. Without objection. The Senate journals for May 12, 2025 through May 15, 2025 will be approved, as corrected by the Minute Clerk.

Members, we will be moving to consideration of the daily file for items 3, 5, 48, 78 and 81. We will now go to Governor's appointments. Item number three. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, item number three is the confirmation of Linda Serizawa for appointment as the Director...for the appointment as the Director of Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission. She's dedicated her entire career in public service with 35 years of serving as a CPUC and Public Advocates Office.

She was approved at the Rules Committee on a 5-0 vote. Respectfully asked for your aye vote.

Thank you. Seeing no discussion or debate. Secretary, please call roll.

[ROLL CALL]

Secretary, please call absent Members. Members, please listen for your name. Secretary, please call absent Members.

[ROLL CALL]

Ayes, 36. Noes, zero. The governor's appointment is confirmed. Senator Grove, you are recognized for item five.

Thank you, Mr. President. File item five is the confirmation of Alan Driscoll for appointment and George Kenline for reappointment to the State Mining and Geology Board.

Dr. Driscoll is a licensed geologist and the Vice President of Ferguson Associates and a civil-environmental engineering consulting firm.

Mr. Kelnine has served on the board since 2013. Done a great job. He's the Environmental Safety Service Director for Mar. Martin Marietta and Building Material Supply Company.

He was, both appointees were unanimously approved by the Rules Committee on April 30th. I respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Seeing no discussion or debate. Secretary, please call roll.

[ROLL CALL]

Ayes, 36. Noes, 0. Governor's appointment is confirmed. We will now move to item 48. Senator Padilla, if you are ready, you are recognized. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 38 by Senator Padilla relative to Harvey Milk Day.

Senator, when you're ready.

Thank you very much. Mr. President and colleagues, I rise to present SR38, which recognizes May the 22nd as Harvey Milk Day.

Members, let's give our colleague undivided attention.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Today we honor Harvey Bernard Milk, a hero in the LGBTQ community who dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of all people.

The first openly gay elected official in California and in any major US City, he is, of course, a global figure, an icon, and a pioneer in the LGBTQ civil rights movement. This wasn't always the case.

He unsuccessfully ran for several local elections, but his persistence was finally rewarded in 1977 when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. His unprecedented victory and the power of his advocacy as an elected official continue to inspire all of us today.

As LGBTQ representation continues to grow across California, in the country, and the world, his voice was often loudest against homophobia and other forms of discrimination at a time when our culture and society too often operated from fear.

He actively encouraged Members of the LGBTQ community to show pride and express our true identities. He made an active choice, for which he would later pay the ultimate price to choose love over hate and hope over fear.

He was adamant that our community must be visible, and I quote, "For invisible, we remain in limbo, a myth, a person with no parents, no brothers, no sisters, no friends who are straight, no important positions, no important place among our society."

In the end, I think he meant by being our own authentic selves, we can model the power and the reality of our humanity. Milk's life was tragically cut short after a former colleague on the Board of Supervisors assassinated him and former San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. His killer was convicted of manslaughter instead of murder.

An injustice that of course, left an indelible impression and continues today to serve as a stark reminder we must always be vigilant. Ensuring fairness and equity in our justice system in a world without ensuring the value of every human being and equality for all.

His impact as a trailblazer and civil rights advocate moves us to continue the fight and finish what he started. Mr. President and colleagues, I can't personally think of a time in contemporary history that we are living through today where taking a moment to recognize individuals like the late Harvey Milk and his example could not be more important.

To set the right standard, the right example, the right attitude about what it means in a free society to value the intrinsic humanity and and equality of each one of us. That is, after all, the American promise. Colleagues, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR 38.

Senator Wiener, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise today as co-chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus, but also as a Senator who has the honor of representing San Francisco, Harvey's home, as well as the former supervisor for the district that Harvey represented in the late 1970s before he was murdered.

I wanted to say that Harvey Milk played a key role in creating political space for people like me and people like my colleagues from West Sacramento and Santa Cruz and San Diego and Los Angeles to be able to be an elected office. He had that transformative a role.

While Harvey is known for his incredible activism and leadership in the LGBTQ community, he was also Jewish. As the son of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants in the early half of the 20th century, part of my family also immigrated from Lithuania...

...he witnessed the brutality of anti-Semitism both abroad and here in the US. As a child, he experienced explicit segregation of Jews in Long Island. He witnessed KKK rallies. And he witnessed his school's refusal to hire a teacher because they were Jewish.

At the same time, Harvey's grandfather helped to establish the first synagogue in his town and fought the exclusion of Jews. Harvey's Jewish background highlighted the horror of anti-Semitism and bigotry and the strength displayed in resistance to that hatred. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising fell six days before Harvey's Bar Mitzvah, 82 years ago this week.

And he would recall elders in the community talking about that Uprising by those heroic Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. It's clear that Harvey's concept of justice was born out of this experience. Harvey embodied what it means to be a Jew, someone committed to justice, to culture and heritage, and to tikkun olam, the concept of healing the world.

And this ethos was never clearer than when he served as a Member of the Board of Supervisors and a leader in the community. Harvey did not mince words when it came to fighting the bigoted, hateful, tyrannical, Proposition 6, which would have banned LGBTQ teachers, LGBTQ people from being teachers throughout the entire State of California.

He campaigned up and down the state, and they were ultimately able to defeat that horrific ballot measure. He said, quote, "Just as Proposition 6 would prevent gay people from teaching in public schools, so 45 years ago, did German law prohibit Jews from teaching or holding any other civil service position."

It's vital that we remember this as history repeats itself. Colleagues, we know that across the country today, we are seeing a proliferation of anti-LGBTQ legislation, including in Congress and various states. It's not simply a cruel and cynical political ploy. It is pure evil.

The evil that resulted in Harvey Milk's assassination is the same evil that led police to brutalize peaceful protesters who were protesting against the lenient sentence against Harvey's murder, and that led to the White Night riots in the Castro, the neighborhood where I lived. That is the same evil that Harvey fought against his entire life.

I'm confident that were Harvey alive today, he would be fighting not simply for. Not solely for the LGBTQ community, but for all of the marginalized communities throughout this country and the world who are being suppressed with an effort to destroy some of those communities.

I'm confident that Harvey would be advocating vocally for Andre Jose Hernandez Romero, a gay man who fled Venezuela because he was not safe as a gay man in Venezuela, came to the US Seeking asylum through the formal process, and was swept up by this government and sent to a gulag in El Salvador.

This young gay man, a makeup artist in a gulag in El Salvador, as far as we know. We hope he's alive, but we don't know because there's no opportunity to even do a wellness check. I'm confident Harvey would be fighting for Andre. Harvey Milk was a hero on so many levels.

He created space for so many leaders in the LGBT community. May he rest in peace. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Durazo, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Latino Caucus, I rise today in strong support of SR 38. Harvey Milk is an extraordinary example of how one person can have a huge impact on all of our lives. He knew his position would come with certain danger as he was challenging established norms. But he pressed on.

He helped pass a gay rights ordinance in San Francisco, defeat a statewide initiative to ban gay teachers in state public schools, encouraged LGBT people to be visible in society, and forged coalitions with other leaders to fight against all forms of discrimination.

Today, in direct contradiction to Harvey Milk's legacy of championing LGBTQ rights and public health, the Federal Government is recklessly cutting CDC HIV/AIDS funding and threatening critical services across California. As a result, Los Angeles County ended all HIV and STD prevention contracts on May 31.

This impacts 39 contracts, 24 counties, including community clinics and organizations that provide HIV STD testing. Harvey fought for visibility, dignity, and care. These cuts undermined that fight.

Danger eventually found him, and he was assassinated. With chilling foresight, he made a tape recording with instructions to have it read only if he died by assassination. In it, he said, quote, "If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door." End quote.

The legacy left by the mayor of Castro street and the courage he showed continues to be felt today. He is recognized as one of Time Magazine's most influential people of the 20th century.

Today, as we celebrate Harvey Milk Day, let us all find the courage to to live our lives unapologetically. Let us recommit ourselves to ensure all marginalized communities, especially the LGBT community, are treated fairly, especially access to health care.

On behalf of the Latino Caucus, I thank the author for his leadership and work on this resolution and ask all Members to join in supporting SR 38.

Senator Cabaldon, you are recognized.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm rising. On behalf of the AAPI Caucus of the Legislature. Harvey Milk was an early coalition builder as the Asian-American community in California was becoming self aware and active at the same time as Harvey was leading the work in San Francisco.

But I also wanted to note, I think sometimes for folks outside of the LGBT community, it can feel like we, maybe we haven't made like we - as I was growing up, you could decide whether to come out or not, which is a decision you don't get to make as a Black man or a Latino woman.

In this society, you can't decide whether or not this identity is something that is shared with others. What a gift that is. Except not. Because it means that you have to decide each day, each moment of your life. Will I be who I am? Will I love someone?

Will I reveal anything and everything that society has done to ostracize you, to tell you that you are going to hell, that you can be evicted, that you can be fired at a moment's notice, that you don't count, that you can be beat up on the street. That is all a decision for you to make.

This is one of the most profound contributions that Harvey Milk made. Not just in demanding and facilitating, helping people to come out for themselves, but for the community. I know when I was a young boy and I was interested in politics, I would see stories of a mayor on TV who would.

Who would get up and say, "I'm the mayor of Spokane. I'm having a press conference, and I have something to say. I'm gay, and I'm resigning on Thursday." Over and over and over and over again, the message quite clear, that if you could only be one or the other.

They were so obviously incompatible that acknowledging who you were meant that you were automatically resigning from office. And so Harvey Milk's legacy, but also his assassination, was about that. Because his assassination reinforced this idea that no life is compatible with being an LGBT Californian. But he laid the siege.

Five years after his assassination, the Californians of Santa Cruz elected the first openly LGBT mayor in California, who's now our colleague, the Vice Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Among other things.

We have come so far because of Harvey Milk's leadership, in not just helping us to make that transition out of the closet, but in blowing up the closet. Because the closet doesn't just contain those of us in the community. It contains all of California, all of America.

From being true to one another, from being a community together, and from drawing on that talent and the love and everything that we have to offer one another. So when Harvey Milk says, come out, come out, wherever you are, this is a clarion call, even today, even for today's young people.

To know that there is power in the act of being who you are. And there is power in all of us, in celebrating and acting together to make that real. I urge an aye vote.

Senator Perez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise on behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus in support of SR 38 by the good Senator from San Diego. Harvey Milk once said, "Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard." Harvey's message persists and rings true for those fighting for equal rights.

Today, he fought to raise the voices of all communities who were underrepresented and unseen. Through this advocacy and leadership, Harvey Milk was able to build coalitions between those diverse groups. Women, Asian-Americans, Latinos, the disabled and LGBTQ communities. The significance of his message is as important today as it was when he himself was providing it directly.

Unfortunately, Harvey Milk was no stranger to the hate and oppression our LGBTQ community members still face today. LGBTQ individuals are five times more likely to be victims of violent crime than than non LGBTQ people. There are measurable health disparities for LGBTQ patients due to stigma, discrimination, and institutional bias in our health care system.

Our caucus stands with our friends, relatives and colleagues as they fight for the levels of dignity and safety that are afforded to the rest of us today. I rise in strong support of this resolution and respectfully request and I vote.

Thank you, Senator Weber Pearson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus in support of SCR 38. Although Harvey Milk is primarily known as pioneering gay rights activism and a politician, he also advocated for policies that uplifted the Black community.

He recognized the need for hope and equality for all marginalized groups, including Black people, and believed that achieving full equality required political representation. In his famous Give Them Hope speech delivered in 1977, he emphasized the importance of providing hope and support to marginalized groups, including Black people and those in the LGBTQ+ community.

His vision extended beyond gay rights to encompass the rights of all minority groups, and he believed that achieving equal opportunity was for everyone.

He understood that elected officials could be a powerful voice for enacting policies that benefit all residents, and he saw his own election as a step towards achieving greater equality for minorities, including those within the Black community. Milk's advocacy for the Black community was a recognition of the interconnectedness of various struggles for equality.

Harvey Milk's legacy is one of hope, activism, and the fight for equality for all marginalized groups. His efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable society continue to inspire all of us today. And for that, I respectfully asked for an aye vote on SCR 38.

Seeing no other discussion or debate, Senator Padilla, would you like to close?

Mr. President, colleagues. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Secretary, please call roll.

[ROLL CALL]

Senator Padilla moves to call. We will now move to item 78.

Alvarado-Gil, when you are ready, Secretary, please call or please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 65 by Senator Alvarado-Gil relative to California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month.

Senator, when you're ready, you're recognized.

Thank you, madam. Mr. President, today I'm presenting SCR 65 which will recognize May 2025 as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month. Kicking off the summer fair season this May, I was proud to have partnered with the Calaveras County Fair to host the 49th annual Frog Jump on our Capitol lawn.

Thank you to all of our brave members, staff, and community members who joined us for some frog jumping fun. A shout out to Megan Myscofski from the Capital Radio whose frog green machine had the overall longest jump of 14ft and 3 inches.

Janelle Louis from the Lieutenant Governor's office whose Frog Skipper had the longest jump from for our electeds category with 14ft and 1 inch. And Max Nguyen, fellow from my colleague from Kern's County's office who won the overall shortest jump category with Leno's Hop rod jumping five feet three and a half inches.

I had the pleasure of attending the Calaveras County Fair over the weekend and look forward to more activities at other fairs in my district. For a total of 10 fairs in my district.

This resolution recognizes the critical role of California's 77 fairgrounds that they play in our state not just as sites for entertainment, but as pillars of economic development, emergency response and community connection. Fairgrounds are the heart of many communities and particularly in rural California.

They serve as multi use venues hosting county fairs, agricultural exhibits, concerts, festivals, trade shows, and more. They're essentially outdoor classrooms for the next generation of California. In 2023 alone, California Fairgrounds hosted over 44,000 events attracting millions of visitors and and generating generating significant revenue for nearby small businesses, hotels and restaurants and vendors.

People from all over the world travel to California's fairs to revel in the history of California year after year. But the value of our fairgrounds extends far beyond tourism and events. When disaster strikes, fairgrounds transform. They become emergency shelters during wildfires, evacuation sites during floods, and command posts for first responders.

Their adaptability makes them a cornerstone of California's emergency response infrastructure. Fairgrounds are also vital education hubs. Through partnerships with 4H FFA, our future farmers of America and school districts, they offer youth hands on agricultural education and life skills training. This connects new generations to our state's agricultural roots.

This resolution honors the thousands of staff, volunteers, board members, and community partners who keep our fairgrounds running year after year. Their work often goes unrecognized, despite the essential services that they provide.

And with Senate Concurrent Resolution 65, we not only express our appreciation, we also affirm the state's ongoing commitment to supporting fairgrounds as centers of public service, culture, and resilience. In closing today, we recognize the fairgrounds' impact and celebrate their contributions past, present, and future. I respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Thank you. Senator Blakespear, you are recognized.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to support the fairgrounds in my district. It's in Del Mar. It's one of only two that are in the coastal zone, the other one being in Ventura. And there are tens of thousands of people who visit the fair. And there's also a racetrack there, and there are concerts.

And I have very fond memories of going to the fair with my family when I was a child and playing the games and doing the rides. And I was recently asked to reflect for a video they're doing on my favorite fair experience.

And it was when I was a young child and had an art project that was submitted into the art of competition. And I was hoping for a blue ribbon when I would go to the fair and see it. And when I got there, there was one.

So I actually did get a blue ribbon for my art project, which was really heartwarming and important for me as a youth. So I wanted to recognize the importance of the Del Mar fairgrounds and say thank you very much for recognizing it.

Congratulations and thank you for that warm memory. With that, Senator Alvarado-Gil, would you like to close?

Thank you. Those coveted blue ribbons, they are quite a special part, a special reward of our fairgrounds. Thank you to my colleague from the coastal regions and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

Senator Alvarado-Gil moves to call. We will move to item 81.

Niello. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 41 by Senator Niello relative to Contractor Fraud Awareness Week.

Senator, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I am rising today to introduce you to Contractor Fraud Awareness Week. California has faced historical and catastrophic wildfires and remains in danger of flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters. These disasters carry the potential to cause serious damage or even worse, total destruction to private property and homes.

Following disasters, stressed and strained homeowners are vulnerable to predatory practices from dishonest contractors. These practices by contractors ultimately increases the cost for consumers by driving up insurance premiums and forcing insurers to re-evaluate risks. It's important to remember that anyone can become a victim of contractor fraud.

As I have seen in my own district, when a company posing as a full service ADU building company left consumers without completed projects and subcontractors without pay. It is imperative that consumers remain aware and stay informed on how to identify such schemes. Educated and informed consumers are always the best prevention of against fraud.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau encourages Californians to get at least three written estimates, check contractors credentials and work closely with insurers during the entire rebuilding and remodeling process. In the interest of educated and informed consumers and eliminating contractor fraud, I respectfully ask for your aye vote declaring May 19, 2025 to May 23, 2025 as Contractor Fraud Awareness Week.

Senator Perez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to start by thanking the senator from fair oaks for introducing SR 41. As he just mentioned, this is a very serious issue issue, particularly for constituents in my district who are impacted by the Eaton fires and recently lost their homes. We've seen an increase in all sorts of predatory practices, whether it be making lowball all cash offers or even with fraud from contractors.

And it has been a highly, highly difficult situation, particularly for seniors that have lost their homes, who do not have insurance, who do not have much savings in order to navigate this situation and are very lost and in many cases are being targeted to be taken advantage of. So this is a very serious issue.

I know there's several bills that we have in the Legislature that we're working to address this, but appreciate the senator from Fair Oaks raising this critical issue. It's something we have to do much more work on so to make sure that those that are impacted by devastating catastrophic events like wildfires, like floods, are not hurt a second time in the process of rebuilding. So thank you so much and urge an aye vote.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Especially at a time of stress w people are trying to rebuild their lives after a catastrophic disaster, that is a time that people sometimes let their guard down and don't do exactly what they might otherwise do, or certainly they should do. And so, to make this week Contractor Fraud Awareness Week, perhaps we can make people just that much more aware of what they need to look out for to avoid those scams. I respectfully request an aye vote.

Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call absent members.

[Roll Call]

I, 36. No, 0. The resolution is adopted. Members, just one moment. Thank you for your patience. We will put together a list of on on call items and be right back with you. Members, we will have committee announcements. Senator Weber Pierson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Budget sub three will meet immediately upon adjournment in room 1200. Thank you.

Thank you. Back to consideration of daily file on call Items. File item 56, SR 39 Richardson. Secretary, please call roll.

[roll call]

I, 37. No, 0. Resolution is adopted. Item number 79, SCR 67 Grayson. Secretary, please call roll.

[roll call]

I, 37. No, 0. Resolution is adopted. Item 48, SR 38 Padilla. Secretary, please call roll.

[roll call]

I, 29. No, 0. Resolution is adopted. Item 78, SCR 65 Alvarado-Gil. Secretary, please call roll.

[roll call]

I, 36. No, 0. Resolution is adopted. If there is no other business, Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Members, welcome back Monday for a long week. We'll be here till Friday, which I know everyone is excited about, to be able to spend some quality time with our colleagues. The next floor session is scheduled for Friday, May 23rd at 9am. Have a great week.

The Senate will be in recess until 3:30pm at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Friday, May 23, 2025 at 9am.