Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

[roll call]

A quorum is present. Members, if we could return to our desk and please rise. And will our guests be on the railing, please, in the gallery beyond the railing? Please rise. We'll be led in prayer this morning by Sister Michelle Gorman, after which, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Sister.

So we gather in God's presence as students and teachers end another school year. And as all of us continue to be educated every day. Let us pray that we will never throw in the towel when situations become difficult, as illustrated in this poem, X by Sister Pat Ryan. I nearly threw in the towel.

It was May, my first year teaching. After algebra class, Carlene whispered in my ear, sister, when are we going to learn what X is? Oh, Carlene, so many years later. I can tell you a lot more about X. It not only marks the spot, it symbolizes every unknown, any mystery. It's the letter that everyone is looking for.

I've learned so much since you stunned me with that question. My answer right now would be never. We are never going to learn what X is. It is the nameless essence of an eternal search, the magnet pulling the evolutionary process.

It is totally available and open to any brain that needs a marker to hold on to the infinite reality passing through. We are never going to learn what X is. But we will never stop trying. Amen.

Please join me in the pledge I pledge allegiance to--

[everyone recites the pledge]

For those who haven't noticed, we have a special guest in the back of the chamber. Our previous colleague, Senator Glazer, has graced us with his presence today. We're going to be moving into privileges of the floor.

Colleagues, we have four privileges, four guest introductions for right under this section. Senator Rubio is prepared from the majority leader's desk.

Yeah.

Senator Rubio, whenever you're ready.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I am honored this morning to have some incredible young individuals with us. I have the privilege of recognizing two extraordinary students who have earned the title of 2025 state scholar athlete of the year. It's the California Interscholastic Federation's highest honor.

I'm proud to introduce to you, Aquilin Hsiao, a senior at Edgewood High School in West Covina in my district, Aquilin is a four year varsity athlete in swimming and tennis, two time Science Olympiad captain and president of her school speech debate team.

She launched an International Baccalaureate Ambassadors program to help other students navigate a demanding academic schedule and track. She's also a dedicated tutor on campus. Aquilin says true sportsmanship isn't just about skill. It's about maintaining respect and resilience under pressure. That's a lesson I think we could all learn from.

So today she is joined by by her parents, Joyce and Winston. Her sisters Arielle and Azelia. We're honored to welcome them to our floor. Let's welcome them, please.

Welcome to the California State Senate.

Sentor Rubio, I know you have another guest introduction, on behalf of Senator Limon. You may proceed.

That's correct, Madam President. Once again, please allow me to introduce someone that's incredibly talented. It's my honor to introduce to you Eamon Gordon, a senior at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, on behalf of Senator Limon.

Eamon is the captain of his cross country team, a three time Santa Barbara county champion, and he's helped lead his team to a top four finish at the 2024 CIF State Championship. He's also a standout in track and field, qualifying for an elite- elite meets like the Arcadia Invitational and the Adidas Meet of Champions.

Off track, Eamon maintains a 4.98 average. I want you to think about that. 4.98 GPA, has won the Congressional App Challenge in California's 24th district and build a financial literacy platform to help other students. This fall he'll be headed to school at UCLA. Please help me welcome Eamon Gordon.

Congratulations on your achievement- achievements.

I just want to really quickly just refect- reflect on the kind of students we're raising here in the State of California. And I think it's a testament to leaders, to students, but more importantly to the parents. So both sets of parents are here, so I just want to say thank you to the parents as well.

Thank you, colleagues.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Senator. Colleagues, we have a 41st junior Senator joining us today. Senator Dahle's daughter Rosalind Dahle is with us today. Change in program. I know we have two remaining introductions, but we're going to come back to them. We're going to jump into our resolution under without objections. We'll move into Senate

Third reading to take up two items out of order. First up is file item 262 by Senator Cabaldon who is ready to go.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 46 by Senator Cabaldon, relative to Affordable Housing Month.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President. Senate Resolution 46 proclaims May 2025 as Affordable Housing Month. California, as we all know too well, is in the grips of an affordable housing crisis. Today, only 17% of California--today, only 17% of California households can afford the average home on the market.

Most renters are rent-burdened, meaning that they are spending more than 30% of their income on housing, leaving virtually nothing for groceries, for transportation, for medical care. But the affordability crisis isn't just a coastal or an urban issue.

In communities across the state, including small towns, rural communities, mid-sized cities and suburbs, and communities like my own district, or in places like Eaton or the Palisades fires where tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed or damaged, we need to build additional housing.

We need to build 300,000 new units a year in order to keep pace, including 125,000 affordable units. This Legislature and state government have taken aggressive action even this week to promote the construction and the development and the permitting of affordable housing, and that work must continue.

At the same time, we have to step up with the dollars to help make it happen. The number one barrier to the development of affordable housing today is financing, and so we need to make real the permits and the zoning that this Legislature has helped to advance by supporting that.

California has always turned to voter-approved bonds in order to accomplish that. That's why the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018 provided $3 billion, an investment that we have to continue to make in order to get a bite into this crisis.

So SR 46 is a call to action, a clear statement that this body recognizes the scale of the crisis and is committed to the full suite of actions, including financial investments and bold policies that will build and preserve affordable housing across our state. Let's use Affordable Housing Month not just to acknowledge the problem, but to double down on the solutions. I ask for an aye vote.

Senator Wahab, you're recognized.

Thank you. I echo the sentiments of my colleague here. As Chair of Housing, I do want to highlight that affordable housing has to be the priority of this institution. As we are building, we need to prioritize affordable housing. We need to build and prioritize ownership.

I've said this many times to many of you that 94% of Americans across generational lines, socioeconomic lines, as well as political parties believes that ownership is the American Dream, and as much as we are, you know, focused on development, we do have to prioritize what we are developing, especially as our fastest growing homeless demographic is our seniors. They are past their prime earning years as well as the fact that they are aging with obviously illnesses and much more.

Being able to ensure that they are housed and live dignified lives in their golden years is incredibly important and should be a priority of this institution as well. So I respectfully ask for an aye vote for Affordable Housing Month. Thank you.

Senator Durazo, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I also rise in support of this resolution, recognizing May as Affordable Housing Month, and I thank the author for raising this resolution. Housing is a human right, not a luxury. Everyone deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to live. In the year of affordability, we must focus on affordable housing.

This crisis hits low-income families, communities of color, seniors, and immigrants the hardest. We need more affordable housing, not only more housing. We can't pass housing bills that leave affordability out. We need equity. If we're speeding up housing development, we should also be requiring that some of that housing is truly affordable.

We must make sure working people can actually live in the homes we are helping to build. Affordability should be required, not a bonus and not a maybe. We shouldn't be satisfied with a promise that must be baked into our politics. Let's back our values with all of the work and action that we take in this body, and again, I thank the author and ask for an aye vote.

Colleagues, just a reminder: please take your conversations off the floor. It's getting a little loud here. Senator Grove, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise in support of this resolution, but I would like our colleague, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to address some of the things that are facing--some of the issues that our constituents have regarding the cost of housing.

Policies that come out of this building increase the cost of housing, the cost of development, the cost of building. My colleague from Berkeley had an ADU issue. The previous colleague that served with us in that position was having a problem with ADU and it was just trying to get the permits. It's thousands upon thousands of dollars just to--before you even put a nail in a piece of plywood or a framing, even before you even start the project.

In 2000, the medium household income in this--or the medium household cost of a home was $211,000 in California. Today, it's $940,000. I don't know how kids coming out of college pursuing the American Dream are going to be able to afford a home with a $940,000 medium household price index.

I would like to thank my good colleague from Hayward for bringing up seniors. That's really important because I sit on Budget Sub Three with the president running the Senate Floor today, and the issue that we have there is that there is a governor's proposal to make seniors spend down to a $2,000 asset limit in order to be able to have Medi-Cal.

So if they own a home or a car, they do get one home and one car excluded, but man, if you have over $2,000 in assets other than that, like a washer and dryer and refrigerator and, by God, a second pair of shoes, then you're not going to qualify in order to get Medi-Cal coverage and be healthy in the State of California if you are a senior.

I think we should all push back on that issue to make sure seniors can stay in their homes and have the ability to be able to live the lives that they choose to live with the assets that they've achieved through their livelihood. So I respectfully ask for an aye vote on this resolution because home housing pricing is something that we desperately have to address in this state.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Senator Arreguin.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise as a proud co-author of SR 46 and thank my colleague, the Senator from West Sacramento, for bringing this important resolution forward to recognize the importance of affordable housing in California, and I think the context of this resolution is also important when we have budget proposals that threaten to cut critical programs that affordable housing developers and communities use to build affordable homes in the state.

And so while we're adopting this resolution today, let's recommit ourselves to invest in the resources needed to build affordable homes in California. Like many, this issue is deeply personal to me as one of the only renters in the California State Senate and somebody who's faced homelessness.

There's so many families in my district who live in RVs, who live in tents, who are significantly rent-burdened, and I want to just acknowledge the important work that this Chamber and the Assembly has done in recent years to streamline production.

I agree with the Senator from Bakersfield. There's more work we need to do to remove regulatory barriers to get homes built now, but we know that we need the critical funding and resources to help get affordable homes built, and so, thank you once again to my colleague from West Sacramento for bringing this forward. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Blakespear.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today also in support of SR 46, and I thank the Senator from West Sacramento for bringing it forward. It's very important that we continue to shine a light on the need for more affordable housing.

We frequently talk about the need for housing and we know we have over three million units that we are short of housing, both affordable and all types of housing, but I just saw the numbers yesterday for what we produced in the State of California last year, and we are under 100,000 units.

And what it means to me when I see these types of statistics year after year where--as the good Senator from West Sacramento said--we're supposed to be building at least 300,000 units a year and we are under 100,000, and that's after many years of passing bills in this Legislature that are pro-supply, that are aiming to cut regulations, to provide incentives, to change zoning, to make it so that housing is easier to build, and what we're seeing is that that is not effective.

And I recognize that there is the argument that we have to wait for this to kick in and start to work, but year after year, when we don't see it producing even an increase in the amount of supply, I think it's worth suggesting that we add to our arsenal.

So we continue to do the things we're doing but we also do new things to recognize that we need to get actual housing structures for people to be living inside instead of outside on the streets immediately.

And the reality of affordable housing for somebody who is homeless living on the street is that they would be very happy to be inside with a bathroom and a pillow and a bed and making it so that someone's forever home is not necessary.

We need to have people inside and not on the streets suffering, dying in front of us while we are working year after year to build people's forever homes and ineffectively reaching the numbers we need to make a difference there. So affordable housing is critically important. There are many types of affordable housing, and so it's not just deed-restricted affordable housing.

It's also interim housing and transitional housing and people's forever homes. So making sure that we are putting our arms around all of the solutions so that we can truly tackle the crisis and go beyond rhetoric and go beyond goal setting and actually have people inside, that's just critically important. So I thank the Senator again, and I urge your support for SR 46. Thank you.

Senators, it's getting really, really loud. Once again, please take your conversations off the floor. Senator Wiener, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. I'm glad we're having this debate on this resolution and thank you to my colleague for bringing it. I just want to say affordable housing--and we're talking about subsidized housing when we talk about affordable housing--is incredibly important.

The U.S.--the U.S. used to do subsidized housing in a big way and then the federal government backed out and there was--and then redevelopment was killed in California, and so we've been methodically building back and making investments in those subsidized homes at the local level, at the state level.

It's incredibly important and I'm so grateful for all of the collaboration and making that happen. We also need to recognize that we're not going to subsidize our way out of the housing crisis.

It is part of the solution, but the vast majority of people, 90% of low-income Californians, probably 99.9% of middle-income Californians, do not live in subsidized housing and will not, and so we have to build all kinds of housing and sometimes there's a tendency to pit different kinds of housing against each other and it's an all-of-the-above approach.

It's subsidized, low-income housing, supportive housing, student housing, ADUs, market rate housing, duplexes, high rises, everything. And then the last thing I want to say is, 44% of Californians are renters. I think sometimes people don't appreciate that nearly half of all Californians rent.

Homeownership is fantastic and we should promote it, and it's fantastic for people to build intergenerational wealth, but for a huge number of Californians, homeownership is not in the picture for them in the near future.

And we need to make sure that for people who rent either by choice or because they have no other choice and they're not going to be able to afford a home, that they have affordable rents. We don't have enough rentals for people, we need more of them, and we need to bring rents down. Ask for an aye vote.

Senator Alvarado-Gil.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to the author for bringing this forward as a recognition of affordable housing here in California. I rise as a proud co-author and just wanted to share some reality here with our group here.

When we talk about affordable housing in California, it encompasses so many other levels: the cost of maintenance, groceries, energy, insurance, utilities. I mean, this is what has been encompassed in the cost of housing in California, and I just want to remind this board or this group here is that we have taken on the insurance crisis here in California so fervently last year and I have very little to hear about it this year.

And when we are talking about affordability on housing, whether you're renting or you're owning, there is a component of insurance to protect our, our dwellings. So, although this resolution just opens the door to the conversations of affordable housing, I just want to reinforce that if we are truly going to achieve affordable housing in California, we have to encompass all the different aspects that feed into affordable housing.

And I urge our committees to work very hard on this and I urge our partners on the other side of the aisle to open the conversations around affordability of insurance throughout California.

The other thing I wanted just to share with this body, there's not a day that goes by that I don't talk with constituents, and there was a story that was shared with me yesterday--it's very pertinent to this--is a veteran that has had the benefit of owning several homes, and one of those homes is a rental unit for a middle-class family in the Central Valley.

And he shared his frustration in that he's looking to sell this home as him and his young family are looking to expand in other areas, and he really wants his renter to be able to buy that home. And he's had the conversation with his renter that they can afford the mortgage, but what is prohibiting them as a middle-class family is that down payment.

So he took the initiative to call the county and ask for programs to help this middle-class working family to buy the home that they're living in, which would be an affordable home model, and unfortunately, the programs that we have for affordable housing, subsidized housing, do not cover the middle class.

So here's a great situation where we have a veteran family wanting to purchase the home that they've been renting for years, that they've established their family in the community, and yet we don't have programs here in California to help that middle class achieve that California dream.

I also want to just reinforce that although I am in support of this resolution, the answer is not throwing more money at it. The answer is not an affordable, affordable housing bond measure, because we've tried that. We have tried to put money towards affordable housing and yet we've not yielded those results.

So I want to commend the author of bringing this forward. I want to encourage us to keep having this conversation. Let's talk about it until our skin rolls off our bodies. Affordable housing in California is the number one topic. The affordability crisis in California is the number one topic.

We should be bringing this forward every single time that we talk about how we spend money in California and how we help to improve the lives of the Californians, whether they are low-income, middle class, or rising class. Thank you so much to the author, and I urge an aye vote.

Senator Perez.

Thank you, and want to thank the good Senator from Sacramento for bringing this resolution forward to recognize the importance of affordable housing with SR 46. You know, I do want to highlight, I have seen at the local level in so many ways how we've prevented affordable housing from being built, and it's been eye-opening.

Before my time here in the Legislature, was at the local level in the City of Alhambra and had discovered while serving there that we actually had a ban on affordable housing for anybody that was not a senior citizen.

This is something that's actually very common in local municipalities because there was this perception that affordable housing would bring individuals who committed crimes--there's all these misperceptions about the folks that need affordable housing.

And over time, thanks to advocacy and thanks to all the work that's been done in this space, we've realized that actually many people need affordable housing and would qualify for it and that, you know, these narratives are just completely false.

So was really happy to be able to strip that away and build, create some of the first affordable housing that's available of people of all ages, including under the age of 65 because we know that it's so necessary, but it just highlights examples how we've prevented this kind of necessary housing from being built in our localities.

And there's so much work that we can do as a state working together with local partners to make sure that it's easier to build housing and that we don't have laws that are preventing this type of housing from being built. So thank you, and urge an aye.

Senator Cabaldon, you may close now.

Madam President, thank you, and colleagues, thank you for the robust debate. Clearly, a lot of pent up energy on this topic and May is our time to recognize Affordable Housing Month, but then June will be our time to make the budget adjustments to advance an affordable housing bond.

And the policies that so many of you have articulated around production, protection, preservation, around meeting the needs of seniors to afford the housing that we're building, all of the answers that have been here, it is never a choice between zoning and financing or financing and interest rates. We must tackle all of it, so appreciate the broad support and ask for an aye vote.

Secretary--seeing no other discussion--please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes 32 no 0. The resolution is adopted. Senator Cabaldon, I know you have some guests you want to introduce as well.

Ending in for nonprofit housing advocates, defense developers, community leaders, elected officials from every single district that is represented on this floor. I'd like to recognize a couple of guests that are here with us today in acknowledgment of Affordable Housing Month. Jocelyn Lynn from Burbank Housing. Caitlyn-Caitlin Vesbee.

From Legal Aid of Sonoma County and Sacramento Housing Alliance, Representatives Jonathan Cook and Armand Zarinaboff and thank them for their contributions to the advancement of affordable housing. Please welcome them to the floor.

Thank you so much and welcome. A little bit of pinball. Today we're going to move out of Senate. Third reading. Go back to privileges of the floor. Senator Choi.

Thank you and good morning colleagues. Today I would like to recognize my guests in the gallery. Students from Orange High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program and their leaders, Carlos Mara. They are standing up there.

Orange County school established their Mc Junior ROTC program near 30 years ago and it is the only program of its kind in Orange County. The school's program is designed to make students more college and career ready by developing leadership skills, self discipline and physical fitness.

These cadets you see in the gallery receive rigorous academic instruction on leadership, civic and military history. As myself, I was a college Rotary for Army and I relate to them. They also participate in fiscal trading, learn military drills and must press weekly uniform inspections. The program emphasizes self confidence, discipline, physical fitness and citizenship with each individual cadet.

It has also been an honor to see the color guard perform in the local community. Please join me in welcoming these cadets to the Senate and recognizing their commitment to leadership, service and excellence.

Welcome, welcome to some future Marine Corps individuals. Barack.

We're going to be moving back to Senate. Third reading for our pro tem. He has a resolution filed item 65. He's ready to go. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 44 by Senator Mcguire relative to California Adopt the Pet Day.

Senator, thank you so much. Madam President. I rise today asking folks to put their paws up for SR44, which declares June 7 as adopt a Pet Day here in California. This is a very personal issue for our family.

My mom growing up was a foster mom for literally thousands of cats and she still has seven at her house. Shelters across the Golden State continue to be overcrowded with animals. And for animal lovers, the statistics are devastating. In the late 1990s, more than a half million cats and dogs were euthanized in California. Fast forward to today.

We've made significant progress, but still challenges. 100,000 shelter cats and dogs are put down every year. To be able to save lives and ease the burden on shelters, the California Animal Welfare Association is once again teaming up with the ASPCA and the San Francisco SPCA for the second annual California Adopt a Pet Day.

Last year was the inaugural year. In 2024, their goal, 2024 pets adopted. They hit 3,600 this year. In 2025, they're dreaming bigger. 5,000 shelter pets adopted to reach the goal this year as well, more than 150 NML shelters across the state in every corner of California will offer free adoptions on June 7th.

And what we know is cats, dogs, or in our cases, goats and pigs as well, offer unconditional love. And if you already have pets at home, my mom would say if you have one cat, you can have two or three or again in her case, seven.

So if you absolutely can't adopt, we asked you to be able to put it out on your social media channels. I would respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR44. California adopt a Pet Day.

Senator Cortese, you're recognized on this item.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of SR44 and I'd like to echo the sentiments, of course, of our pro tem who introduced this resolution. You know, adopting pets leads to well being and lower stress adoption also for humans. Adoption also fosters a strong, fulfilling, lifelong companionship for all involved.

And adopting can help alleviate shelter overcrowding, which has become a huge, huge issue, particularly in my district down in Santa Clara County, by giving a pet that's been abandoned a happy life. In addition, adoption can mitigate the dangers associated with the procurement of pets from puppy mills and breeders.

Just a couple Years ago, we at least indirectly took the advice of the pro tems mom. We felt like we being my wife and I felt like our lab needed a pet of his own. So we adopted a beagle for him, which, you know, became a win for everyone.

Obviously, the end of the story is a very endearing one and I won't go into all the details about that, but adoption provides so much joy to my life. It can help with veterinarians who care for these animals, the volunteers and shelters, and the animals that need love. So I respectfully urge and I vote on the resolution.

Thank you, Senator Wahab, you're recognized. Thank you. I want to thank the pro tem for bringing this resolution forward. I will say that I absolutely love being able to say that. My dog Pookie, who did pass, I had him for 15 years.

He was an abused animal, very small guy, and it was one of the best things I've ever done, is to be able to call Pookie my friend. He was a little guy. Again, like I said, he was very abused, very sickly in a lot of ways, blind in one eye and much more.

And had the biggest personality and he had a good life. And the honest truth is that once you adopt them, they grow into their personality.

They feel comfortable, they feel safe, and at the same time brought a lot of companionship to family members in my family, including my father, who is a senior, who is a little bit more isolated just because of health concerns.

And being able to adopt a pet is incredibly important, not only for the families that adopt the pet, but obviously for the pet themselves. So I respectfully ask for an aye vote. And again, thank you for this resolution.

Senator Ocho Bogh, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, our rise in support of SR44. I'm a proud owner of Penny, an adopted local pet from the Yucatapa Animal Placement Society, a local shelter that actually is a no kill shelter.

And prior to that, our first cocker spaniel was Ladybug, also a rescued dog from the local animal shelter, yaps. So I am absolutely supported. Our cats were also adopted, but off the street actually taken in by our children. So all of our pets have been rescued or adopted from our local shelter.

And I just want to highlight the importance of ensuring that we actually focus on the animals that need a home and the actual wonderful and beautiful health benefits as mentioned from my colleague from up north from San Jose, as well as the incredible gift of memories and, and in our life's journey.

So thank you for bringing this measure forward. And thank you for highlighting the great need that our local shelters have.

And I do want to highlight also the fact that they do need a lot of help with regards to funding so that they can keep the doors open, keep these animals taken care of, and ensuring that they are spayed or neutered.

So on that ground, I want to encourage all of us to have those conversations and focus on the budget as well to ensure that our local shelters have the funding that they need to in order to operate efficiently and effectively in our local communities. Thank you for bringing this forward. And I respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Senator Perez want to thank our Senate Pro tem for bringing this resolution forward. SR44 Adopt a pet day. This is something very personal to me because I have adopted so many of my pets over the years, since I was a kid, from my first pet, my dog Candy, all the way to my cats, Charlie and Tiffany.

This is something that's so important and so critical because we see more and more pets being left in shelters, in particular, you know, for cats. Cats, we see an increase in the number of cats being placed in shelters, particularly during the warm seasons, spring, summer.

As we know, we're going through climate climate change that actually has an impact on the mating season for cats and has caused an increase that we've seen in our shelters as well. So, and at the same time, we're seeing more promotions of luxury animals and, you know, animals that are being, that are being promoted online to purchase.

But there are so many animals that desperately need a home, so many pets that desperately need a home and need some love. So, so I want to encourage everybody who hasn't adopted a pet to consider adopting a pet. It really is life changing. They'll love you even more because you did it and encourage an aye vote.

Thank you.

Senator Ashby. Yes, I just want to rise to thank there are so many amazing animal shelters in our region and having served at the local level, I do see their struggle. And it is so hard to achieve that no kill shelter standard because it requires, as some of the other Senators have mentioned, the community to really participate.

And while the pro tem's mom and my mom are fighting way above their weight class on how many animals they adopt, I don't believe that they can quite hit that 5,000 number on their own.

So colleagues and your staff, if you haven't already visited the Bradshaw Animal Shelter, the Elk Grove SB, or the Sacramento Front street shelter, I promise you there's at least one cute little friend there that Would keep you company after your long days in this building. Please support them.

See no other mics. Mr. Pro Tem, you may close.

Would respectfully ask for an aye vote. This is not going to be rough. One, I promise. There we go. Thank you. Here all night.

I'm sorry, was that Senator Niello or the pro tem with that joke? Any objection to utilizing the unanimous roll? Secretary, please call the row.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes, 38. Noes, zero. The resolution is adopted. Moving back to privileges of the floor for our final guest introduction by Senator Allen from the Majority Leader's desk. Senator Allen, the floor is yours.

Well, thank you so much, Madam President. Members, I have the great privilege today of welcoming Michael Drake, the President of the University of California, to our Senate Chamber with his wife Brenda and all their family.

They've joined us here on the floor today, joining with so much celebration for his career, including our assembly cohort led by Assemblymember Fong, who chairs the Higher Education Committee over the assembly.

I'm honored to present President Drake with our resolution recognizing his years of dedicated service to California's higher education system and to the nation's higher educational system, and celebrate his well earned retirement this year. As so many of you know, Pres- Dr. Drake, President Drake stepped into the role of UC President during the turbulent times of the COVID pandemic.

He took the helm in August of 2020, spent the last five years guiding the UC's 10 campuses and six academic health centers, three national labs and over half a million students, faculty and staff through perhaps the largest logistical and mental challenges of a generation for higher ed.

Despite these difficulties, President Drake's tenure has been identified not by crisis management, and though we were talking about the possibility of him teaching a class on crisis management, but- but by his dedication to a vision and a mission of a UC System that better serves all Californians. Under his leadership, the University achieved unprecedented accessibility and affordability.

Creating pathways to a debt free education through need based financial aid. Providing free and tuition free education to students from Native American tribes. Growing California's resident student enrollment to nearly almost 100,000 students last year. The UC's largest ever and most diverse in state undergraduate class.

His many achievements during his tenure have come as no surprise, representing the culmination of 30 years of service service to the UC including as a Professor of Ophthalmology, the Vice President for Health Affairs and then Chancellor for UC Irvine, Zad Zag.

As a former UC student Regent myself, and then now the Senator who has the great honor of representing UCLA and I'm alum of the University of California myself, I'm just especially proud to recognize a good friend and leader, President Drake's remarkable contributions to the people of California and to to join all of you in celebrating his retirement.

So here celebrating with Dr. Drake and Brenda on the floor today are family Members Harold, Laura, Ken and Debbie, as well as members of the UC community who will be joining us at a reception in Capitol Room 317 upon adjournment of our session. Dr.

Drake, please accept this resolution as a token of our thanks and our deep gratitude and our recognition of your extraordinary leadership for the years you've spent spent strengthening higher education in our state. All of the impacts that you've had on so many students, so much of our state's future.

Please join me Members in welcoming the President of the University of California, Dr. Michael Drake, to the State Senate and join his family in celebrating his retirement.

Senator Allen. Senator Allen. Senator Allen. We have a lot of mics up so we're going to go to our colleagues and then we'll do the photo. We're going to start off with Senator Umberg.

Well, thank you Madam President and colleagues. I am pleased and proud to be able to honor President Drake and his family. I actually go back farther than when President Drake was President of the University of California because he and his wife came to Orange County to become Chancellor of the University of California Irvine at a propitious time.

It was in the midst of the fraternity. Fraternity. The fertility scandal. You may remember that this was just becoming a thing. Stolen embryos, fertilized eggs. Then there were body parts that were missing just to get your attention. And then Chancellor Drake handled it with incredible, incredible credible judgment and Oblong.

He also was at the University of California Irvine when they established a law school which was a 25 year project that then Chancellor Drake brought to fruition and turned that school into a top 25 school in a relatively short period of time. Now, he recruited Erwin Chemerinsky.

Many of us know Erwin Chemerinsky, now the dean at UC Berkeley school. He liked Erwin Chemerinsky so much that he hired him twice, as a matter of fact. On a personal note, I think we all know of his leadership ability. We all know all the wonderful things he's done for so many people here in California.

Students, our economy, our culture. On a personal note, though, soon after then, Chancellor Drake came to Orange County. We had a challenge, a personal challenge in our family.

Some of us, some of you may have heard me talk about care Court and the personal lived experience our family had with care Court and those who are basically who are involved in care court or would be involved in care Court today.

We had a family Member who was very, very sick, and the illnesses he had were such that there were very few places, if any, in Southern California where he could be treated.

And Chancellor Drake, new to the area at that point, heard about this and found a bed for our family Member so that he could live his last days in dignity and in comfort. And for that, the Ellenberg family will be forever grateful.

Thank you, Senator Cabaldon.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to point out first that Michael Drake is a graduate of a high school just outside of my district in the rural parts of Sacramento county from McClatchy High School and worked the summers at Tower Records, which for generations was an institution here.

And I say that because I thought President Drake's arrival on the floor was today a rebuttal to our prayer. I don't know if you were here, President Drake, but Sister Michelle Gorman told us that we will never know what x is.

And I thought we are about to have one of the nation's leading STEM leaders come to our floor to tell us that X equals y minus z, parentheses squared. No one has done more work in California to advance science, math, and engineering in our institutions than. Than Michael Drake. But there's more to him than that.

We actually first met when I was a punk Committee consultant in the Assembly when I ran the hearing that Senator Umberg was talking about in 1990. No one remembers that now because now I'm a punk adult in the Senate.

But this is also a leader who was invited then to serve on the rock and roll hall of fame board of directors. Now, how did that happen? Not every single person that works at Tower Records, and certainly not every scientist and ophthalmologist and Doctor Toledo University is invited to serve on the Rock and Roll hall of Fame.

But he is a distinguished guitarist who taught the decidedly unophthalmological course of music of the civil rights movement and the civil rights era.

This is a renaissance leader in our community whose vision for the University of California is befitting only something only an ophthalmologist would really be able to see so far, so clearly over such a long period of time. There are very few roles in American society or in California that are more important than University President.

We know that now more than ever, and particularly at the University of California, the most distinguished public University on the planet, creating opportunity, equity for Californians of every color and creed and background, creating almost every sector of our unique economies and our competitiveness around the world, creating opportunities for health, for breakthroughs, as we discussed on this floor so long in recent weeks, advancing agriculture as one of the first land grant universities in the country.

Leading and steering a University of that complexity to the success that the University has offered, not just for our economy, but for our people is an incredible and extraordinary accomplishment.

And if you've spent any time with President Drake, you know, he believes very much in the institution, in the respect for tradition, very much in the respect for tradition and for the people who are doing the work. And so it's my.

I'm deeply proud as an alumnus of the University, as a former alumni board Member at UC Berkeley, and just a big believer in the power of the University to change the trajectory of my family and my life and so many Californians to thank Michael Drake for his service as President and what I know will be his continued leadership at a time in the country when support for public higher education is more important than ever. Thank you, President Drake.

Senator Laird.

Thank you, Madam President. It is bittersweet to stand up and honor President Drake. We have worked together and been acquainted for a quarter of a century, and I think part of it is, is that we are of the same demographic.

And if you just think that when he was at Tower Records or at the high school up here that he.

He had dreams of what he might do to make a difference, we are here to celebrate the fact that he has lived out that dream in a way that maybe he couldn't have even imagined when he was a kid doing that. And it's a tribute, if you look just to the ways I have interacted with him, it's.

He was working on budget and administrative issues at UC San Francisco and had sort of some visions for how to bridge some of the particular budget issues we had at the time, he went, as was said, to Irvine and I went down and gave the environmental lecture. And they're very funny at Irvine.

They take a picture of everything. And so in the mail, here comes a picture of me and the chancellor. And I always assure him I don't get it out just for his visits. It is actually there. And he fostered not just what was mentioned by the Senator in the previous speech.

They have in sort of renewable fuels and renewable resources, some of the State of the art programs that really have, have made a fundamental difference.

And I know that when we were restoring UC Cooperative Ag Extension, he spoke to me of his time at Ohio State because he said he visited every county in Ohio and believe me, we have 58, they have a bunch more.

And it informed him as to the role of agriculture and the role of the University in providing assistance and help to farmers. And it helped us in the partnership to restore that here at the University of California.

And I recently pointed out when we were having a floor debate, his words on student debt at the University of California. Because right now the stat is that two thirds of the students graduate without any debt. The average for the other third of debt is $17,000.

That is a dream that other college presidents across the country have, is to have exactly what that situation is here in California and here with the University of California. So under trying circumstances, he's done a great job. He will really be missed. I'm sorry.

They chose the successor because we could try to prevail on him to stay, but he can look back and just see great service. And I'm happy to be part of this tribute and I look forward to the fact that he's not going to go completely away.

And he will advise us on certain things as we strike, struggle, because we don't want to lose all that institutional memory that is so strong and has made a fundamental difference to the residents of our state.

Senator Perez.

Thank you, And it's really an honor to be here today to recognize you, President Drake. It's incredible listening to my colleagues stories of your work over the years. I came to know you when you first came into your role during the COVID 19 pandemic.

But it sounds as though you've earned yourself a reputation for navigating very turbulent times, if you will. And I think that's really shown in your leadership.

You know, everything that happened during the COVID 19 pandemic, all of the challenges that our students, that faculty were facing, and you helped guide them right through a study, a study ship with the UC system.

And at the same time, time, you know, ensuring that we're continuing to protect diversity, equity within the system, that we continue to see an increasing number of students transfer into the UC system, that the population of students attending the UC system looks more and more like the diversity of our great State of California.

And those are all things that I think we should take incredibly great pride in.

But for me, what I've been most impressed by by is really these last couple of months, you know, as the federal Administration came after and targeted international students, as we saw students have their visas suddenly eliminated and being given whiplash as they've been been told multiple directions even as of yesterday, as to what the new rules are, you know, you've continued to provide them with guidance, with resources, and, you know, ensuring that you're directing students to know that their campuses are there to support them.

And I think that is so important and so critical as we see in this moment that academic freedom is under attack. To continue to have the UC system, which is such a gem here in California, you know, our institutions, UCLA, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC, UC Berkeley.

I mean, these are some institutions that are not just nationally recognized, but internationally recognized. And to have the UC system lead in this moment and to say we are going to stand strong for our students, for our families, for the rest of California, has just really been incredible.

So I just want to tell you, been so consistently impressed with your leadership from the beginning right up until the end. And I just appreciate you being so brave in this moment for our students and for our families. And I know so many students and families across the UC system appreciate you and thank you.

So thank you for all of your work. You've been a tremendous leader and look forward to continuing our friendship in these years to come.

Thank you, Senator Caballero.

Thank you, Madam President, for the opportunity to rise today to honor not only a remarkable leader, but the legacy and family that shaped him. President Michael V. Drake has led the University of California with vision, compassion and integrity. And behind every great leader is an origin story.

President Drake's story begins at the family dining table where a young Michael watched his father died. Dr. Carl Drake Sr. Care for patients in their living room. Dr. Carl Drake, who was the football team captain at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland in the 1930s, chose to study medicine over a segregated football team.

He became a medical Doctor and healed patients until he passed away at the young age of 99. Dr. Carl's work ethic and commitment to helping people heal and be healthy left an indelible mark on his son that encouraged his commitment to education and community service above self.

That legacy of service and purpose lives on in President Drake's decades of leadership in medicine and higher education. And it is matched by the grace and brilliance of his wife, Brenda Jackson Drake, who joins us here today. Thank you to the family for all joining us. Brenda Jackson Drake is a force in her own right.

A UC Berkeley law alum. Go Bears. Although I'm from UCLA, is also a museum Director, a non profit leader, and a passionate advocate for the arts and education. She has served on boards from the National Urban League to the Berkeley Art Museum. And with that, she has brought joy, intellect and grace to every room she enters.

Together, the Drakes have built a life of service, scholarship and love. They have raised two children, doted on four grandchildren, and inspired generations of students, faculty and leaders. As President Drake concludes his tenure as UC President, we celebrate not just his accomplishments, but the family values that shaped him.

Compassion, hard work, and a deep belief in the power of education to uplift lives. Which is why we're all here. Please join me in thanking President Michael Drake and Brenda Drake for their extraordinary contributions to the University of California and to the State of California as well.

President Drake, your legacy is one of light and we all are better for it. Thank you very much for your service.

Senator Bakespear.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I rise today to add my voice to the chorus of those who are recognizing and honoring President Michael Drake and congratulating him on his retirement as President of the University of California. Thank you for your exceptional leadership of this prestigious world class institution.

It's always worth reminding everyone in this state that we have the best public University system in the world. In the ucs. Under your guidance for the last five years, the UC system has advanced California's priorities in so many important areas. Not just top notch education, but also research, Healthcare, public service.

As a proud representative of Senate District 38, the home to UC San Diego, I've seen firsthand how the University of California drives innovation and attracts world class talent that fuels growth in the entire region. Not just in a sub region, but in the entire region of Southern California.

UC San Diego continues to rank among the world's top institutions thanks to its academic excellence and pioneering research. And sustaining this level of distinction requires leadership. It's leadership that can navigate complex challenges, which President Drake has consistently demonstrated by steering UC through a public health crisis, budget constraints and federal threats to research funding.

You've also strengthened partnerships with lawmakers. In my three years here in The Senate. I have had a number of meetings with you and attended a number of events that you have hosted. And I always have particularly appreciated your combination of both clarity and sophistication in your thought process.

And I also love watching the way that you use your hands so expressively when you speak. Your legacy will continue to shape California for years to come, and I thank you for the time that you have spent with us. I wish you the best on your well deserved next chapter.

We have seven more Members that wish to speak on this item. Next up is Senator Ashby.

Well, thank you so much. I'm not so pleased to rise today. I tried to convince him to stay longer. Please just stay. I think his retirement is the equivalent of you sunk my battleship in the children's game.

Because our UC system is a point of pride for everyone, and so many of us and, and our family Members are products of it. But no one embodies the full calculus of what our UC system seeks to achieve better than you, President Drake.

It is sometimes hard for young people to relate with a person at this point in your career. So many things. A Doctor, Stanford, Harvard, associations with every major academy, really, not just in the UC system, but across the nation.

But I would like to remind people that, yes, he went to McClatchy High School, the same school, by the way, that produced, I don't know, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, maybe Secretary Javier Becerra, or maybe Supreme Court Chief Justice Tawny Cantill, or the author Joan Didion and Steve Glazier, who's visiting today, the great Senator from the bay and many others who have graced this chamber.

But after that, his path didn't take him straight to Stanford. And I think this is important for people to know he started at Sacramento City College, proving once again to young people everywhere that it does not matter where you begin your journey, it matters how far you go on that journey.

You can start on a community college campus in Sacramento, California, and lead the greatest UC system in the world. President Drake, you have made your city proud and you have done a great service to the UC system and the State of California. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Senator Strickland, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I want to thank President Drake for his leadership in the UC system. In fact, if you Google the top 10 public universities in the country, six of them are UC schools. And I want to thank you for that leadership. The greatness of California is our University, public University system.

And we were breaking through all the technologies that was mentioned in our Robust private economy is a large part because of the UC system and the students you produce and the minds that you move forward.

But as a person who played team sports my whole life, I would be remiss if I didn't talk about a Regent who's behind there, hiding behind everybody. Speaker Bob Hertzberg, who has been a Regent and a friend for a long time, speaker of this Assembly and also has made a huge mark on California.

I want to thank my good friend Bob Hertzberg and President Drake. Thank you so much for your leadership. I wish you were staying, but we all of us owe you a debt of gratitude for your hard work to make California a better place to live. Thank you.

And Senator, we know of the top six, the first one is UCLA. Senator Choi, you're recognized then.

Thank you. I would like to also add my appreciation and honoring and recognizing Dr. Drake because I had a relationship with him and when I was councilmember he joined UCI Chancellor 2000, I believe there was five. And then he surprised everybody that he was leaving for Ohio State. When I was mayor 2014, he left.

I'm so glad that he finally realized his home was California and came back as UC President and finally decorating his career and retiring from UC system in California. And we, as you have seen so many of us, recognize your dedication and the contributions to higher education and overall so many products of UC system here.

And I think the world recognizes your contribution. So I'm so happy to see you here on the Senate Floor and I would like to add my best wishes for your next chapter of your life.

Thank you, Senator Wiener.

Thank you very much, Madam President. I want to just thank and congratulate my constituent and my friend President Drake, and just really thank you for your incredible service to the UC and to the people of California.

It has not been an easy time between the pandemic and you navigated the U you see so beautifully, beautifully through that crisis, to some of the protests over the last few years and the exercise of free speech, which is always challenging for universities, but you manage it well.

I want to thank you on behalf of the Jewish community for always being willing to engage and work with us as we sought to make sure that Jewish students were safe on. On campus. And we're so appreciative for your engagement. And now you are.

When we have a situation when higher education universities across the country, science is sort of under assault by our Federal Government, you have stood strong to support education and science and all of the things that make the UC what it is. So thank you for everything that you have done.

It is a huge loss not to have you, but we know you'll still be around.

Senator Dr. Weber Pierson you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. And I want to thank my colleague from Santa Monica for providing us the opportunity to honor this incredible individual. I stand today first as chief of the California Legislative Black Caucus. And we are really looking at a history maker at this point. Dr.

Michael Drake was the first African American to head the Ohio State University, but also the first African American to head the University of California. And I think that's extremely important to point out because we live in a time now where dei, diversity, equity, and inclusion is supposedly now a negative thing.

But what we see right here in this individual is that DEI actually produces greatness. And we on both sides of the aisle have just stood up and talked about the amazing things that Dr. Drake has done in his career. And so this is truly what we get when we use dei.

This is a living legend, and I want to thank him for that. I also stand up as a fellow physician. It's very rare to see those of us who are have MDs or do step out of the healthcare space.

But, you know, you embody the fact that our oath to do no harm and to heal expands beyond the walls of the hospitals and the clinics that we train in that are training to do the best for the communities that we serve. It actually will extend to more than just the traditional health care spaces.

And so I thank you for that. I thank your beautiful wife Brenda, who's here. I thank your children and your grandchildren, because I know that it is a sacrifice, but you have shared him and his talents with us, and for that, we as communities and we are a state, are so much better for it.

And so I thank you, Dr. Drake. You are a role model. And like I said, we are in the presence of a living legend.

Thank you, Senator Rubio. You're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I also want to stand and add my voice to all these wonderful things that have already been said. So it's really difficult not to replicate because each word that's been said on this floor is really, really accurate. I want to just thank you.

Education is in my core, and what you've been able to do with education, it's unmatched. I, quite frankly, think you were ahead of your time in terms of how you've navigated some very challenging times.

I have the privilege of being in a lot of meetings navigating difficult issues, and you've just done it with such grace and you always lead with compassion, understanding, and very much committed to educational excellence with the, with inclusion in mind, which is really something that I value.

And it's already been said how wonderfully you've been able to sit down with many of our caucuses to really discuss some issues that are pressing. But yet again, you come to the table always listening, always ready to bring solutions to the table in a very collaborative way.

And I often joke that I, you know, as an educator, have raised a community. But I can't beat you. You've raised California. So I want to say your legacy is going to really be something that we should all aspire to. And you've touched so many of our students in this wonderful state and I would say abroad.

But what you left behind is really incredible. And without sounding condescending, you have to be so proud of what you've done to your family for standing next to you. I know that it's not not leadership alone, it's those that uplift you, around you, that make you who you are.

So thank you to the families, wives, family Members, extended family. We could not be more thankful for having had you and good luck in your retirement.

Thank you very much, Madam President. As the representative from Berkeley, the former mayor of Berkeley, and proud alumni of UC Berkeley, product of the UC system, I want to thank my former constituents, President Drake and his wife for being here today and for your decades of incredible leadership, not just for the UC system, but for the State of California.

Leadership isn't defined by the easy stuff. It's really defined by how people rise to the occasion during challenging times. And President Drake, your tenure at UC is an example of that.

From leading this world class UC University system through an unprecedented global pandemic and censoring the safety of students and staff, to the work you've done to stand for equity, to stand for academic freedom in the face of attacks, and to defend the UC system in the face of recent federal cuts.

UC is a global leader in research and problem solving. That is the legacy that you leave for the State of California. And I want to particularly lift up your commitment to centering equity in the focus and work of the UC system. And I second many eloquent comments, including from Dr.

Weber Pearson, that your life story is really an example for all Californians. And so thank you so much for your incredible service on behalf of our state. Best of luck in your retirement,

Senator Alvarado Gil

Thank you, Madam President. I will keep this short and sweet. I want to rise to honor President Drake and your family. Because I know it takes a family to support our great state as an alumni. Alumni family of UC Riverside, UC Davis, UCLA, UC Berkeley and last but not least, UC Merced.

I rise as the California Hispanic Legislative Caucus Education Committee Chair and wanted to thank you. Thank you for believing in our newest UC, our newest UC institution, UC Merced in the Central Valley.

Not only for supporting the work of Chancellor Munoz and our students, but in believing that the Central Valley matters and the Central Valley deserves a UC excellent school. Under your guidance, UC Merced has accepted research excellence and student success, naming them as number one in social mobility.

And when I talk about this as being personal and being part of a family, it's because UC Merced has showed over and over again that it has been number one in first generation students, graduating those students and supporting them with Pell Grants for their success.

This has been a school in the Central Valley, part of the UC system that carries the credit crown of excellence and delivers to some of the most underrepresented areas of California. And yet under your leadership, you continue to believe in UC Merced and continue to lift them up and lift those families and those students up.

So I want to thank you for continuing to treasure our Central Valley and be our partner. Last but not least, I do want to recognize that under your leadership, 2021 UC Merced was awarded the Seal of Excellencia, which is a national recognition for success of Hispanic students.

So I want to thank you for your commitment not only to all our UCs, but our youngest 20 plus year UC Merced.

Thank you. I will also keep this short. The previous speaker took some of my comments, but I just wanted to acknowledge that as well.

We're sometimes viewed here in the Legislature as how we treat our youngest among us and as I was proud to be a founding trustee of UC Merced and be on the Executive Committee there for 15 years.

And just your support for that institution, helping it grow, helping the medical school now come to fruition, has just been absolutely critical in all the accolades and success that were just mentioned. And I thank you for your support of that newest campus and your support and leadership of our UC system. Thank you.

Closing out our conversation on this is going to be our pro temp.

Thank you so much, Madam President. And I rise today and I'm grateful. This is a momentous achievement. Rise today to send congratulations and gratitude to UC President Drake. After decades in serving in higher education, most of which were here in California UC system. What a wild five years at the helm of the University of California.

Yet he has handled some of the most complicated, some of the most trying times in the system's history with grace, integrity, and always a focus. A focus of putting students first. Imagine starting a job as the head of the best educational institution in the world that employs and educates a half a million people during a global pandemic.

Then navigating nationwide social justice movements, and then global unrest, and now political turbulence. Through it all, President Drake, he has shown strong and steady leadership. He's upheld this prestigious institution. The UC is the best higher education system in the world, and President Drake's fingerprints are all over it.

Also, as the first Black President in UC's history, he has opened doors for countless underrepresented students by expanding access and affordability, advancing equity and inclusion, and creating a system that better reflects the communities and the people of the Golden State, which this system so proudly serves.

While we're going to face some uncertain times ahead, one thing is for sure, President Drake leaves the UC system with momentum and stronger when he took it over. We look forward to working with incoming President Milliken. But to President Drake today, Mrs.

Drake, and to the family, on behalf of the entire California State city, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional leadership, your sacrifice, and the service to the people of California, but most importantly, to the students of California. Your legacy is forever steeped in every UC campus in the Golden State. Thank you, Madam President.

Senators, let's rise and give a round of applause to President Drake.

We'll return to business in three minutes.

We'll be coming back to business in 30 seconds.

Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of Committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted. We're moving into motions, resolutions, and notices. Senator, Senator Grove.

Like to make a comment, Madam President, when we get into Governor's appointments. I was absent at Rules Committee, and I know that when my good colleague, the former Secretary of Natural Resources, presents governor's appointments, when you get to that point that there's a lot of debate.

There's no necessary—necessity—for debate because these are actually a 5-0 vote. I was just absent, so I will not be presenting. Thank you, Madam President.

The desk would note. Continuing under Motion Resolution Notices, Senator Cortese, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to request File Item 319, SB 429, be pulled from the consent calendar.

The desk has noted. Senator Becker.

Thank you. I'd like to request that File Number 306, SB 326, be removed from consent, please.

Thank you, desk has noted. Senator Stern.

Thank you, Madam President. Requesting to remove File Item 331, SB 582, from consent.

Desk has noted. Senator Ashby.

Yes. Also requesting removal of File Item 336, which is SB 641.

Desk has noted. Majority Leader Senator Gonzalez.

Thank you, Madam President. Please remove File Item 330, SB 581 by Pro Tem McGuire, from the consent calendar, as well as File Item 339, SB 676 by Senator Limon, from the consent calendar.

Thank you, Senator. Seeing no other Member wishing to be considered under Motion Resolutions and Notices. Colleagues, we have almost 30 bills ready to be taken up today and we are set to be working until 12. So, let's be concise, be mindful if you have a support support, and let's get to work.

Moving into consideration of the daily file, governor's appointments, we have one item, Item Number 3, Senator Laird.

Thank you, Madam President, and I appreciate the comments from the Senator from Bakersfield before the uninitiated. If it's unanimous in Rules, she usually presents. If it's not unanimous in Rules, I usually present. She just clarified that this was unanimous, and I appreciate that.

File Item 3 is the confirmation of the following appointments of the Board of State and Community Corrections. Jennifer Branning, who's the Chief Probation Officer for Lassen County. Dr. Karen Lai, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. And Bill Scott, currently the Chief of Police for the San Francisco Police Department, but the soon-to-be Chief of Police for the new Los Angeles Metro Police Department. They were approved by the Rules Committee on May 14th. I respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote.

I see no mics up on this issue. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Senator Laird...moving into the meat of our business today, Senate third reading. The first three up on file are going to be File Item 14, 16, and 19. Senator Archuleta has the first item. He is prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 731 by Senator Archuleta and ACC. Relaying to public Safety. Senator Archuleta.

Thank you, Madam President, and good morning to all my colleagues. This Bill simply 7. Senate Bill 731. This Bill simply erases compliance for two previous measures that I introduced.

And the Governor signed Senate Bill 1111, the Rick Best Safety act, which required trash receptacles or storage containers placed on the side of the road or the curb to have reflective markings on each side by January 12026. Senate Bill 731 makes minor changes, making it easier for industry to comply.

This bill is an industry supported and has no opposition. I request an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. See no mics up. This item. This item is going to get a roll call. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call].

Senator Archuleta moves the call. Senator Laird, you have the next item, File Item 16. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 333 by Senator Laird, an act relating to taxation.

Senator Laird.

Thank you very much. Madam President. This is a district Bill. It would allow the voters of San Luis Obispo to decide whether the County of San Luis Obispo could raise a combined local tax rate rate limit above the 2% to support essential transportation services. There are seven cities as well as the county in San Luis Obispo.

They are unbelievably diverse politically. Every single one is in support of this bill. I should emphasize this is not a tax increase. This just allows the voters to decide if they want a tax increase. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll on the second.

[Roll Call]

Senator Laird moves the call. Senator Cervantes has File Item 19. She is ready to go.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 280 by Senator Cervantes, an act relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President and members for the opportunity to present Senate Bill 280, which strengthens California's commitment to transparent and ethical governance. This is a bipartisan bill, and I'm proud to have our colleague, the Senator from Bieber, as a joint author.

In 1982, this Legislature prohibited the receipt of delivery of campaign contributions in state government buildings, including at the Capitol Complex, but explicitly exempted legislative district offices. This bill closes that loophole by extending this prohibition to legislative district offices and local government buildings. I respectfully ask for your aye vote on SB 280.

This bill requires a two-thirds vote. Seeing no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Cervantes moves to call. The next up are File Item 20, 47, and 51. Senator Seyarto is prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 385 by Senator Seyarto, an act relating to peace officers and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President. This measure eliminates an irrelevant deadline in the PEACE Act. Specifically, this measure removes a requirement for POST to adopt education criteria for peace officers within two years of the submission of a report from the Office of the Community College Chancellor. This measure will relieve pressure on law enforcement agencies who are struggling to find qualified candidates under current law absent legislative action. It is a support support. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

This bill has an urgency clause. Requires a 2/3 vote. Seeing no mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Seyarto moves the call. Senator Allen is prepared. Secretary, please read file item 47.

Senate Bill 549 by Senator Allen, an act relating to local government.

Senator Allen.

Well, good morning, Madam Menjivar. This bill creates necessary flexibility for local governments to work together to take full advantage of the second Neighborhood Infill Finance and Transit Improvements Act or NIFTI-2.

So NIFTI-2s are voluntary enhanced infrastructure financing districts that local governments can use, local governments that are committed to expediting transit improvements and incentivizing middle and low-income housing near transit, which allow local governments to bond against future revenue increases in property and sales taxes.

Forty percent of NIFTI-2 revenues are designated for the construction of affordable housing, and then ten percent for urban greening or active transportation projects. Now, currently, the boundary of a NIFTI-2 district must have the same boundary as the establishing cities and counties. This requirement is due to the workability of collecting sales tax increment, but it's led to low adoption of these districts around the state.

So this bill seeks to remove the ability for establishing entities to use sales tax increment in these districts, thereby eliminating the need for NIFTI-2 districts to share the boundaries of existing entities.

So by better localizing property tax increment to housing and transit and urban greening projects, this bill will enable establishing entities to take better advantage of the existing NIFTI-2 financing tools. With that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No discussion on this item. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Allen moves the call. Senator Hurtado, you're up. Secretary, please read File Item 51.

Senate Bill 593 by Senator Hurtado, an act relating to electricity.

Senator.

Yeah. Thank you, Madam President. I'm here to present 593, the Volt Act. It has the bipartisan support, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in respectful opposition to this bill. This is going to add additional cost to our ratepayers to require PG&E and other organizations to notify immediately in real time about power surges. Believe me, representing Tehachapi and how power surges in the mountain communities are forever going on and they have to be notified, but I just respectfully ask for a no vote.

Senator Hurtado, you may close.

Thank you. This is a common sense bill that seeks to protect farmers, farm workers in the Central Valley and beyond when there's surge and it impacts wells and they go out or maybe your AC unit in the middle of 100 degrees. It's a consumer protection bill, and we're hoping that we can get this through and across the finish line so that consumers are protected from additional cost. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

Senator Hurtado moves to call. The next three on file are file item 55, 63, and 104. Senator Cortese, you're presenting on behalf of Senator Reyes. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 847 by Senator Reyes, an act relating to workers compensation. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues for the opportunity to present SB 47, on behalf of our colleague Senator Reyes, which stops uninsured employers from evading their responsibility to reimburse the Uninsured Employers Benefit Trust Fund. This bill has no opposition and has received bipartisan support. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

No mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Cortese moves to call. Up next are File Item 119, 157, and 176. Senator Richardson, you have File Item 119.

I skipped, I skipped ahead, Senator. We're going to have you sit right back down. Up next is Senator Arreguin for File Item 63.

Thank you, Madam--

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present SB 76--

Senator, secretary needs to read first. Go ahead, secretary.

Senate Bill 786 by Senator Arreguin and act relating to land use.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President, I rise to present SB 786, which will resolve several ambiguities in housing element law that have arose in litigation and seeks to provide clarity for local governments and project applicants and the courts as well.

Through housing element cases, a number of areas of judicial procedure have been found unclear which imposes unnecessary legal costs on all parties installs potential housing development this Bill clearly states that the housing element, or the most recently adopted land use element controls over other outdated plans in quantifiable areas, ensuring clarity in the law so that there's no discrepancy about the standards that local government is imposing on development projects.

This bill will also ensure that court proceedings for housing element cases proceed expeditiously by clarifying timelines in which a court must hear an appeal and stating that any remedy granted on the merits of the case is maintained during an appeal, while also guaranteeing legal recourse for local jurisdictions if HC does not comply with their own deadlines.

This bill has no opposition. I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

No mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Arreguin moves the call. Senator Umberg, you have file item 104.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 398 by Senator Umberg, an act relating to elections.

Senator Umberg.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I rise to present SB 398, which closes a loophole in making it a crime for a person to willfully unknowingly pay or offer to pay money or other valuable consideration to another person with intent to induce the person to vote or register to vote or where the payment is contingent upon whether the person voted or the person's registration status. Urge an aye vote.

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

[Roll Call].

Senator Umberg moves the call. Senator Richardson, now it's your turn for File Item 119. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 515 by Senator Richardson, an act relating to local government.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President. I thought you confused; this was my first bill. SB 15 improves the accuracy and consistency of demographic data collection by requiring local governments to adopt the same detailed standards already used by state agencies like the Controller's Office and CalHR.

Standardizing data collection statewide helps close critical information gaps, enabling fairer public policy decisions and more equitable distribution of resources. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Senator Richardson moves to call. Senator Umberg has File Item 157. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 28 by Senator Umberg, an act relating to courts and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Senator Umberg.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I rise to present SB 28, which assists in the implementation of Proposition 36 by clarifying that all counties may use current treatment courts to facilitate the treatment mandated by Proposition 36 and that these courts must use best practices to ensure the success of the participants. Urge an aye vote.

This has urgency clause, requires 27 votes. No mics up. Oh, Senator Choi, would you like to speak on this item?

Senator Choi, you're recognized on File Item 157.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of SB 28, which ensures mandated treatment for drug addiction—follows best practices. California voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition 36 to not only combat rising retail thefts but also ensure that those struggling with addiction receive treatment.

It is my hope that this body can work across partisan lines to fully fund Prop 36, not only so that the constituents get exactly what they voted for, but also so that more people can receive the treatment they need. For these reasons, I respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote.

Senator Umberg, you may close.

Thank you. I urge an "Aye" vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Umberg moves the call. Senator McNerney, you have File Item 176.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 279 by Senator McNerney, an act relating to solid waste.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, this is a support support bill. SB 279 increases flexibility for farmers and wine grape growers to compost their own agricultural waste on site when they experience large biomass event, like a removal of an orchard or a vineyard. The bill will also help divert waste from landfills and reduce methane emissions. SB 279 helps agricultural operations comply with the ban on open burning of agricultural waste, which went into effect this year. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator McNerney moves to call. The next on file is 177, 183, and 193. Senator Grayson's prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 328 by Senator Grayson an act relating to hazardous waste.

Senator Grayson.

Thank you, Madam President. SB328 is a necessary bill that would. Help prevent significant cost increases for housing developers who have remediated contaminated soil and. Returned land to productive use. SB 320 would establish a cap on the hazardous waste generation fee at $100,000 for infill housing projects and 250,000 for master developed projects.

At a time when California is facing increased development costs, we must do what. We can to create a more favorable environment that allows us to build housing that's affordable. Builders who are repurposing land for productive. Use should not be penalized, especially those remediating pollution rather than causing it. This bill is support. Support.

With zero no votes, I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No discussion on the matter. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grayson moves the call. Senator Caballero, you have filed item 183.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 404 by Senator Caballero, and act relating to hazardous waste.

Senator Caballero.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm pleased to present SB 404, which establishes a new regulatory framework to ensure comprehensive and safe regulation of metal shredding facilities in California. Metal shredding facilities recycle millions of end of life vehicles, household appliances, and other metallic items produced annually in California.

Unless recycled, these materials rapidly overwhelm all available landfill capacity, creating a massive accumulation of damaged and abandoned cars, appliances, and other items while posing a threat to public safety. Yet, metal shredding can also pose concerns to surrounding communities due to the potential release of airborne materials and the risk of fires.

The current framework for hazardous waste does not include metal shredding facilities, and therefore they are not regulated by the Department of Toxic Substance and Control and are not required to obtain a permit. Without a clear comprehensive regulatory framework, DTSC on their own, has begun to regulate the industry using hazardous waste enforcement authority on a facility by facility basis.

This has created an uncertain and inconsistent legal environment for the facilities that has resulted in litigation placing California's circular economy at risk. SB 404 will ensure comprehensive oversight and enforcement of the facilities under DTSC authority, while recognizing the difference between these facilities and facilities that engage in the treatment, storage, and disposal of solid and hazardous waste.

This bill will require both existing and new facilities to receive a permit, and they must meet certain operational and performance standards, which include implementing fire prevention strategies, emergency response protocols, stormwater management requirements, and full CEQA review.

The bill gives DTSC robust enforcement authority to ensure the standards are met, including the authority to shut down a facility that poses a danger to public health and the environment. It also authorizes DTSC to collect fees to cover administration and enforcement costs. Recent amendments incorporated stakeholder feedback and make the bill more protective of the environment, and we continue to work with all of the interested stakeholders.

SB 404 will ensure that California has a robust regulatory process for the industry and will ensure that California remains a sustainability leader in reducing, reusing, and recycling by fostering the recycling of scrap metal into new metal products. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. No discussion on this item. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Caballero moves the call. Senator Caballero already moved to call. Sorry, Senator. Senator Becker has file item 193.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 493 by Senator Becker an act relating to Affairs.

Senator Becker.

Thank you, Madam President. California's fairgrounds are not just venues for entertainment or a storied part of our agricultural history. They are critical infrastructure that serves as the backbone of our state's emergency network.

This bill will revise how compensation is determined for Secretary managers of a district agricultural Association, ensuring that the people who are responsible for Maintaining these venues and responding to disasters receive fair and competitive compensation are respectfully asked for an Aye vote.

No mics up on this item. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Aye, 37. No, 0. The measure passes three. Up next is 199, file item 217 and 222. Senator Richardson is ready to go. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 530 by Senator Richardson, an act relating to Medi-Cal.

Senator Richardson.

Thank you, Madam President and Members. Access to covered services is a persistent problem for Medi-Cal recipients enrolled in managed care. Research indicates there's an association between increasing time and distance to health care and increasingly worse health outcomes. SB 530 will strengthen access to Medi-Cal providers by enhancing alternative access standards.

For these reasons, I ask for an "Aye" vote.

Please call the roll, Secretary.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Senator Allen is ready to go. Secretary, please read File Item 217.

Senate Bill 615 by Senator Allen, an act relating to hazardous waste.

Senator Allen.

I thank the President from San Fernando Valley, and I want to present SB 615. Recycling end of life batteries from electric vehicles reduces the demand for raw materials, thereby avoiding the negative social and environmental impacts of mining around the world. In some instances, batteries can actually be repurposed for energy storage, further extending their useful life.

But in California, we currently lack a policy framework for ensuring these beneficial outcomes, which will become problematic as more EVs and EV batteries reach their end of life and could create a hazardous waste crisis if clear pathways for management are not already in place.

We're already seeing evidence of this growing problem, including the complications of burned EV batteries they posed in the cleanup of the LA fires, as local household hazardous waste facilities are starting to take in EV batteries that are coming into their facilities. So this bill builds off of a lithium Ion battery advisory group that was created by legislation.

I think Senator Dahle created it back in 2018. There have been countless hours of stakeholder feedback over the past two years to ensure that EV batteries are properly handled and eventually recycled at the end of the useful life. And it seeks to encourage reuse, repair, and repurposing when feasible. So I respectfully ask for an aye vote, and happy to take questions.