Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Arreguin. Ashby. Becker. Blakespear. Cabaldon. Caballero. Cervantes. Choi. Cortese. Dahle. Durazo. Gonzalez. Grayson. Grove. Hurtado. Jones. Laird. Limon. McGuire. McNerney. Menjivar. Niello. Ochoa-Bogh. Padilla. Perez. Reyes. Richardson. Rubio. Seyarto. Smallwood-Cuevas. Stern. Strickland. Umberg. Valladeres. Wahab. Weber-Pierson. Wiener.

A quorum is present. If we could have your attention, please. Would Members and guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise? We'll be led in prayer this morning by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman, after which I will lead you in the pledge.

Thank you.

So we gather in God's presence. Juneteenth, the day we celebrate the end of slavery. The day we memorialize those who offered us hope for the future. And the day when we renew our commitment to the struggle for freedom. Angela Davis. Merciful God.

As we remember the end of chattel slavery in the US on June 19, 1865, we are grateful for our African American ancestors who trusted in a future they could not see and who did not surrender to despair when promises of liberty for all did not materialize.

Help us continue to dismantle the oppressive systems that some of us still benefit from. Give us the courage to face our fears. Resistance, pride, shame. Whatever conscious or unconscious motives hold us back from valuing an anti racist multicultural society.

Guide our civic and religious discipline decisions to uphold and promote the rights of all persons, especially those stifled by the lingering trauma of slavery. Because of the faith and resilience of our African American ancestors, we know that unity and liberation for all are within our reach. May it be so. Amen.

Now join me in the pledge to our flag. I pledge.

And tomorrow. Excuse me. Yesterday was a very important day. If I could have your attention. This is important. A very important day for one of our colleagues. It was Senator McNerney who was off talking to people and not paying attention. It was Senator McNerney's birthday yesterday.

And Members without objection, we will move to Senate third reading to take up file item 43, SCR 94, by Senator Blakespear. Senator Blakespear appears to be ready. You may proceed.

Oh, I'm sorry. Secretary, please read.

Thank you, Mr.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 94 by Senator Blakespear, relative to California Mountain Biking and Trail Stewardship Month.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I rise to present SCR 94, which declares June 2025 as California Mountain Biking and Trail Student Stewardship Month. This resolution recognizes California's deep rooted history as the birthplace of mountain biking and the significant contributions of the trail stewardship community.

We are fortunate to live in a state brimming with beautiful outdoor settings that offer recreational opportunities of all kinds, from hiking, to backpacking, to swimming, to mountain biking. I started mountain biking when I lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the Wasatch Mountains.

I quickly came to appreciate how mountain biking provided the perfect combination of all the things one wants in wilderness recreation, great exercise, intense biophilia from being outside, appreciation of the grandeur of nature and of time spent with friends.

My now husband and I invested in a tandem mountain bike, him on the front and me stoking in the back, as one of our first joint purchases as a couple. Sometimes I would prematurely clip out of the pedals out of fear that we were going to take a tumble, but in fact we never did.

Outdoor recreation improves physical and mental health. These benefits transcend borders, skill levels, socioeconomic status, race, gender, age, and ethnicity. The California Mountain Biking Coalition and the California Trails Foundation serve as a statewide voice for the dozens of bike friendly trail stewardship organizations throughout the state.

These organizations serve a vital role advocating for better recreational amenities and land management policies. As trail stewards, they help maintain trails, educate local land managers, and teach the community best practices for trail use. They also support the $2.4 billion mountain biking industry that creates more than 17,000 jobs.

As federal and state agencies face staff reductions and funding cuts, ensuring we have the workforce and community members to protect outdoor trail access is more important than ever.

In honor of mountain biking and trail stewardship, I urge each of you to spend time in California's great outdoors many mountain biking if you can and want to, and I respectfully ask for your "Aye" vote.

Thank you, Senator Blakespear. As for that momentary point where you think you're going to fall and you don't, I can attest to the fact that you indeed do. Senator Jones, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members I also rise in support as a coauthor of SCR 94 and recognize the lead author has some very nice mountain bike trails in her district.

But as everybody in San Diego and most mountain bikers in California know, the very best mountain bike trails in San Diego County are in my district and very excited about that. As many people know, I'm also an avid mountain biker and enjoy the sport as well.

The author recognized the folks that are responsible for this day and I want to thank them as well. And I also recognize the trail stewardship organizations that maintain access and protect these natural resources for all of us to enjoy. And the interesting dynamic about mountain bikers is they're interested in trail access, period.

And you will see in areas that—I'm most familiar with is San Diego, county—but of course across the state as well, maintaining trails so that the environment is protected and conserved, but also making sure that trail access is open to hikers, equestrian riders, and other folks that want to use the trails also.

And they do a great job of maintaining those trails for everybody to use. So, I just want to recognize their efforts, and as a proud co-author of SCR 94, ask for an "Aye" vote today. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Chair and the Members. I also rise in support of SCR 94, which recognizes June as Mountain Biking and the Trail Stewardship Month in California. Mountain biking recognizes active lifestyle and is one of the many activities in which Californians can enjoy a fun activity in nature.

In fact, my son is an avid mountain biker and I often hear how hard it is for mountain bikers to access the trails. But also, through his active mountain biking, he developed a lot of friends from different professions, in different walk of life.

And also, he connected me to his mountain biking group, and I enjoyed their relationship with me since then. Nature should be—Legislature, we should be doing more to expand access and opportunities for Californians to interact with their environment, like mountain biking. Today—the author from Encinitas for bringing this SCR 94 forward, I appreciate it.

I urge an "Aye" vote.

Thank you, Senator Choi. Senator Blakespear, you may pedal to a close.

Thank you. Well, I'd like to recognize the long leadership of my colleague from Santee, the great Senator from Santee, for his many years of advocacy for mountain biking and helping build and elevate the profile of mountain biking in San Diego County and at the state level. And with that, I respectfully ask for your "Aye" vote.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

The Ayes are 34, the noes are 0. The resolution is adopted. And I believe you have some guests.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to recognize Members of the California Mountain Biking Coalition who are here today. Michael Anzalone, Matthew Blaine, Storm Glover, Bryn Maradu. Steve Messer, Anthony Chow. And they've joined us in the Senate gallery. Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you. And now, messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports. Oh, I'm so sorry. Senator Ochoa Bogh, for what purpose do you rise?

Privilege of the floor.

Proceed.

President, I would just like to publicly announce that we currently have not just a Doctor, a Senator, a Senator, a Doctor, but now a grant, Grammy, Emmy, Emmy Award winner in Senator Grove with her human trafficking expose that she was here. So we wanted to ensure that we acknowledge her and congratulate her on the great accomplishment.

And the Senator has some great red carpet photos to share with anybody who would like to see them. Congratulations.

Hit me up next week. I'll bring it up. It weighs like 20 pounds. It's pretty heavy.

What I didn't get to was reports of committees which will be deemed read and amendments adopted. And now to Senator Grove. You are recognized.

Thank you.

I'll get this thing down eventually. Motions and resolutions now. Senator Seyarto, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the request of the author, I'd like to remove AB870 from the consent calendar and back to third reading for purposes of amending.

Thank you. Senator Alvarado-Gil.

Mr. President, please move file item number 40 and file item number 41 to the inactive file.

The desk will note. Senator Jones, you're recognized.

Mr. President, on the request of Assembly Member Flora, file item 67, AB 1392. Please move to the inactive file.

The desk will note seeing no other motions and resolutions, consideration of the daily. File the. Please read. Second reading File.

Senate General Resolution 5, with amendments. Assembly Bill 301 with amendments. Assembly Bill 1150, 1523, 391 with amendments. 272, 990, 471 with amendments. 437, 417, 523.

Moving on to governor's appointments now. Senator Grove, you are recognized. I'm back on track.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file. Item 15 is the confirmation of Sam Najavat for appointment to the California State University Board of Trustees. He is a senior senior adviser for business affairs for the California Department of Justice. And before that, he served in the governor's office in the Business and Economic Development.

He was confirmed unanimously by the Rules Committee on January 15th.

Respectfully asked for an aye vote, seeing no microphones raised. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

The Ayes are 33. The no's are 0. The appointment is approved. You are recognized, Senator Grove.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item 19 is a confirmation of our former center colleague, the deeply respected General Roth for appointment to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. Before Joining the board, General Roth served 12 years in the California State Legislature as Legislature on this red carpet with most of us.

He also served the country in the United States air force from 1975 to 2006. Thank you, Mr. President. From 2007, when he retired as a major General, he was approved by the Rules Committee on June 11th on a unanimous 50 vote. This is one of the most incredible humans I've ever met.

He has integrity, he is ethical, he is strategic, and he also knows how to get stuff done. And he's very loyal to the cause. And please support this unanimously.

Senator Rubio, you're recognized.

Yes. Thank you. I definitely want to add my voice to this appointment. We all know what an incredible leader Mr. Roth is. You know, I've had the privilege of serving with him, and I always said I have yet to run into someone as ethical, thoughtful, collaborative.

Everything that he does is to me is really highlights what a leader should be. And, you know, and I want to thank him for his service as well, as we all know how much he loves his country, how much he's put into this country and this institution.

So I want to just say what a qualified, wonderful individual he is. And I urge an Aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Grove, you may close.

Respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. And now moving on to Assembly, third reading. I apologize. I thought we were done. We have one more appointment. Senator Grove, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. File item 21 is the confirmation of Corinne Buchanan for the appointment as undersecretary for the California Health and Human Services Agency. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Buchanan was serving as the agency's Deputy Secretary for Policy and Strategic Planning. Before that, she oversaw housing and homelessness programs in the Department of Social Services.

She's had a long career in human services and program implementation and is really just a really well rounded individual. For this position, she was approved by the Rules Committee on June 11 as a unanimous vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. And seeing no mics raised, Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes, 33. No, 0. The appointment is confirmed. Senator Grove, for what reason do you now rise?

I was just going to say we have one more, but. Just kidding, sir.

I love the jokes. Assembly, third reading. File item 48.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 15 by Assemblymember Alanis relative to California Propane Day.

An explosive topic. Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Just for the record, your joke tanked, Mr. President. Mr. President, when I walked on the floor this morning, I was greeted by the Senate President who said, happy Propane Day. He was wishing me that because of this resolution. So, on behalf of Assemblymember Alanis, I present April 15th as California Propane Day.

A resolution. It's a few weeks past, but that does not diminish its importance. This is something across rural California and low-income communities where it is a way of life. It keeps a house warm. It keeps food cooked. It's at affordable price—from agriculture, construction, transportation, power generation, cooking, home heating. It critical to our entire portfolio.

It's an essential fuel. It got overwhelming support in the Assembly. I respectfully asked for an "Aye" vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

The "Ayes" are 34. The "Noes" are 0. The resolution is adopted. Now, continuing on Assembly third reading, File Item 350.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 80 by Assemblymember Stefani, relative to Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month.

Senator Wiener, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I rise to present ACR 80 on behalf of Assemblymember Stefani. I believe it's her first item being presented on the Senate Floor, so congratulations, Assemblymember. This resolution recognizes June as Elder Independent Adult Abuse Awareness Month in California.

As our population ages, so does the urgency to protect our older and most vulnerable residents. California is home to over 6 million adults over the age of 65. And by 2030, for the first time in our state's history, older adults will outnumber children.

One in nine adults over the age of 65 lives with Alzheimer's or dementia, conditions that increase the risk of abuse, yet only 1 in 24 incidents of elder abuse are reported. In 2023 alone, older Americans lost over $3.4 billion to scams, much of it through technical support, fraud, and impersonation calls targeting seniors.

Abuse comes in many forms—physical, emotional and financial—and it knows no boundaries. It affects people regardless of income, race, or background. By recognizing this month, we're sending a clear message: we won't allow our elders to suffer in silence. We must expand preventive services, improve reporting, and fight the isolation that leaves so many older adults at risk.

I respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote.

Senator Choi, you are recognized.

Thank you. I rise again in strong support of ACR 80, a resolution acknowledging the month of June 2025 as Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month in California. In California, the Adult Protective Services receives more than 15,000 reports of elder and dependent adult abuse per month. Not even a month—not even a year.

That's per month, with the number of reports only increasing. Unfortunately, alter and dependent elder and dependent abuse is still significantly underreported, as we hear in this state. So many victims don't have access to available resources. To repeat these statistics, for every case known to programs and agencies, 24 are unknown.

For financial abuse, only one in 44 cases are known. We must remember that we all get old. And these are not the statistics, these real life stories that we may be facing, personally.

As legislators, it's important for us to use our voices and our power to help reduce the occurrences of elder and dependent abuse with the ultimate goal of eliminating it all together one day. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

And let's work together to make sure our senior citizens and our dependent community get the support they need to combat this abuse.

Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Choi. Senator Wiener, you may close.

Respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Wiener moves the call.

And now we will lift the call on file item 19. Secretary, please call the roll.

[ROLL CALL]

The ayes are 34, the noes are 0. The appointment is confirmed.

We will pause for just a moment. Hang tight.

We will now lift the call on file item 50. Secretary, please call the roll.

[ROLL CALL]

The ayes are 34, the noes are 0. The resolution is adopted. We have today only a special consent calendar. Does any Member wish to pull an item off of the special consent calendar? Seeing none, Secretary, please call the roll. Oh, excuse me. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 81. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 23, 36, 45, 67, 5, 62, 63, 65, 69, 76, 78, 24, 66, 68, 74, 84, 86, 58, 73, 82, 85, 87, 88, and Assembly Concurrent Resolution 89.

And now, Secretary, please call the roll.

[ROLL CALL]

The ayes are 34, the nos are 0. The consent- the special consent calendar is adopted.

Well, colliding to an end here. After having chaired over what might have been the shortest session ever, I presided over the session with the most mistakes I think this morning, the desk is. If there's no other business, Senator Grove, the desk is clear.

Thank you, Mr. President. With all your faux pas, you still did a wonderful job and we appreciate your humor. You're always welcome on the dais. Speaking for the pro tem, as I am now that person closing us down.

Next floor session is scheduled, colleagues. Monday, June 23rd at 2pm. Have a wonderful weekend.

Thank you. The Senate will be in, the Senate will be in recess until 3:30pm at which time the adjournment motion will be made and as we was stated, we'll reconvene Monday, June 23rd at 2pm. Have a wonderful weekend.