Assembly Floor

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

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. We ask our guests and visitors in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please stand for the daily prayer. Assemblymember Rubio will offer today's prayer. Assemblymember Rubio.

Thank you. Dear Lord, the last few months have been trying for all of us. We look to the solace of the next few weeks as we navigate the rest of the season. Lord, may all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness. May all beings be free from suffering and the cause of suffering.

May all beings never be separate from the supreme joy that is beyond all sorrow. May all beings abide in the equanimity, free from attachment and aversion. Lord, let us continue our dedication to provide happiness and tranquility to all of the people of California. In Jesus' name, Amen.

We ask our guests and visitors to remain standing to join us in the flag salute. Assemblymember Garcia will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members, if you could please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Place your right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag... [Assembly recited Pledge of Allegiance].

You may be seated. To our guests and visitors today: State law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative proceedings or disrupting the orderly conduct of official business. Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest, or other appropriate legal remedies.

Reading of the previous day's journal:

Assembly Chamber Sacramento, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The Assembly met at 10am The Honorable Josh Lowenthal, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly presiding. Chief Clerk Sue Parker at the desk. Reading Clerk David A. Bowman...

Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry moves and Mr. Flora seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions? There are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the Governor? There are none. Messages from the Senate? There are none.

Moving on to motions and resolutions. The absences of the day. There are none. Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized for your procedural motions.

Good afternoon. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assemblymembers Wilson, Soria, Macedo, Tangipa and Gipson to speak on adjournment in memory today.

Without objection such shall be the order.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly rule 118A to allow Assemblymembers Dixon, Lee, Patterson, Harabedian, Michelle Rodriguez and Ward to have guests in the rear of the chamber today.

Without objection such shall be the order.

Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to withdraw SB 104 Wiener and SB 138 Committee on the Budget and Fiscal Review from Budget Committee and order the bills on the third reading file.

Without object-...

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 56 to allow the natural-

Madam Majority Leader, just a moment please. Mr. Flora, you are recognized.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, we would object to withdrawing those files from Committee. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Flora. The Majority Leader's motion is seconded by Assemblymember Garcia. This motion is not debatable. Takes 41 votes. Clerk will open the roll.

All Members vote who desire to vote. Majority leaders asking for an aye vote. Mr. Flora is asking for a no vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 42, noes 16. The motion carries. You may continue. Madam Majority Leader.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 56 to allow the Natural Resources Committee to notice SB 237 Grayson and SB 254 Becker for their hearing on Thursday, July 17, pending re-referral from the Utilities and Energy Committee.

Without objection, such shall be the order.

At the request of the authors, please remove file item 64, SB 361 Becker and file item 72, SB 230 Laird, from the consent calendar.

Clerk will note.

At the request of the author, please return file item 18, AB 1255, Committee on Education to the Senate for further action.

The Clerk will note.

I request unanimous consent to suspend joint rule 62A. The file itis- the file notice requirement to allow the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee to notice SB 238, Smallwood-Cuevas for their hearing on Wednesday, July 16.

Without objection such shall be the order.

Okay, Members, we're moving on to guest introductions. Assemblymember Ward, you are recognized from Mr. Speaker's desk for your guest introduction.

Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, please join me in providing a warm welcome to this year's Equality California Comcast Fellows. The EQCA Comcast Fellowship is a four week program meant to provide institutional experience to LGBTQ college students and recent graduates who are interested in learning more and contributing to the California State Legislature.

The EQCA Fellows are placed in various legislative offices where they receive on the job training in an effort to educate them on the complexities of the career as legislative staff and offer a pathway to employment.

As our legislative body grows in diversity, it's also imperative that our staff reflects the diversity of all of our constituents. As Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, I commend these young LGBTQ professionals for their participation in this decades long program.

With us here are Piper Cornett who is placed with a Member from Santa Cruz. Gia Franklin-Willis, who is placed with a Member from Fresno. Carlos Gonzalez, placed with a Member from Los Angeles.

Alan Lai, placed in my office. Evelyn Mata Hernandez, placed with a Senator representing Los Angeles. And Emma Duron Stevens, placed with a Member from Lynwood.

Members, would you please give a warm welcome to this year's 2025 Equality California Comcast fellows.

Thank you Assemblymember Ward and welcome Comcast Fellows.

Continuing on with our guest introductions, Assemblymember Ramos, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Well, thank you Mr. Speaker. Today we welcome in the gallery the Yuhaaviatam youth of the San Manuel Nation.

To be able to have the youth here looking at the Assembly floor when knowing that in past histories towards California's first people, in the beginning of the Legislature, this would not be a sight you would see.

As young tribal Members here are showing themselves here in the state Legislature and to our clan, the Yuhaaviatam clan, to be here because in 1866 there was a 32 day battle that took place in the San Bernardino Mountains that tried to eradicate our people.

But by seeing our youth here today shows the resiliency of not only the Yuhaaviatam youth, but all tribal youth in the State of California. Members, colleagues, please join me in welcoming the youth of the Yuhaaviatam Nation.

Welcome. Welcome to the California Assembly.

Assemblymember Dixon, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you Mr. Speaker and Members, good afternoon. I'm delighted to rise today to recognize and commend Steven Tinoko for his diligent and hard work in our office. Stephen joined our office as part of the same organization we just recognized, Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Projects Comcast Fellowship Program.

During his time in our office, Steven has provided invaluable support on drafting talking points, editing fact sheets, analyzing legislation and researching policy. He is currently attending San Jose State University in studying software engineering.

Our office is so appreciative for his help and and I know he will continue his success at San Jose State, San Jose State and beyond. Members, please join me in welcoming Steven Tinoko to the California State Assembly. And thank you.

Assemblymember Lee, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Members, I rise today to recognize the Berryessa Chinese School, a pillar of cultural and educational excellence in the Berryessa School District of San Jose since its founding in 1980.

For over four decades this remarkable parent-run nonprofit institution has served generations of students offering Mandarin and Cantonese language instructions from elementary school through advanced levels, well as cultural enrichment through classes in Chinese, painting, dance, music, martial arts and more.

What began in a single elementary school classroom has grown into robust community institution. Now hosting over 30 language classes and 17 cultural courses for both youth and adults. Their programs not only preserve heritage language but also foster cross cultural understanding across the Bay Area.

The Berryessa Chinese School is a model of volunteer led success and a celebration of heritage language. Community pride and a point of personal privilege is to say that when I was growing up as only in elementary school, I attended Berryessa Chinese School.

And right now, if you know anything about the history and political dynamic of Cantonese right now, it is a language that is on the verge of being put out, being extinct right now. And I'm very proud that it was one of the ways that I preserved my link back to my culture.

And growing up, I would go to Saturday Chinese School for a while until I don't know why I stopped doing it, but I stopped doing it at some point as a kid. But I really want to thank the Chinese School for celebrating their 45th year this year too.

With us today on the floor we have Leo Fu, Uchi Chang, Rita Xu, Robin Wang and Brenda Wang. Please give a warm Assembly welcome to Berryessa Chinese School. Thank you.

Okay, Assembly Member Patterson, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Great. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Members. I ask that you join me in welcoming the honorable Paul Joyner to the Assembly floor. Paul served on the Lincoln City Council in my district for 16 years, including serving as mayor - for four terms as mayor.

He also served on several activities Lincoln Police Activities League Board of Directors. He served on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, Place County Transportation Planning Agency and many other activities during those 16 years. I also want to say a personal note.

When I was Citizen Joe and I was interested and concerned about something in my own community in Rockland, Mr. Joyner was very active on social media and so I reached out and he was actually the first elected official that I reached out to back in 2015. And I really appreciate his guidance and support over all the years.

And it's my honor to welcome him here to the Assembly floor. And please join me in welcoming here today. Thank you.

Okay, we still have a few more guest introductions to go. Assemblymember Nguyen, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I have with me here today my district team and my Capitol team as well. But more importantly, I also brought along some of what you call interns, but at the district office I call them community coordinators.

So I'd like for my community coordinators to stand, and I'd like for my Capitol interns fellows to also stand and be recognized, as well as my district office staff and Members. I'd also like to say that our district office speak the following language. Vietnamese, Hmong, Cantonese, Tagalog, Samoan, Spanish, Moroccan, French and Portuguese.

Welcome, Team Nguyen.

Assemblymember Harbedian, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And it is really my honor to have my friend here, the mayor of La Verne, Tim Hepburn. And Tim has served for a number of years on the La Verne City Council. We also served together on the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments for a number of years.

And Tim just finished his two year tenure as the President of the San Gabriel Valley COG. Any of us who have served on COGs know how hard that is to wrangle and be in charge of a lot of Council Members. And here with him today is his beautiful wife Patty, his daughter Kristen and son Adam.

And so important that the family's here because we know with their grace and cooperation, we're able to do the jobs as elected officials. And Tim is really just the model public servant. And so let's give him a round of applause and his whole family, please help me welcome him to the floor.

Okay. And finally, last guest introduction. Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please join me in welcoming Diego Cespedes to the Assembly floor. Diego is shadowing me today in exploring the complexities of our state Legislature, Diego is a rising freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, set to study computational neuroscience. Let us please give him a round of applause. Welcome to the Assembly floor.

Okay, Members, we are going to move on to business on the daily file. Start off with second reading. File items number one through eight. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1533. Senate Bills 410, 57 with amendments, 332 with amendments, 533 with amendments. 544 with amendments, 647 with amendments and Senate Bill 781 with amendments.

All bills will be deemed read and all amendments will be deemed adopted. Moving on to items on concurrence, file items number nine through 18 we're going to pass and retain on File item number 9 and begin with file item number 10. That is AB 1216 by the Committee on Education presented by Assemblymember Muratsuchi. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1216 by the Committee on Education and acclaim to elementary and secondary education.

Assemblymember Muratsuchi, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Assembly Bill 1216 is back for concurrence with Senate amendments. This is the annual Tk12 omnibus bill. Technical and clarified amendments to the education code. Respectfully ask for Aye vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Muratsuchi. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tallied votes Ayes, 68. Noes, 0. Measure pass. Senate amendments are concurred in. Brings us to File item number 11.

That's AB377 presented by Assemblymember Tangipa.

The Clerk will read

Assembly Bill 377 by Assembly Member Tangipa and acclaim to high speed rail.

Assembly Member Tangipa, you are recognized.

Perfect. Well, good afternoon, Mr. Speaker and Members. Today I rise to present above 377. Which is backed on concurrence with minor amendments from the Senate Transportation Committee. This bill has enjoyed bipartisan Support and received no. 0 votes. And I respectfully ask for you.

Thank you, Assembly Member Tangipa. All debate having ceased, Clerk will open the roll. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes Ayes, 63. Noes, 0.

Senate amendments are concurred in going to pass and retain on file items 12 through 15. That brings us to file item number 16. AB951 by Assemblymember Ta.

Assembly Member Ta. The Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 951 by Assembly Member Ta and others an appellate to healthcare coverage.

Assembly Member Ta, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. AB 951 is back for concurrent amendment in the Senate. Technical in nature, this bill had a strong bipartisan support and has no opposition. I respectfully asked for I vote.

Thank you, Assembly Member Ta. All debate having ceased, Clerk will open the roll. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes, 68. Noes 0. Senate amendments are concurred in. Going to pass and retain on file items number 17 and 18.

That brings us to the Assembly third reading file. We're going to pass and retain on file items 19, 20, 21. That brings us to file item number 22. That's ACR 103 by Assembly Member Addis. The Clerk will read.

The Clerk will read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 103 by Assembly Member Addis and others relative to California Western Monarch Projection Week.

Assemblymember Addis, you are recognized.

Thank you Mr. Speaker and colleagues. Members, on behalf of the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus, I am Proud to present ACR103 that recognizes the week of July 14th to July 18th, 2025 as the California Western Monarch Protection Week in California. The Western Monarch butterfly is one of California's most iconic and awe inspiring migratory species.

Each fall, Monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles from southern Canada through California and onto Mexico, and they overwinter in groves all along our coast, including on the Central coast where they nestle together in cypress, pine and eucalyptus trees from Pacific Grove to Point Mugu.

And in early spring, they begin their journey inland to lay eggs on native milkweed, completing a vital and delicate life cycle. But sadly, over the last 25 years, the number of Western monarchs recorded during peak migration season has dropped by more than 80%, from over 1.2 million butterflies to just 233,000 last year.

The crisis stems from a web of challenges, including shrinking milkweed over and overwintering habitats, a changing climate and harmful pesticides that affect monarchs from egg to adult. And so, in response, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as of 2024 is proposing protections and the designation of over 4300 acres in California as critical monarch habitat.

California is taking action and working to protect more than 400 overwintering sites statewide, including sanctuaries in Pacific Grove, Goleta and Santa Cruz. And I'll also add that the migration isn't just an environmental issue, it's an economic issue. Monarch butterflies support eco tourism in our coastal communities during the shoulder and the winter seasons and as migrants themselves.

What many people don't know is that monarchs have also become a powerful symbol of freedom of resilience and of the fight for justice, particularly at the US Mexico border. And they were prominently featured during the 2018 State of the Union address.

So by establishing California Western Monarch Protection Week, we are calling attention to the urgent need to conserve monarchs and their habitat. And I respectfully ask for your Aye vote and that we leave the roll open for co authors.

Thank you, Assemblymember Addis. Assemblymember Pellerin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, let's take a moment to celebrate one of nature's most incredible travelers, the Western Monarch butterfly. May I have permission to use a Prop.

Without objection.

To make my point and to bring a little extra attention to these magnificent creatures, I brought monarch butterfly wings to wear as a reminder that protecting monarchs takes more than words on paper. It takes wings of action lifting us all toward a more sustainable future.

Each year, these tiny yet mighty butterflies embark on an astonishing migration from from inland and northern parts of the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada all the way to our beautiful California coast.

The Monarch butterfly is a source of personal joy and community pride in my district as hundreds of visitors come every year to see the natural bridges Monarch Trail in Santa Cruz, a winter safe haven for the monarchs. Monarch butterflies are more than just beautiful insects fluttering through our gardens. They are powerful symbols of resilience, transformation and hope.

Their incredible journey across continents mirrors their quintessential Californian story of migration, change and the pursuit of a better life. Sadly, their numbers have dropped by staggering 81% over the last 25 years due to loss of Habitat and climate change. This decline is a call to action for us as we recognize and honor this iconic species.

By standing up for our natural habitat preservation. By declaring California Western Monarch Protection Week, we're shining a bright spotlight on these beautiful creatures and their vital habitats. Let's embrace this week with joy, wonder and a commitment to conservation so that the Monarch's journey continues to grace our skies for many years to come. I ask for your Aye vote on ACR103.

Thank you. Thank you, Assemblymember Pellerin. Assemblymember Hart, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I cannot follow that. My words pale in comparison to the wings of the. Colleague from Santa Cruz. I rise in strong support of acr103. I'm proud to represent the Elwood Monarch Grove in my district. It's one of the largest overwintering sites in all of California. And every year, thousands of butterflies migrate to the Elwood Grove.

Visitors who walk the mile and a half trail are awestruck by the breathtaking sight of vibrant monarch butterflies clustering in the trees and fluttering in the air. And there's a deep sense of pride in my community. In fact, the City of Goleta has the monarch butterfly as the emblem of its city seal.

And as my colleagues have described, sadly, the monarch population at Elwood and around the State of California has declined drastically. In the 1960s and 1970s, as many as 80,000 monarch butterflies overwintered in Elwood and Goleta. Last year, only 34 were counted in that site.

The devastating loss of monarchs is due to habitat loss, overexposure to pesticides, and unseasonable weather patterns worsened by climate change. ACR 103 brings important awareness and encourages conservation efforts to reverse these declines. Protecting monarchs means protecting the health of our environment, our ecosystems and our wildlife for generations to come.

I urge your support for this important resolution to preserve the essential habitats and groves that ensure the survival of these extraordinary butterflies. Thank you. Thank you, Assemblymember Hart.

Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assemblymember Addis, do you wish to close?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In celebration of the California Western Monarch Protection Week, we did have two sets of butterfly wings. I sent my set over to the Senate, to my Senate counterpart and challenged him to put them on today. So we'll see what happens. But respectfully, we do ask you.

You ask for your Aye vote and we'll leave the roll open for co authors.

Thank you, Assembly Member. I'll recognize you again after the vote. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. Members, this is for co authors. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. This is for co authors. All Members vote who desire to. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes.

There are 65 co authors added without objection. We'll now take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say Aye. All those opposed no. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Assemblymember Addis, you're recognized for your announcement.

Members, one of the most important parts of this resolution is we do have monarch cupcakes over in the Member lounge. And Assemblymember Pellerin is showing you her wings. You, you can also go to the Member lounge and grab a cupcake after session when all the serious business is over. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Assembly Member Addis. Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized for your procedural motion.

I request unanimous consent to suspend joint rule 62A, the file notice requirement to allow the insurance Committee to notice Spring 371 Cabaldon for the hearing on Wednesday July 16th.

Without objection. Okay. We are going to pass retain on file items 23 and 24. That brings us to file item 25, Assembly joint resolution 18 by Assembly Member Ramos.

The Clerk will read

Assembly Joint Resolution 18 by Assembly Member Ramos and others relative to California Native Americans.

Assembly Member Ramos, you are recognized.

Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And to my relatives, I say thank you. In welcoming you here to our area. Assembly Joint Resolution 18 represents an official apology from the California State Legislature to California's first people. It acknowledges its involvement in the historic injustices and atrocities committed against Native Americans and affirms this state's commitment to healing and reconciliation.

California joined the Union in 1850, and the State Legislature has yet to officially apologize for its own role in the early wars and massacres waged against this state's first people. Certainly there has been no apology or acknowledgement for the sanctioning and payment of bounty hunters to kill Native Americans during that time from the State Legislature.

Between 1851 and 1859, the state raked over $1.2 million in its war against Native Americans here in the State of California. Those dollars were paid for by taxpayers dollars here in the State of California that was paid for to eliminate the native people from the State of California.

That legislation led to the destruction of tribal nations all throughout the state and almost wiped out our people. In 1852, this Legislature voted to oppose the ratification of 18 treaties made between the United States government and the California Native American tribes.

In 1860, Members of a Select Committee investigating the Mendocino Wars called for the outright takeover of tribal affairs by the state government and for the enslavement of the remaining natives of the state by so called responsible citizens. This history of violence against California's first people created and instilled trauma that continues to impact Native Americans to this day.

This is the legacy of our state's Legislature and why I introduced Assembly Joint Resolution 18. Although the Governor issued his apology on behalf of the state in 2019, this body, this institution, which passed legislation, has not done so.

We can never fix the wrongdoings of the past, but what we can do is take the first step of ensuring this body takes the fundamental step of acknowledging the harm committed and state its intentions to prevent these injustices from happening in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I know this body has made significant strides in correcting the injustices of the past. But without an official acknowledgment of wrongdoing and an apology from the State Legislature, we cannot truly say we are ready to move forward.

That is why this resolution calls for a condemnation of the prior actions taken by the State and Senate against this state's First People. It also reaffirms our commitment to working toward a better future for all Native people who call the State of California home.

California remains a state with the most Native Americans and Alaska Natives in the country. However, it also ranks as one of the highest in number of uninvestigated or unsolved cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the State of California. This is not right, it's not justice and we must do more to prevent the violence.

AJR 18 acknowledges the legislative actions and failures that inflict great pain and suffering upon California's first people. This resolution stands as a pledge to actively support the survival, resiliency, and future prosperities of tribal communities for generations to come.

More importantly, AJR 18 furthers the work initiated by this body moving forward and also recognizes the Truth and Healing Council and it provides renewed, renewed action to make sure that we're working for a State of California that takes in account California's First People and the foremost actions that continues to move forward in this state.

I respectfully ask you for your aye vote and ask that the roll be open for coauthors and to that I say.

Thank you, Assembly Member Ramos. Assembly Member Soria, you are recognized.

Mr. Speaker and Members, I rise today in support of Assembly Joint Resolution 18 on behalf of the Latino Caucus, which recognizes the historical injustices committed against California Native Americans.

This resolution provides a crucial and long overdue acknowledgement of the role of that the California State Legislature played in enacting laws and policies that perpetuated violence, disenfranchisement, and dispossession of Native people in the state following the incorporation of California into the United States in 1848.

From the deliberate exclusion of Native Americans, from the right to vote in our state Constitution, to laws that facilitated forced removal, indentured servitude, and criminalization of Indigenous people, Our Legislature was complicit in actions that inflicted profound harm on California's original people. Despite this history, California Native American communities have endured and persevered, preserving their languages, cultures, and traditions.

Their resilience and continued contributions are an essential part of California's history and our identity, one that we must honor and uphold. AJR 18 also calls for formal recognition and apology from this body, as well as a renewed commitment to work alongside California's Native American tribes in partnership.

As a member of the Native American Caucus and the California Latino Caucus, I affirm that our communities understand the importance of confronting difficult histories and standing in solidarity with all peoples who have experienced systemic oppression.

By supporting this resolution, we recommit ourselves to healing and reconciliation and to fostering respectful and collaborative relationships with Native American tribes across our state. I respectfully urge all Members to join me in supporting AJR 18, to formally acknowledge our shared history and to move forward with humility, respect and and commitment to justice. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Assembly Member Soria. Assembly Member Ward, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members, I rise humbly as the Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, urging unwavering support for AJR 18, recognizing the wrongdoings committed against California's first peoples, and affirming the need for reparative justice for tribal communities. For too long, the United States has denied full recognition of historic and ongoing harms against Native American tribes.

Harms that include genocide, land theft, the forced removal of children to boarding schools, suppression of language and culture, and the breaking of hundreds of treaties. Each one was a solemn promise. California, too, bears its own shameful role, and as such, we must never forget that our own state sanctioned and even incentivized the extermination of Native peoples.

The intergenerational trauma inflicted by these atrocities lives on. We see it in the disparities in health, education, and economic opportunities, in the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples epidemic, and in the continued struggles to protect tribal sovereignty and sacred lands from erasure.

To move forward, the Federal Government must formally confront this truth, including a full and public apology to all Native American tribes. This is a long overdue first step towards healing. As leaders, we know that healing begins with truth telling. We understand what it means to be targeted, silenced and denied dignity.

We stand in solidarity with the calls for justice and reconciliation for tribal communities. I want to thank the Chair of the Native American Caucus and for his tireless work in bringing this moral imperative before us today.

Members, I urge your strong support for AJR 18, calling on the United States to take long overdue steps towards truth, accountability, and respect for the sovereign nations who were here long before this nation was formed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members.

Thank you, Assembly Member Ward. Assembly Member Fong, you are recognized.

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker and Members. As Chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and as a Member of the Native American Caucus, I raise a strong support of AJR 18. In these challenging times, it is important for us to recognize the historical wrongdoings committed against California's Native Americans.

In my own district, the San Gabriel Band or Gabrielino-Tongva Tribe were among those that lost millions of their native lands and through unratified treaties in the 1850s without proper representation and forced work as laborers to expand Los Angeles. We must reflect on these historical injustices and wrongdoings to form a better path forward.

AJR 18 helps us do just that. Thank you so much to the Chair of the Native American Caucus for your leadership and efforts on protecting and advocating for Native American communities and to recognize these injustices in order to forge a path of reconciliation and progress going forward.

On behalf of the AAPI Legislative Caucus, we look forward to working in partnership on this very important work and respectfully ask for an aye vote on AJR 18. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Member Fong. Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized.

As Chair of the California Legislative Women's Caucus. We want to thank my colleague, Assembly Member Ramos for bringing this resolution forward and for his leadership on Native American issues in California. The LWC appreciates bringing AJR 18, which recognizes that our state government played a role in the unjust and violent treatment of Native American people across history.

It honors the strength and survival of Native communities who have held onto their culture despite efforts to erase them. This resolution asks the Federal Government to work with tribes to keep promises, improve access to services and protect tribal lands and sacred sites.

I've been proud personally to stand with Native communities over the years and to partner with tribal leaders on legislation to preserve sacred sites and the lands that lie in the heart of the Indigenous cultures. LWC is proud to support this resolution today which is a step forward toward the healing and building stronger partnerships with California's first people.

There's still a lot more work to do to make sure our words reflect in our actions and the legislation we pass on this floor. We, the LWC, is committed to continuing that work alongside you, Mr. Chairman, and with our California's Native communities.

Thank you, Madam Majority Leader. Assembly Member Addis, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Chair of the Native American Caucus. I rise on behalf of the Jewish Caucus and as a member of the very important Native American Caucus in support of AJR 18, a measure to recognize the historic wrongdoings committed against California's Native Americans.

The injustices that the Native American communities have faced in our country and our state are not an issue of the past. They shape the current reality of Native peoples today.

Among other forms of discrimination and disparities faced by native peoples in 2025, as you have heard, Native communities continue to have less equitable access to health care, education, and environmental stewardship than other communities in our state.

Core to this history is that treaties that were drafted by Native and United States leaders to promote peace and tolerance have not been followed as they should have. For these treaties to be so blatantly ignored speaks to how we continue to allow for violence to be perpetuated among communities today.

And the Jewish community is all too familiar with how the hate and persecution of our ancestors can continue to color our worlds today. Our shared experience leads us to stand in firm solidarity with the Native American Caucus and the Native American communities from across the State of California, and across the entire United States.

We in the Jewish community often speak of tikkun olam, the Jewish value of repairing the world through social justice, through kindness, and through civic engagement.

And we call on our Federal Government as well as on this body to engage with us in repairing the damage that has been perpetrated against Native communities and ask for deeper work with trust, tribal leaders from across the nation and our state to address these historic injustices. And with that Members, I request an aye vote on AJR 18.

Thank you, Assembly Member Addis. Dr. Sharp-Collins, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. Today I rise on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus in strong support. Excuse me. And also for myself, as well as a proud coauthor of Assembly Joint Resolution number 18, recognizing the history of harm and brutalization inflicted on California's first people.

Anytime our state has participated in any harm against any people, whether it's California's first people, Black Americans, or anyone else who has ever called California home, an apology is necessary and repair is truly needed.

It is important that we stand in solidarity with our Native American brothers and sisters as they seek proper redress and repair for the historical wrongdoings of that they have experienced.

For that I am grateful to my colleague from San Bernardino for his fierce and long standing advocacy on behalf of the Native American community and for bringing forward this impactful resolution.

We all know that we still have a lot of work that needs to be done in order to rectify the harm inflicted on the Native American community and to begin the work towards community healing. But recognizing this harm is the essential first step that is 100% necessary.

Myself and the Legislative Black Caucus truly stands here in support of AJR 18. Once again, thank you to the author and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Dr. Sharpe Collins. Seeing and hearing no further debate, Mr. Ramos. We are nowhere and have no identity without our first people. We thank you for giving the People's House the ability to honestly confront its own past. And with that, would you like to close, Sir?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you to all my colleagues that shared your voices and also to the Yehovaithum youth that are here. Seeing how debate takes place currently in the year 2025 in this Legislature adds promise that one of them will be the next state Legislature in this house. With that, I ask for your aye vote and ask for the first row to be open for coauthors.

Thank you, Assembly Member Ramos. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. Members, this is for coauthors. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll tally. The votes there are 66 coauthors added.

Since this is a joint resolution, we will take a roll call vote on the resolution itself. The Clerk will open the roll. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. The Clerk will close the roll tally the votes. Ayes, 68. Noes, 0.

The resolution is adopted. Moving on to File item number 26. That's ACR 71 by Assemblymember Kalra. The clerk will read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 71 by Assembly Member Kalra and others relative to the Little Saigon freeway.

Assembly Member Kalra, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. ACR 71 would designate a portion of State Route 101 in Santa Clara County as the Little Saigon Freeway. The City of San Jose is home to the largest Vietnamese community of any single city outside of Vietnam.

Recognizing this significance, in 2007, the City of San Jose officially designated the area along Story Road as Little Saigon. This area serves as a major cultural, social and commercial center with businesses ranging from supermarkets, shopping malls, jewelry stores, restaurants and cafes, as well as cultural festivals and parades celebrating hospitals like that.

But Little Saigon isn't just a commercial hub. The name Saigon stands for freedom and represents the resilience of Vietnamese history and heritage. Especially as we remember the 50th anniversary of Black April and the solemn reminder of the immense sacrifices made by millions of Vietnamese people who fled their homeland in search of security and freedom.

Let us take this opportunity to honor the many contributions of the Vietnamese community that have enriched California and our nation. The journey of the Vietnamese boat refugees and the generations of the Vietnamese American community. Making our nation their new home is the history of America.

By designating the Little Saigon Freeway, ACR 71 will ensure future generations can honor the name Little Saigon with respect, respect, pride and joy. Respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Thank you, Assembly Member Kalra. Assemblymember Ta, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise as a pro principal co author to acr71. A few months ago, my colleagues from San Jose came to my district for Leadership on Freeway dedication ceremony and promised that he would introduce leaders freeway resolution for the Vietnamese community in San Jose. And he did so.

I really appreciate that he kept his promise. Leaders Freeway is a symbol of freedom and unity for the Vietnamese American not only in California, but also around the world. 50 years ago, the Vietnamese people lost Saigon. And 50 years later, little Saigon was established in many different regions in the US.

California is the home of almost 800,000 Vietnamese who live free and experienced democratic representation. And I am so pleased to see that in the first time of California history we have Little Chigong Freeway in the south and Leadership Freeway in the north. ACR 71 is more than just a side of a freeway.

It gives Vietnamese people sense of belonging. And I respectfully ask your Aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Taf. Assemblymember Ahrens, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Highways do more than connect cities, they connect stories. With acr71, we have an opportunity to elevate one of California's most powerful community narratives by naming a portion of Highway 101 the Little Saigon Freeway. This designation represents more than just a sign.

It is a public acknowledgment that the Vietnamese American experience is essential to the fabric of California. San Jose is a national hub for Vietnamese American life with vibrant family businesses, neighborhood temples, cultural festivals and strong tradition of civic leadership. This community has created more than just storefronts.

It has built a legacy of resilience, identity and progress that deserves our public recognition. Vietnamese Americans have made significant contributions to our shared story, both economically and culturally as well as politically.

In Assembly District 26, we are proud to represent one of the most diverse regions in the state featuring a growing Asian American population and that embodies the values such as perseverance, innovation and strong community ties. This designation is personal for many of us.

It honors the generations who fled war, arrived with little and gave everything to build a lasting future here in California. While ACR 71 is about a place, it is also about pride.

It reflects the belief that identity should not be invisible, that history should be acknowledged, and that every community deserves to see itself represented in our shared public spaces. I want to thank the Member from San Jose for allowing me to be a proud co author as part of our Silicon Valley delegation.

And I will close by saying supporting ACR71 means standing with our neighbors, our elders, and our future generations and is an opportunity to affirm that Vietnamese American stories, and by extension all immigrant stories, are integral to the heartbeat of California. So let's name it, let's honor it, and let's pass. ACR 71.

Thank you, Assemblymember Ahrens. Assembly Member Nguyen, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Member from Santa Clara County, San Jose, for bringing this forward.

As a daughter of Vietnamese refugee who escaped during the Vietnam War 50 years ago, not only did my community, my people, my family escape the one home that they knew, but they also lost the name that they knew, which is Saigon.

And how wonderful it is that we can come here to the United States and be accepted and be accepted and call this place our new home.

But not only that, but to be able to name parts of our city in which we all represent Little Saigon, so that not only are we welcomed here because, but that we have accepted the fact that we can name parts of the districts that we all represent Saigon, so that we have a sense of belonging that we can now call this place home.

And I want to thank the Member from Orange County who experienced this and able to speak up and to be able to see him here on this floor representing our community and representing the people, but also honoring the name Saigon and being able to just educate our community the fact that we cannot say Saigon in Vietnam, but we can say it here and nothing would happen to us and that we accept it.

And that in Saigon, in Little Saigon is where you can find the best pho or the best Nam Ng or the best bun Thom Th Ng or all of the Vietnamese dishes that we all enjoy and have learned to love. And with that, Members and Mr. Speaker, I respectfully asked for your vote for ACR 71. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Nguyen. Seeking and hearing no further debate, Assemblymember Kalra, do you wish to close?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to thank my colleague, my neighbor in Santa Clara County. And I do want to especially thank our two colleagues who are Vietnamese American. I think they represent what Little Saigon is about, why this is important. They represent the resilience of this extraordinary community and how much this community has grown.

And so in their honor, I would like to ask that we not only vote for ACRSB1, but respectfully ask that for others to join in as co authors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Assemblymember Kalra. I'll debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the Roll for Co Authors Members. This is for co authors. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. There are 67 co authors added.

Without objection will take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say Aye. All those opposed say no. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Now moving on to the Senate third reading file. We begin with file item number 27, that Senate Concurrent Resolution 66 by Senator Umberg presented by Assemblymember Pacheco.

The Clerk will read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 66 by Senator Umberg and others relative to Law Day summary.

Member Pacheco, you are recognized.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speakers and Members. Today, I rise to present SCR 66, which proclaims May 1st, 2025, as Law Day, in commemoration of the importance of the rule of law. Established by President Eisenhower in 1958, Law Day is an annual celebration of law's importance in our society.

However, the rule of law faces unprecedented attacks from the current Administration.

Between February and April 2025, this Administration has targeted major law firms with Executive Orders, denying them access to federal buildings and terminating contracts over DEI programs, intimidated law firms into extortionate deals and weaponized federal agencies to persecute law firms, called for impeachment of judges who ruled against the interests of the Administration, and perhaps most egregious, conducted arbitrary arrests and deportations without due process, which have included US Citizens.

Even judges appointed by the current President and Chief Justice Roberts have ruled against or spoken about—spoken out about—these unlawful actions. In response, various California law firms have filed lawsuits challenging these executive actions, with hundreds of firms signing supportive briefs. In recognition of the legal community's resistance against these brazen attacks on the rule of law, this resolution proclaims May 1st, 2025, as Law Day. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Pacheco. Assemblymember Demaio, you are recognized.

You know, I rise quite confused by this resolution offered by legislators who have so routinely violated the rule of law in their own actions. To sit here and say, well, we're going to pass a resolution and lecture the Federal Government on all of their missteps on the rule of law, it's quite rich.

Let me just review the bidding. What this Legislature has passed, what this Governor has done to violate constitutional rights of California citizens, whether it's passing laws that the Supreme Court has completely overturned that violate the Second Amendment, only to have this Legislature pass the same laws again. An affront to our judicial system.

Or last year, this Legislature and the Governor passed a law saying that, you know, if we don't like what you're putting on social media as it relates to political campaigns, we're going to arrest you, we're going to prosecute you. Of course, thankfully, that was completely overturned by a judge as a violation of the first amendment.

Or how about the faith-based crisis pregnancy centers who were told by this Legislature in 2018 that you must violate your religious beliefs and promote the practice of abortion.

I don't care where you stand on abortion, but I think all commonsense, fair-minded Californians would say that it is not the role of the Legislature or this Governor to compel churches to embrace abortion when that is a firmly held religious belief that they do not have.

I could go into COVID, I could go into the recent federal court cases that overturned various bills passed by this Legislature, imposed by this Governor, that stripped parents of their 14th amendment due process, equal protection rights under the federal constitution. First year law students read the laws that I've just referenced and they're embarrassed.

A first-year law student would recognize that there is a constitutional problem with these laws. But this Legislature doesn't learn because they don't care. They pass the same laws. Time and time again, what do they do? They basically tell California citizens tough, where it might makes right.

You're gonna have to comply with this law, you're gonna have to hire an attorney, you're gonna have to pay for it, sue us, because at least for the next eight to 12 months, we get to deprive you of your constitutional rights. Yeah, we'll lose in court, but for the next year we've stripped you of your, your rights.

So, again, I, I, sometimes I, I, I go along saying, I'm going to assume that the intention is well founded. On this one, for this Legislature to try to wade in on the issue of rule of law, I think silence is probably the best strategy and perhaps some quiet contemplation of your own misdeeds over the years.

Thank you, Assemblymember DeMaio. Assemblymember Berman, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in response to the faux outrage that I've once again heard on this floor. And I find it rich in hypocrisy, challenging who actually cares about the rule of law and who doesn't in 2025. And so permission to read just a couple of examples without objection. Thank you very much.

These are some examples from the Trump Administration in regards to whether or not they think that they are above the rule of law, whether or not they have to follow decisions by the courts. I'd like to start with President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, who said, I don't care what the judges think. I don't care.

Vice President J.D. Vance said judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power. And he said four years ago, when the courts stop, you stand before the country like Andrew Jackson did and say, the Chief Justice has made his ruling. Now let him enforce it. And for those who don't know, that's a direct challenge to the courts.

That's a direct challenge to the rule of law, saying, let the courts, let the Supreme Court, let judges get their own army to try to challenge the President as the commander in chief. And might I remind all of you, there are no kings in America. There are no kings.

We have a division of power in the United States in our democracy, and the courts play an important role in that. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said that when questioned about courts issuing nationwide injunctions on Trump's orders, she responded, they have no basis in the law and that the courts have no grounds.

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, said, no court in the United States has a right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States. Stephen Miller, senior advisor and real jerk, for what it's worth, said federal courts have become in many cases, a supreme branch of government. The powers of the President will not be questioned.

That Stephen Miller, adviser to the President, might as well have said, the powers of the king shall not be questioned. The courts exist to question the powers of the President. But more and more of Trump's advisers, more and more of Trump's administrators, clearly so, zero, here's another one.

Emile Beauvais, who currently today is in the nomination process to become a federal judge for life, said F U. But he didn't say F. He said, F you to the courts in context to carrying out deportations, even against explicit judicial orders. And now President Trump thinks that this guy should be a judge for a life term.

So it's embarrassing. It's embarrassing what President Trump and his appointees and his administrators are doing, trampling the rule of law in America. And I'm very proud to support SCR66 to make sure that at least here in California, we respect our judges, we respect the third branch of government, we respect the rule of law.

Thank you very much, Member Berman, Assembly Member Patterson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At first, I was going to talk about Proposition 35 and the governor's and this Legislature's desire to steal money from some of the poorest individuals in the state on Medi Cal programs and instead balance the General Fund, despite what the voters directed them to do.

And then I thought, well, no, maybe I'll talk about Proposition 36 and what the voters ask the people of the Legislature to do, and thought about how the Governor didn't want to fund that. But then I was given a real gem just this morning on my favorite social media app, X.

And you know, Governor Newsom is really, by the way, if you've read his Twitter account as of late, you could tell he's taken a.

He's taken a page right out of the Trump playbook on engaging people, the one that everybody here, including my colleague and friend from Palo Alto, like to despise, how that our President talks on social media and our governor's taking a page right out of that. And actually that office is engaged in some disgusting social media.

Mr. Patterson, are we going to get back to the resolution?

So after the no Kings protest, which I thought was on Newsom, actually initially, when I went to it just yesterday, Newsom, Newsom said, said this. In 2010, the voters of California put into our Constitution a redistricting Commission because they didn't trust the Legislature or the Governor to come up with what the districts should look like.

And so what Newsom said yesterday was, with, quote, permission to read without objection. I don't. I will not be checked by my friend. With two thirds majority in the Legislature, California could gerrymander like no other state. He says California has been, quote, unquote, playing fair with an independent Commission.

But Abbott's plans have, quote, made me question that entire program. This is the Governor of this state openly advocating for violating what the people of California put in the Constitution for an independent redistricting Commission.

So it is tough for me, and with all due respect to my good friend and colleague from Downey, to lecture on how the Trump Administration is violating constitutional rights, because nobody replicates President Trump more than California's Governor, Gavin Newsom.

Thank you, Assemblymember Patterson. Leader Gallagher, you were recognized.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I rise on law day as the only person in this body who's ever actually taken on a king in court and won.

When I took on King Gavin Newsom in 2020 and went to court over his violation, clear violation of separation of powers, which was mentioned earlier, I think is very important when you have an Executive who's usurping legislative authority.

And my colleagues from Rockland and San Diego actually gave several very good examples of how he has done this continuously while this body has remained silent and done relatively nothing to counter him. And I've said this on this forum many times at my disappointment that we don't push back on those things.

But I'll add one more to that. A violation actually of direct democracy that we're often lectured on in this body about the death penalty that he summarily ended and said we are no longer going to do, despite the voters of this state twice voting to uphold the death penalty.

So yeah, you know, look, oftentimes we talk about violations of Executive power and we do it about the other party, right. Where we tend to be more critical of the other party and not looking at the clear violations, maybe within your own party where that's happened.

And you know, again, if we're going to call this out and talk about that, then let's call about, call out those things fairly. Another, more recent one Executive order that established the policy of the state that we were going to ban gas powered vehicles. Was that a legislative policy passed by this body? No.

Did we have debates over that in our committees? Did we allow for direct democracy input? No. Gavin Newsom just did it. And then when he got slapped down by the Federal Government, rightfully so, and said, no, you can't do this. Right. He's now come back and issued another Executive order, but I haven't heard anybody talk about that.

Right. Because he liked the policy. Because you think that's what we should do, even though there's a clear violation of separation of powers. So again, let's be consistent. Let's stand up for rule of law. Let's stand up for separation of powers when it matters, like when you are actually being assert of your powers and your rights.

And just a few years ago that happened many times and it's continuing to happen. So speak up when that's happening also.

Thank you, Assemblymember Gallagher. Assemblymember Kalra, you are recognized.

It's interesting how the conversation from our Republican colleagues have veered Away from actually talking about the rule of law and Law Day and talk about their obsession with attacking Governor Newsom, when the reality is that, as was just mentioned, there are Executive orders that the Governor has done, some of which have been shot down by the courts.

That's the whole point. Law Day. In fact, our majority leader just said he won in court against our Governor. That is a celebration of Law Day. That is the celebration of Law Day is respecting the rule of law.

In fact, if you actually read the resolution, you will see much of the focus on it has to do with President Trump signing Executive orders, going after law firms that have the gall to represent anyone that challenges President Trump. That is an attack on our legal systems, attack on our lawyers. It's intended to have lawyers in fear.

Similar to that Shakespeare line, the first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers. Because it's the lawyers that keep tyranny in check. It's the lawyers that keep everyone, including ourselves and our Governor and our President in check. That's what Law Day is about. We have a President that refused to acknowledge Law Day this year.

So we're going to do it ourselves and acknowledge that the rule Law, the rule of law is above every single one of us. No matter what our title is, no matter how powerful you think you are, it's the Constitution and it's the rule of law that keeps us in check, not obeying some political cult of maga.

Thank you, Assembly Member Kalrah, seeing and hearing no further debate. Assembly Member Pacheco, do you wish to close?

Thank you. And I want to thank my colleagues for the robust conversation about Law Day. I want to thank my colleagues from Menlo park and from San Jose for accurately stating what Law Day is about, the importance of attorneys, about the importance of judges for interpretation of the law.

Unfortunately, some of my colleagues on the other aisle are confusing it with certain policies. But Law Day is the importance of laws. And so with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. And on behalf of Senator Umberg, I would also like the first roll to be open for co authors.

Thank you, Assemblymember Pacheco. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. This is for co authors Members. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote for co authors. Clerk, we'll close the roll, tally the votes. There are 51 co authors added without objection.

We'll take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. All the opposed say no. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Now moving on to File item number 28, Senate Joint Resolution 3 by Senator Araguin, presented by Assemblymember Calderon.

The Clerk will read.

Senate Joint Resolution 3 by Senator Arreguin and others, relative to food assistance.

Assemblymember Calderon, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I rise on behalf of Senator Arreguin to present SJR 3, which urges Congress to prevent cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. As we know, Congress recently passed a Bill that features devastating cuts to low-income and middle-class Americans.

SNAP funding has been decreased by 20%, representing the largest cut in SNAP history. Over 22 million families across the country are expected to lose some or all of their SNAP benefits because of this. These cuts will be experienced throughout our state, as an estimated one in five Californians face food insecurity.

CalFresh, which is funded through SNAP, helps meet this need by providing food assistance to 5.5 million Californians. For our state's older adults, single parents, and rural communities who rely on CalFresh, it is a lifeline. SNAP supports 173,000 California jobs in food and ag.

Unfortunately, the Federal Government has decided to take money out of our communities and food off of our tables. Food is not a luxury, it's a necessity. SJR sends an important message to Congress and our constituents that we recognize the importance of SNAP and CalFresh benefits and alleviating hunger. Thank you and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As our Assembly Human Services Committee Chair, I rise in strong support for SJR 3, which calls on Congress to roll back their drastic cuts to SNAP.

In the dead of night, following up to the July 4th Weekend, the congressional Republicans in the Senate and the House rushed through a Bill that they knew was so unpopular that they had to try to do it in the dead of night.

And in it, that big Bill, the big BS Bill, is the largest transference of wealth from the poor to the rich in this country's history. They promise and make a big talk about temporary tax cuts to working class people, small tax cuts to working class people.

The reality is that millionaires and billionaires walk away with hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars of tax breaks, all to do what? So, they could cut healthcare, so they cut food assistance.

CalFresh, our successful, bipartisan, supported program in California, the most effective program at combating food insecurity in California, which supports nearly one in five Californians, is almost solely funded by SNAP. And when the Federal Government takes away money, makes it harder for people to get on the program, and puts more of the cost onto the state, they know willingly that there are less Californians, in fact, less Americans and many even red states, that will lose food assistance.

It is estimated that the cut over 10 years will be $287 billion to food assistance. Those costs will be only recuperated for billionaires. But the real lives and the real children that go hungry is incalculable.

While California is the food basket of the world, we, across both parties, have worked very hard to talk about how do we boost the number because there are more people in California eligible than actually use the service.

And we have worked very hard, hand in hand, to make sure that more Californians are getting the food distance that they deserve and they need. But yet these efforts totally fly in the face of that.

So, I hope that we will be bipartisan in our support to ask Congress to roll back these draconian cuts and restore the food benefits that so many families rely on. I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Lee, Assemblymember DeMaio, you were recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to bring some truth and accuracy to this conversation. My colleague from the Bay Area says that he wants a bipartisan commitment. I, too, would love to have a bipartisan commitment to what Californians, in a fundamentally fair vein, would like to offer people down on their luck.

All Californians support giving people help when they're down on their luck. That's why we have a social safety net. And you should support the reforms in the Federal Bill because it's about making sure that we have a strong social safety net for those that need these benefits, and this help the most.

Either you didn't read the Bill or you're openly and wantonly misrepresenting it. And so, I feel compelled to set the record straight, so at least Californians know what reforms you are opposing or mischaracterizing in this resolution. You say that there are, "drastic cuts to SNAP," millions will be thrown off of food stamps.

There are only two reforms in the Big Beautiful Bill as it relates to food stamps or SNAP. And let me tell you what those two reforms are, and they are supported overwhelmingly by your constituents. Reform number one, we need to crack down on fraud. There is a high fraud rate in the food stamps program. It is documented.

Even our own Governor puts out an annual report verifying the annual fraud rate. The Inspector General of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture have fraud audits of state administered programs like SNAP, California is one of the worst offenders for welfare fraud. The SNAP program in California has a 13.6% fraud rate.

Every dollar that goes out is a dollar that taxpayers wanted to give someone truly in need, but that dollar is no longer there to help needy people. We have an obligation to fix the fraud problem, but there's no skin in the game for the State of California. We just administer the program.

We cash the checks from the Federal Government. And so, what the Federal Government's now saying is since the states administer it, they've got to do a better job. They have to be held accountable. So, California will have no cut for its fraud rate as long as we reduce our fraud rate from 13.6% down to 5%.

If you want to avoid a SNAP cut for California, pass a law and hold this Governor accountable for administering these welfare benefits appropriately. Stop the fraudsters from bilking taxpayers. That's what your constituents want so the dollars are there to help the neediest among us.

Here's the other thing that's required under the Federal Bill, a work requirement, a 20-hour work requirement is expanded under the SNAP Bill, the SNAP program.

Now, what work requires is, number one, either try to get a job, or two, go to school, or three, I know that this is going to be just an earth changer for a lot of folks—mind bender—volunteer for a nonprofit community service organization.

Again, a super majority of California voters, including your constituents, they're okay giving help to people, but if you're able bodied, at least do something to give back. And let me tell you in conclusion why this is so important. I've had some friends over the years who've dealt with depression.

Having lost my mother, I've had to deal with depression. And I remember the dark days and sometimes, and I tell my friends when they are dealing with depression, every day you get out of bed, every day you shower, every day you put on clothes and you walk out that door, you've just won.

30 seconds.

Put one foot in front of the other. What we're trying to do with welfare recipients is we're trying to tell them, look, we're not expecting you to get a 40 hour job, but do something.

And there is a nonprofit charity that if you can't get a paid job, go help that charity make a better, stronger community. By mischaracterizing this Bill, either you did not read it or you're spreading misinformation. Let's focus on the job we can do. Let's get these people back to work and let's reduce the fraudulent benefits.

I urge you to revise your resolution or else I urge you to vote it down.

Thank you, Assemblymember DeMaio. Assemblymember Patel, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. Today, I rise in support of Senate Joint Resolution 3. This resolution urges Congress to protect the supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Colleagues, it goes without saying, food security is not a luxury, it's a necessity.

In San Diego County alone, so speaking about our constituents, over 330,000 residents rely on CalFresh benefits, including tens of thousands of children, seniors, veterans, and college students. People who are in school who need childcare, people who can't work because they have a physical disability. Local food banks are already strained, and cuts to SNAPs would only deepen the crisis in our communities.

We're a state that grows so much of the nation's food, yet millions of our residents, including nearly one in four San Diegans, face food insecurity. This is not just a moral issue. It's an economic one. Every dollar in SNAP generates up to $1.8 in local economic activity.

That means that these cuts would hurt not just families, but also our small businesses, local grocers, and our broader community. Protecting SNAP is about protecting health, community stability, and dignity. It's about ensuring that no one in any of our communities has to choose between paying rent and feeding their family. I respectfully request your aye vote.

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

Just want to thank my colleague from San Diego. You know, she brings it back center, back to home, right? Here's the reality. People are hungry. Yes, there's waste, fraud, and abuse. We understand that. But we need to come together as a body to make sure that we protect the most vulnerable in our communities.

Now, if that means that we have to put some stringent protections for fraud, great, let's do that. But ultimately, what I think we all want here is that we take care of our most vulnerable, those people who are hungry, in every single home across California.

And that's incumbent upon every single one of us as leaders to take that step forward and say, how do we unite? How do we propose legislation that will help people in the future? Right? Because we can't do anything right now except take this vote.

But what we can do is this next legislative year, say, let's all come together. Let's figure out a solution. Because there's folks here in our communities that absolutely need our help and need us to be leaders. But a united leadership, a united front will help every single Californian from North to south.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am really heartened to hear some of the rhetoric from my colleagues about coming together and uniting to help our most vulnerable constituents. The best way you can do that is to speak out against these cuts.

The best way that we can do what we can do to unite and help the most vulnerable constituents is to not slash SNAP benefits from our most vulnerable, our most needy constituents. I'm one of the only members on this floor who is a beneficiary of the food stamp program, also known as SNAP.

It was a lifeline for my family. And the fact that we, as a country, and our legislative leaders in the Federal Government and our President want to so-called balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable, our poorest, and our hungriest families is dishonorable.

It's atrocious and our words are hollow if we don't actually mean coming together and speaking out against these programs that—and the proposed so-called reforms to help stop fraud and abuse. The reality is that the Federal Government is taking these so-called saving measures to pay for the billionaire tax breaks in the so-called Big Bill.

So, let us be clear about the false information on this floor, Mr. Speaker. The reality is that this is an attack on the poor. And if you won't protect your most vulnerable constituents, then the Democratic Caucus will.

And we'll be continuing to backfill and do everything that we can to protect our children and our families in the State of California.

Thank you, Assemblymember Ahrens. Seeing and hearing no further debate. Assemblymember Calderon, do you wish to close?

Yes. You know, I'm grateful for all of my colleagues comments. I mean I think that it's important for everybody to have access to food. And to my colleague from San Jose, you're not the only person on this floor that grew up the beneficiary of food stamps.

And so, I think I understand firsthand how important these programs are and what a lifeline they are to our communities, especially right now. In my community, we have citizens and people that are afraid to go to food banks at their local church and their pantries because they're afraid to leave their homes.

And so, I think that, you know, I'm grateful for the support and I would like the first roll to be open for coauthors. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Calderon. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. Members, this is for coauthors. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to Vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll, tally the votes. There are 70 coauthors added.

As a joint resolution, we must take a roll call vote on the resolution. Clerk will open the roll. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll, tally the votes. Ayes, 69. Noes, 0. The resolution is adopted.

We're going to pass and retain on file items 29, all the way through 52. That brings us to file item number 53, SB 757 by Senator Richardson, presented by Assemblymember Dixon. The Clerk will read.

Senate Bill 757 by Senator Richardson, an act relating to local government.

Assemblymember Dixon, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Senate Bill 757 would authorize the legislative body of a city or county to establish a procedure to use a nuisance abatement lien or a special assessment to collect abatement costs and related administrative costs until January 1, 2035. Local governments use various enforcement strategies to make neighborhoods, streets, parks, and buildings safer.

One important strategy is to fine owners for allowing excessive trash and biological hazards on their properties over extended periods, periods of time. Despite municipal rules and notices.

Some property owners maintain nuisances on their property while ignoring the administrative fines and citations imposed by local governments, thereby putting the financial burden on local agencies to enforce these fines and collections through the courts after incurring significant costs.

Allowing local officials to collect unpaid administrative fines with special assessments and abatement liens puts the responsibility on the property owner to dispute the assessment instead of requiring a local government to bear further costs by going to court when a property owner doesn't keep their property free from debris nor from the cost to clean the area.

Senate Bill 757 is a strategy toolbox that prioritizes health, cleanliness, and safety for residents across California. This Bill has received broad bipartisan support across across both houses and 0 no votes throughout the process. Thank you and I respectfully request an aye vote on Senate Bill 757. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Dixon. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes I 68. No 0. The measure passes.

We're going to pass and retain on file items 54 through 62. Brings us to the second day consent calendar. We will now move to the second day consent calendar. Before we vote, we'll first take up Resolution on the Consent calendar for the purpose of adding co-authors. Clerk will read the resolution on the consent calendar.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 94 by Assembly Vera Patel relative to antimicrobial resistance.

Clerk will now open the roll to allow any Member to add on as a co-author on the resolution. Members this is for co-authors. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll.

There are 72 co-authors moving to a vote on the Consent calendar. Does any Member wish to remove an item from the consent Calendar? Seeing and hearing none, the Clerk will read the second day consent calendar.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 94 by Assembly Member Patel relative to anti microbial resistance.

Clerk will open the roll on the consent calendar. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes aye 71 to 0 consent calendar is adopted. Clerk will read the remaining items on the consent calendar.

Senate Bill 521.

Ayes, 71. Noes, 0.

And Senate Bill 863.

Ayes, 71. Noes, 0.

Members, we are now moving to adjournments and memory. Before I do that, Thursday of course is the last day before recess. We have a full day of business on the Daily file. It's very important that Members arrive on time on Thursday. Please arrive on time. Moving to adjournments of memory. We are lifting the quorum call.

Quorum call is lifted. Please take your conversations off the floor and let's give our respectful attention to those who are granted prior permission to speak to their adjournment in memory. It Members, please take your conversations off the floor. Assembly Member Wilson, you are recognized for your adjournment of memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, this is with a heavy heart that I rise today to ask that we adjourn the Assembly in the memory of Jane and Day. Jane was born on September 91947 and passed away on July 6, 2025 due to post polio complication.

Jane contracted polio at a young age and it impaired one of her legs. However, it never impaired her ability to step up and serve her community. In 1986 she walked the entire city to become the third woman elected to serve on the Suisun City Council.

Jane would go on to become the longest serving woman in Solano County with a 36 year service in the same position.

When I started my public career and my career in public service, Jane was one of my first co workers and her resilience was continually on display as she continued to serve her post, her prior polio diagnosis transitioned to post polio.

As it began to progress, it limited her mobility, but it never limited her unwavering commitment to the community she cherished. Jane left a lasting mark on Suisun City and those who served alongside her. Her decades of public service exemplified what it means to lead with heart and purpose.

I ask that we adjourn today's session in honor of her life and legacy. I ask that the people of California remember her service and keep her family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Member Wilson. Assemblymember Soria, you are recognized for your adjournment of memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. Today I rise to adjourn in the memory of an agricultural icon in California, the man behind the famous Harris ranch, Mr. John C. Harris. Have you ever driven down the five and gone through Kalinga? You know what I'm talking about when I say Harris ranch.

Born on July 14, 1943 John was a lifelong resident of Fresno County. He attended local elementary and high schools before earning his degree from UC Davis and he proudly served his country in the United States Army.

While John and I didn't always see eye to eye politically, I have great respect for his many contributions to our community and his commitment to the San Joaquin Valley. John will be remembered for being a transformative farmer and rancher and a passionate businessman who dedicated his life to caring for the land and advancing California agriculture.

As a driving force behind Harris Farms and Harris Stake, one of the state's most prominent and diversified agriculture operations, John Harris championed innovation, quality and and sustainability in every endeavor he faced for nearly 50 years.

And continuing with his father's legacy, Harris Ranch Beef Company experienced tremendous growth delivering superior quality grain fed beef worldwide and right here in our own backyard in California. We are all truly lucky to have had him here. What some may not know about John Harris is that he was a nationally recognized figure in Thoroughbred horse racing.

Known for breeding and racing many distinguished champions.

Harris deep love for horses and the sport was only matched by his leadership and advocacy within the industry where he served as a mentor and ambassador for generations and more recently, just in the last few months, he was still working really hard to bring back horse racing to Fresno County Fair.

And I know that while it didn't happen for this year, that the work will continue to happen in the coming years to bring back horse racing to Fresno County. Beyond his professional achievements, John had an unwavering passion for helping people and supporting his local community, whether through philanthropy mentorship or quiet acts of kindness.

He consistently uplifted others and believed in giving back to the region and industry that shaped him. His humility, generosity and integrity were hallmarks of his life. John shared a deep joy, admiration and companionship to his wife, Cookie Harris.

He has survived by Cookie, his extended family and the countless friends and colleagues who lives are forever enriched by his strength of character and enduring spirit. John C. Harris leaves behind a profound legacy, one defined by hard work, vision, and a lifelong dedication to community service and the values he held dear.

My heart goes out to his wife, Cookie, his family, his friends, and our great Fresno community who recently lost a legend. Mr. Speaker and Members, let us adjourn in the memory today of Mr. John C. Harris of Fresno, California. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Soria. Assemblymember Tangipa, you are recognized for your adjournment and memory.

Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I too want to rise with the Member from Fresno as well in memory of John Harris. And it's been a privilege and an honor to serve in this legislative body. And I know that John took that very personally.

And again, as the Member had stated that we did work together to really try to fight and bring back horse racing, because that was one of his last things that he wanted to fight on, to bring back something so special to the community that he believed through a lot of the heart of the horse, a lot of people can get connected.

John was an amazing man who worked hard and dedicated his service to the State of California. But I know he had some fun doing it, too. And he had an amazing ranch and restaurant out there off of i5 and spent a lot of time there. I got to see him and he's going to be missed.

He's going to truly be missed in the Central Valley. And so I too share the same sentiment. The Valley has lost a hero and something that a lot of people are going to have big shoes to fill. But I know John's up there right now watching a lot of horses run around having some fun.

There was nothing, nothing truly, that he loved more than a lot of his horses and working on that. And I know that he's proud. He's a proud individual who has won the Kentucky Derby and one of his horses.

And that's something that I know he wants everybody to remember because he always, at any point, had a chance to talk about his horses. He would. And so I too, rise in adjourned memory of the legend, John Harris. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Tangipa. Assemblymember Macedo, you're recognized for your adjournment and memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. California truly lost one of our most respected and beloved leaders, Mr. John Charles Harris. John was a rancher, farmer and businessman. But more than that, John was a devoted husband, a proud lifelong resident of California Central Valley, and a dedicated community Member with a heart of service.

Beyond his many accomplishments, John will be remembered for his generosity, mentorship and tireless support of his community. He supported education for the youth and mentored the next generation of agricultural leaders. As a recipient of his sage guidance, I will be forever grateful.

His legacy in the Central Valley and the agriculture industry will be remembered and valued by everyone who knew him. No one better represents the heart of the Valley like John Harris.

As a veteran of the United States army and an active community leader, he will always be well respected and loved as a Member of our Central Valley community. Today would have been John's 82nd birthday. If you knew John, you knew that he was larger than life.

And just to be in his presence, you knew that you were in the presence of a hero and a legacy. He will forever be in the fabric of the Central Valley. And with that, I respectfully ask that we adjourn in his memory today.

Thank you, Assemblymember Macedo. Assemblymember Gipson, you are recognized for your adjournment of memory.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Members, I rise and ask this body to adjourn in the memory of Willie Earl Arnold. Willie Earl honors the father of Dion Arnold, who works in my district office. Mr. Arnold was born on January 20, 1941 in Dallas, Texas.

Although he was born in Dallas, Texas, he's moved to Los Angeles at a young age. We graduated from John C. Fremont High School, my o Alma mater. Mr. Arnold was a committed and passionate sports fan. Mr. Arnold also cheered endless hours. And also his favorite team was the Los Angeles Lakers.

There was without question any Laker game was on. Who he was rooting for. No matter who the Lakers were playing, it was the Lakers team. He was a fierce and loyal Seattle Seahawk fan. There was no doubt about who the Seahawks were playing, who he was rooting for at that particular time.

Today, the community he loved remembers him. He was a very charismatic personality and loved with his love and his nature. He was an unforgettable individual with whomever he came in contact with. You knew that he cared about people. He fondly loved his community as well as family.

His favorite saying was, my name is Bennett and I ain't in it. As we remember him today, I want to. I ask that we also honor those who had and played and shaped the kind of individual he was. It was Ruth Arnold, his mother Zale Grant, his aunt, his son Julian, and also Vince Arnold.

Without a doubt his greatest legacy was his family. Willie cherished and created his seven children, 30 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren, four great grandchildren, countless cousins. Long, long life of long life friends was a testament to who Willie was. Willie passed away on March 9, 2025. His community and fan and friends will continue to cherish his memory.

I ask that we adjourn in memory of Willie Earl Arnold, whose life and legacy will continue. May he continue to rest in peace and rest in power.

Thank you, Assemblymember Gipson Members, please bring the names to the desk to be printed in the Journal. Our request to adjourn a memory will be deemed read and printed in the Journal. Moving on to announcements, the following committees meet this afternoon.

Natural Resources right Now, Capital Room 437 emergency management also right now, Capital Room 444 transportation right now, swing space, room 1100 rev and tax at 3:30 p.m. in Capital Room 126 banking and finance at 3:30 p.m. in Capital Room 447. Session schedules as follows. Tuesday, July 15 is a check in session. Wednesday, July 16 is a check in session.

Thursday, July 17 floor session at 9 a.m. seeing and hearing no further business, I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Madam Majority leader moves and Ms. Stephanie seconds that this House stands adjourned until Thursday, July 17th. At 9:00 a.m. the quorum call is lifted and we are adjourned.