Assembly Floor

The Assembly is now in session. Assembly Member Wallace notices the absence of a quorum. The sergeant in arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the opposite Members. The Clerk will call a roll.

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. We ask our guests and our visitors in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please stand for today's prayer. Today's prayer will be offered by Reverend Oshita. Reverend Oshita.

Please join me in a moment of reflection today. I'd like to share our monthly note to our grand nephew, the newest Member of our family. Dear little one, although the Earth is over 4.5 billion years old, for you this world is fresh and new.

You are looking at the world with eyes that are just seven months old, and you see it full of wonder. We see you smiling often now as you respond to loving attention from familiar faces. This is your first February, and you are without doubt the Valentine of our family.

I imagine that 16 Februaries from now, you may have a valentine focus of your own. It happens. Romantic love is a wonderful thing, too. So in preparation for that imagined future February, let your Auntie Patty and Uncle Bob share some words of undeniable wisdom from a poet we have long admired. The poet's name is Maya Angelou.

Among her many observations, there is one we share with you today, hoping it will help you navigate the sometimes choppy waters of relationships and love. Maya Angelou wrote, never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option. This is not just about romantic love.

It is also about friendships, and it can help us wisely choose our allegiances in life. Wishing you a happy first February, a happy first Valentine's Day, and a life filled with kindness and love. Let us try to live with kindness and gratitude beyond words.

We ask our guests and visitors to remain standing to join us in the flag salute. Please join Assembly Woman. Assembly woman Calderon, as she leads us in the flag. Salute.

Members, please place your hand over your heart and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag.

Thank you. 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 officials 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 Tuesday, January 20, 2026 the Assembly met at 1pm the leader Curry.

Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry moves and Ms. Sanchez seconds of the reading of the previous stage. Journal will be dispensed with presentations and petitions. There are none. Introductions and references to 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. Members, a brief announcement.

I just want to thank our speaker for the opportunity to be back up here again and be able to help preside over the proceedings of the important work that we do here today. I must say, it feels a little bit like Groundhog Day up here. Moving to motions and resolutions.

The absences of the day will be deemed read and printed in the journal. And Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized for your procedural motions.

Good morning. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Berman, Gallagher, Hadwick, Irwin and Aguiar-Curry to speak on adjournment in memory today.

Mr. Tangipa, for what reason?

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to suspend the rules in order to allow ACA 12 preventing double taxation on our roads to be taken up without reference to five file.

Okay, one second. Mr. Tangipa, we are in the middle of a different motion right now. Do you have an objection to the Majority Leader's motion?

I do not.

Okay, without objection, such shall be the order. We'll proceed with the Majority Leader.

I request you now consent to suspend Assembly rule 118A to allow Assembly Members Addis, Berman, Elhawary, Michelle Rodriguez and Berner to have guests in the rear of the chamber today.

Is there any objection to this motion? Okay, seeing none without objection, such shall be the order. And Mr. Tangipa.

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to suspend the rules in order to allow ACA 12 preventing double taxation on our roads to be taken up without reference to file.

Motion by Mr. Tangipa. Second by Mr. Demaio. Madam Majority Leader.

I object.

There is an objection.

I object.

Members, there's a motion by Mr. Tangipa that's been seconded. There is no debate on this motion. Mr. Tangipa is asking for an Aye vote. Majority leader is asking for a no vote. Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Mr. Tangipa is asking for an Aye vote.

This is a motion to suspend the rules. Majority leader is asking for a no vote. Clerk will close the roll tally vote. Ayes, 17. Noes, 46. The motion fails. All right, we're going to be moving on to our guest introductions. And before we do that, Ms. Boerner, I'll have an announcement.

I want to wish you a happy birthday, which I believe was yesterday. Hope you enjoyed.

Assemblymember Elhawary, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker and members. I rise today to recognize and celebrate South Central's very own Los Angeles Trade Technical College or LA Trade Tech for celebrating their centennial anniversary last year.

Established in 1925, LA Trade Tech has provided our community with accessible and affordable education, especially to historically disenfranchised - to the historically disenfranchised people of Los Angeles, as a Hispanic serving and Black serving institution. For over a century, students have learned real skills that they use to better themselves, their careers and their communities, through training in construction, culinary arts, health, science and more.

They provide true equity for Californians through their educational opportunities. Their decades old Reentry Pathway Program allows the formerly incarcerated to connect with specialized training and future career opportunities.

One of our very own team members, our Justice Liaison, Adonay Melendez, after serving 30 years in prison, has now had the opportunity to attain his education through LA Trade Tech. And my own daughter Michaela is a student at LA Trade Tech as well and she's on her way to transferring to a four year university.

Their past has been bright and their future is looking brighter, as LA Trade Tech continues enhancing the education they bring to the people of Los Angeles. In the back, we are joined today on behalf of the students, staff, and alumni of LA Trade Tech.

President Alfred McQuarters, Vice President Abigail Patton, Dean Marcia Wilson, as well as Maria Luisa Veloz from the LA Community College District. Thank you and please join me in celebrating the achievements of Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

Thank you Assemblymember Elhawary, and welcome to your guests. The next Assemblymember Addis: you may proceed with your guest introductions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. I am so excited and pleased today to welcome representatives from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, as well as Cal Poly Maritime to the California State Assembly.

Joining us on the floor today are Cal Poly's President, Jeff Armstrong and two students, Aubrey Goings, an architectural major from San Jose who's attending Cal Poly SLO, as well as Tabitha Lee Chon, an international strategy and security major from Pasadena who's attending Maritime.

In the gallery, we also have standing up and you can see them all and wave to them. Mrs. Sharon D. Armstrong, 21 additional students who have won individual and team awards, as well as three associated ASI student leaders. And today we're here to celebrate Cal Poly's 125th anniversary. Thank you.

Since its founding, Cal Poly has grown from 20 students to more than 23,000 today, with almost a quarter million alumni that include leaders in business, politics, sports, the arts and science. And of course, this coming weekend, we will all be thinking about the late and great football legend, John Madden, who was a Cal Poly alumni.

But beyond serving as the alma mater for many exceptional individuals, Cal Poly fuels economic vitality through partnerships that advance entrepreneurship, agricultural technology, clean energy, aerospace, defense and now maritime industries.

And as part of that legacy, I would like to congratulate President Armstrong, who I believe is the longest serving CSU president in the system, on his 15 years of service at Cal Poly. And thank you and your family for your continued commitment to the community, to the university and to our students.

And we have also student representatives from the six Cal Poly colleges. Each of these students has distinguished themselves in their academic and extracurricular activities and I'm sure they're going to continue to distinguish themselves and make us all proud. So thank you, President Armstrong, thank you to your administration, some of whom are here today.

Thank you to the Cal Poly faculty who are out there and, of course, watching. Thank you to the families who support all of these amazing students who are representing not just Cal Poly and the CSU system, but all regions of our great state. And please join me in giving them a warm welcome and another round of applause.

Thank you Assemblymember Addis and welcome to the California State Assembly. Members, we will have one more guest introduction in a little bit, but in the interest of your time, we're going to move on to business of the daily file. File item on concurrence: we will pass and retain files two through four.

All items shall be continued file items five through six we're going to pass and retain. And Senate third reading file item seven and eight, we will also pass and retain. And Mr. Haney, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members, I want to recognize our guests who are joining us here in the back of the chamber from Heal Palestine, a humanitarian organization founded in January 2024 in direct response to the catastrophic and ongoing devastation facing children and families in Gaza. Over the last 28 months, an estimated 70,000 Palestinians have been killed.

According to United Nations estimates, close to 20,000 of those were children. Tens of thousands more have been injured. Roughly 40,000 lost one or both of their parents. Nearly every child in Gaza has been displaced.

For every child in Gaza, places that once offered some form of refuge or comfort, their schools, playgrounds, homes, hospitals and shelters have been damaged or destroyed. Food, clean water, electricity, and medical care have been systematically cut off.

Heal Palestine has worked to respond to this crisis by providing life saving medical care, trauma, informed mental health support, education, and basic necessities, helping children not only survive, but begin the long process of healing and reclaiming a sense of safety and dignity.

I want to recognize the staff, medical professionals, volunteers, and local partners of Heal Palestine who carry out this work with courage, integrity and deep respect for the communities they serve, often under extraordinary and dangerous circumstances. Today, we also welcome six children who arrived recently from Gaza to receive medical care here in California.

Young people who embody extraordinary bravery. Like all children in Gaza, they were born into conditions shaped by occupation, blockade, systemic deprivation, and relentless bombing. Too often, their suffering has been minimized, rationalized, or ignored. But these children are here.

They have survived and they have gone on the unimaginable path to build a future, leaving what remained of their homes, schools and communities to go on a journey all across the world to heal from severe and painful injuries and trauma. They have endured through unthinkable fear, loss, and instability, conditions no child anywhere should ever be forced to endure.

They are not statistics. They are children deserving of dignity, safety, medical care and the chance to grow up. Palestinian children deserve the same safety and security as all children. The chance to smile, laugh, play, grow, learn, and experience without fear. I've gotten to know these six children over the last few weeks.

I can tell you that if anybody wants to learn any Palestinian dances or songs, they will teach you. It's something that they love. I think we have a couple future photographers and artists among the group as well: incredibly talented, joyful young people who have been welcomed to our state.

And earlier, on behalf of the California State Assembly, I gave each of them a certificate and I told them that they are now honorary Californians and that we hope to see them come back to visit us many times throughout their lives.

So please join me in welcoming Ahmed Abu Obeidah, Ghazal Al Qaed, Leanne Hamadi, Amuna Al Qaed, Siraj Al Kayed, Anas Abu-Libdeh. Please welcome these children, their families, and hail Palestine to the State of California Assembly.

Thank you, Assemblymember Haney, and welcome to the California State Assembly. Members, at this time, we'll be moving on to our adjournments and memory. Our quorum call is still in place. If you could please give your respectful attention to those granted prior permission to speak on their adjournments in memory. We'll first begin with Assemblymember Gallagher.

For your adjournment in memory, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to adjourn today in memory of Congressman Doug Lamalfa, who passed away. Suddenly, on January 62026 at the age of 65, Doug was a mentor to me, a friend and a representative in the truest sense of the word.

He was a man who took this duty so seriously to make sure that he heard from every part of his district, to make sure he traveled to every town in his district, and then bring that voice to the halls of government.

Whether here in Sacramento or in Washington D.C. doug was a dedicated public servant and a familiar figure in Northern California.

A fixture in Northern California, known widely for his unwavering advocacy on behalf of rural communities, agriculture and hard working families of California's 1st congressional district, he embodied himself the values of hard work, community service and stewardship of the land that defined his region.

A fourth generation rice farmer and businessman, Doug was born on July 21960 in Oroville, California and he lived his entire life in the North State. He graduated from Biggs high school in 1978 and went on to receive his bachelor's degree. And he was a proud graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1982.

Doug's political career spanned more than two decades, beginning with his election to the California State Assembly in 2002. When he first announced at a Northern California Water association meeting, many were surprised. Doug had always been more of a quiet force, a thoughtful force, but he wasn't the first person that people thought of to get involved in politics.

Those no betters in Sacramento didn't give him much of a chance, but he proved them all wrong, going all across the district and ultimately getting elected to the State Assembly. That service here in the State Assembly was followed by service in the State Senate.

Before he was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2012, he served as a strong voice for the North State's agriculture and natural resources based economy, fiercely defending farms, businesses and rural priorities.

In Washington in recent years, he was unanimously elected Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, one of the largest membership organizations in Congress focused on addressing rural issues. And Doug could always be counted on to bring a voice to those issues.

In fact, we learned that he had the most or near the top Congressional addresses of any Congressional Member. He would use that five minute time every time to talk about his district and the needs of rural Northern California.

He was a huge force for wildfire prevention both in this chamber and in Washington D.C. fighting for reforms that would allow us to remove dangerous fuels from our landscapes and bring common sense reforms to ensure that our communities did not burn. Unfortunately, many of our communities did and went through terrible, devastating wildfires.

And in that turmoil Doug was there. I was so proud to be able to stand with him as we recovered from those devastating events.

And so many have recounted how he was there at the evacuation centers and at the big meetings, planning the recovery, the infrastructure that needed to be taken care of, and how he would go back and take every opportunity to make sure that his constituents had what they needed.

He famously would wait till the end of every State of the Union speech so that he'd have one opportunity to speak to the President, Republican or Democrat. And you can bet that that was always about his constituents and what they needed.

He would talk to anyone and everyone about the water system in California, something that he knew a whole lot about. But he loved to educate people on the plumbing of the state of California.

In fact, when Governor Newsom came to Washington, D.C. he sat down with the Governor, sat him in his office, pulled out all the maps, and was very happy to go over the plumbing 30 seconds. And they had a good relationship thereafter on those issues.

Of course, when he sat him down, he had to sit him right underneath the State of Jefferson flag that was in his office. Now, that was Doug. There's very many good stories about Doug that have been told beyond his legislative work. Doug was deeply rooted in his faith and values.

He was authentically one of us, genuine, engaged, and always present. He was a steadfast conservative who fought for taxpayers, opposed excessive government, government spending, and championed the people of Northern California. He exhibited what we as Christians refer to as the fruit of the spirit. Kindness, gentleness, humility, self control, never seeking the spotlight.

That was one thing about Doug. He wanted to get the job done. He wanted to make sure. And he would work with anyone to make sure that it happened. He wasn't one that would be at the forefront of a press conference, but he was always working hard for his constituents.

Our state is better off because of Doug LaMalfa and his legacy. His wife Jill, at his funeral mentioned that now we are all legacy extenders of Doug. If we can follow in that example of representation, of listening, getting to every part of our district and bringing those back to Congress, back to the Assembly.

I was heartened by all of the many kind words that were said about him on both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans who encountered Doug's kindness.

Maybe when he changed their oil, as he would sometimes do in the Capitol garage, maybe when he helped them through the tunnels to find their way as a new Congress Member, or a good joke that he would tell, probably about cars or 70s movies. We can all learn from his legacy of Leadership.

And it's no surprise that his funeral was attended by two speakers of the US A Governor, a US Senator, and many congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle who wanted to pay their respects. But most importantly, by thousands of his constituents who are really missing that leadership at this time.

Doug knew that the most important work was the work done by a man from Galilee 2000 years ago. Doug was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who took pride in his family. He and his wife, Jill raised four children, instilling in the same principles that he worked so hard to preserve.

In his time away from public duties, Doug enjoyed the simple joys of rural spending time with loved ones, tending to the farm he liked to get in. That rice harvester, in fact, even brought Karen Bass up one time for a ride in the rice Harvester, a memory that she remembers very fondly.

And staying connected to the people and places he represented, he leaves behind his loving wife, Jill, their four children, Kyle, Allison, Sophia, and Natalie, his grandchild, two sisters, a whole host of cousins, a extended family, and dear friends. Doug Lamolfa was a pillar of Northern California. There'll never be another one like him.

A genuine advocate, a farmer at heart, and a leader who will be deeply missed by his constituents. Therefore, today I ask that this Assembly adjourn in the memory of our former colleague and our congressman, Doug LaMalfa. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly McGower. Assemblywoman Hadwick, you're recognized for your adjournment and memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I also rise to honor the life and legacy of Congressman Douglas Malfa, a man who dedicated his life to public service and to fighting for the people of northern California. Doug LaMalfa was not a typical Washington politician.

He was rooted in the land, shaped by rural life, and proud of where he came from. He didn't perform rural values, he lived them. From agriculture and water to wildlife mitigation, forestry and rural infrastructure, Doug understood the challenges facing our communities because he experienced them himself.

He carried that understanding with him every day, and it guided his work in Congress for more than two decades. Representing California's northernmost region, Doug LaMalfa was a strong and consistent voice for farmers, ranchers, forested counties and rural families.

He fought tirelessly for secure rural schools, funding for responsible wildfire prevention, water storage, and for federal land policies that respected local control and sound land management. His work provided stability and support to communities that depend on our forests, our working lands, and the people who steward them.

Doug never stopped advocating for the people who grow our food, care for our forests, and keep rural California running. He brought integrity, grit, and a deep sense of responsibility to his role, and he never forgot who he was fighting for. Over 3,000 people traveled to attend his service.

For weeks, social media was flooded with photos and stories of constituents sharing their memories. Doug made me a better legislator simply by showing me how to show up. He showed up no matter how far he had to drive, if he had just gotten off a flight from D.C. or how many people might be in the room.

He believed that every person in every community, no matter the size, deserved to be represented. Doug was loved as our representative, but he was cherished as a husband, a father, and a new grandpa. His staff are one of the tightest I've ever seen, their love, support, and so many staff have been there since the very beginning.

They are a family, and I'm in awe of their strength through this. Doug's true legacy, of course, are his wife, Jill and their family. Their love, support and his wife's remarkable strength and unwavering faith were the foundation of that allowed him to serve our communities so faithfully. They remind us that public service is not just about policy.

It's about family, character and the values that we carry with us every day of our work. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his colleagues, his staff, and the many constituents whose lives were touched by his service. Our region has lost a dedicated champion.

We honor Congressman Douglas Malfa's legacy by continuing the work he believed in, standing up for rural communities and ensuring that Northern California is never forgotten. I respectfully request to adjourn in the memory of California's District 1 congressman, Doug Lalfa.

Thank you. Members, let us observe a moment of silence to honor the life of a former Member of this body, Congressmember Doug LaMalfa. Assemblymember Berman, you are recognized at your desk for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I ask that we adjourn in memory of Alan Stewart Hammond IV, who passed on January 11 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Born and raised in Washington, D.C. allen's passion for civil rights and equality shaped not only his work, but who he was at his core.

After attending Woodrow Wilson High School, which he helped to desegregate, Alan went on to graduate from Grinnell College and eventually earned a law degree and a master's in communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Alan served in President Jimmy Carter's Administration, where he spearheaded the Minority Telecommunications Development Program to expand minority ownership in the media.

This was the beginning of a long career dedicated to increasing access to transformative technologies and Reducing bias in the media.

Alan devoted his career to advancing public interest in media ownership, access and fairness, and later brought that same passion to the classroom as a professor at New York Law School and then Santa Clara Law School, where he was honored as professor of the Year before retiring.

This commitment to equality then led him to many years of service on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. When he was not teaching telecommunications and contracts law, Alan enjoyed teaching fitness classes at Gold's Gym and the East Palo Alto ymca, which were in high demand, or spending time with friends and family.

His extraordinary legal mind and legacy of service live on through his teaching and mentorship, inspiring generations of lawyers. We are joined in the chamber today by Alan's spouse of 49 years, Dr. Linda Darling Hammond, who also embraced a life of service as the President of the California State Board of Education.

I extend my deepest condolences to Alan's friends, family, students, and all those who had the honor of knowing him and ask that we adjourn in his memory today.

Thank you, Member Berman. And again, Members, let us observe a moment of silence to honor the life of Alan Hammond. Assemblywoman Irwin, you're recognized at your desk for your adjournment memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to ask that we adjourn in the memory of Rob and Michelle Reiner, two people who took the rare combination of talent, platform and influence and consistently turned it outward toward the public good.

Rob Reiner, in our memory, will always be a brilliant storyteller, someone who understood people in a way that felt almost personal, whether he was on the screen or behind the camera. He got us our humor, our stubbornness, our fears, our decency, our capacity to grow.

And he used that understanding to leave ideas behind in all of us about courage, about friendship, about love, about what we owe each other. His work didn't just entertain, it invited people to be better.

Michelle Reiner was a trained photographer, an artist with discipline and a clear point of view who made her name behind the lens, but always brought that same eye and that same insistence on meaning into producing, helping deliver film projects that were explicitly aimed at public understanding and social justice. But the Reiners legacy reaches far beyond film.

In California, their impact is also measured in childhoods made healthier and futures made brighter. Through First Five, Rob Reiner helped build a lasting commitment to early childhood development, real, practical supports for families and young children across our state.

That work improved the lives of countless kids, helped parents, and put thousands of children on a path to success long before they ever set foot in a classroom. And when it came to civil rights and equality, the Reiners used their voices and their stature the same way. Steadily, publicly and with conviction.

They helped drive the effort to challenge and repeal Proposition 8 and restore marriage equality. Standing with people whose lives and families were on the line. They didn't just lend their names, they helped carry the cause. What stands out, looking at their lives side by side, is they made celebrity and power into.

Into a force for good without cynicism and without ever pretending that caring was somebody else's job. And there has rarely been a better time to name and honor that kind of leadership. People who see an opening to do good and rise to the occasion.

Finally, beyond the public record, beyond titles, credits, campaigns and awards, Rob and Michelle Reiner loved their children deeply. They were devoted parents. And it seems clear that if we're trying to say what mattered most to them, it would be that a life loving their family and using their gifts to make other families lives better too.

Members, for their extraordinary contributions to California's children, their courage in the fight for equality, and their enduring example of decency in public life, I respectfully ask that we adjourn in the memory of Rob and Michelle Reiner.

Thank you. So Member Irwin and Madam Majority Leader, you're recognized at your desk for your adjournment and memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members, I rise today to adjourn in memory of Rob and Michelle Reiner. Their passing is a big loss for California. Rob and Michelle understood a simple and powerful truth. That is if we want a strong future, it begins by caring for our children.

More than 25 years ago, they put that belief into action by helping to lead the proposition 10 campaign work that resulted in the creation of First 5 California. Who would have thought?

That effort established the nation's first dedicated funding stream for children ages 0 to 5 and laid the foundation for early childhood system that families across our state rely on today. Because of their vision and their leadership of First5California, millions of California families have greater access to preschool, health care and early learning opportunities.

This gives our children a real fair start in life. Their legacy is enduring. When we invest in our kids early, we make our families, communities and our state stronger.

The most meaningful way to honor Robin Michelle is to continue this work to make sure every family in California has the support they need and every child has the opportunity to thrive. I ask to adjourn in their memory.

Thank you, Madam Majority Leader. Members, please bring the names to the desk to be printed in the journal. All requests to be adjourned in the memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal. And moving to announcements, our session schedule is as follows. Tuesday, February 3rd is check in session.

Wednesday, February 4th is check in session and Thursday, February 5th, floor session is at 9:00am Seeing and hearing no further business, I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Ms. Ortega moves and Mr. DeMaio seconds that this House stands adjourned until Thursday, February 5th. At 9:00am the quorum call is lit lifted.