Senate Floor

Secretary will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. Would the Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise. We will be led in prayer this afternoon by Senator Richardson. After which, please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Senator Richardson, you are recognized for the prayer.

Mr. President and colleagues today we pray for all, including ourselves, experiencing struggles both personally, professionally and in the world. May we have the strength to persevere through all the difficulties and injustices that life brings and have the wisdom to move forward.

In the words of Frederick Douglass in New York, back on August 3, 1857 if there is no struggle, there is no progress. For those who profess to favor freedom and and yet depreciate agitation are the people who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning.

They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one or it may be a physical one. And it may be both moral and physical. But it is a struggle. Gracious God, may all that we do be done in truth.

We pray for the fortitude never to abandon our struggles and our work to uphold the dignity and the rights of all of our brothers and sisters. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Members, please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to. Privileges of the floor. There are none at this time. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments of adopted under motions, resolutions and notices.

Seeing no Members to be recognized without objection, the Senate journals for February 17, 2026 through February 19, 2026 will be approved as corrected by the minute CLE. Introduction and first reading of bills will be deemed read.

Members, moving back to privileges of the floor, we do have a special guest with us today. On behalf of Senator Allen, please welcome Michelle Edgar, Commender commissioner of the Santa Monica Arts Commission for her public service and support of women in the arts. Up in the gallery, welcome.

We are going to now move to consideration of the daily File Governor's appointments items 51 through 54. Senator Grove, you are recognized for item 51.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file. Item 51 is the confirmation of Deborah Garnes for reappointment to the Seismic Safety Commission. She is the mayor in the city of Del Rio. Excuse me, Rio Del. And currently serves as the commission's vice chair. She was first appointed to the Commission in 2021. Approved on the Rules Committee on January 28th. A 5-0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Senator McGuire, you are recognized.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. I rise in support of Mayor Garnes. As Madam Senator had just mentioned. For 12 years, she has been an amazing advocate for the north coast as well as Rio Del. And I rise today because I also want to recognize her leadership.

Two and a half years ago, right before Christmas, she led the community through the devastation of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake. And when folks say one person cannot make a difference. Mayor Garnes did. And I'm grateful for her work and obviously would ask for support.

And I know that the next one that we're going to be having up that Madam Senator is going to be advancing will be for Supervisor Rabbit of Sonoma County. And this is a twofer. Mr. President would also ask for support of Supervisor Rabbitt. Thank you so much.

And thank you for your efficient use of time in a twofer. Senator Grove, would you like to close?

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank my good colleague for his comments. And my good colleague, the Senator from Menlo Park is asking me to give you a hard time. I'm not sure why, sir. And I denied that request. You're very welcome. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

A little welcome back banter is good for everyone. So with that secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. We will move on to item 52. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Excuse me. Thank you, Mr. President. File item 52 is the confirmation of Sonoma County supervisor David Rabbit for reappointment to the seismic safety commission. He first joined. Joined the commission in 2013 and currently serves as the commission's chair. The rules Committee approved this individual on January 28th on a unanimous vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote, seeing

no Members to be recognized. Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. We will move to item 53. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. File item 53 is the confirmation of Cindy Silva for reappointment to the Seismic Safety Commission. She's a Walnut Creek City Council Member and first joined the commission in 2017. And she also was approved by the Rules Commitment Commision Committee on 5 vote January 28th. Respectfully ask for an aye vote,

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

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. We will move to item 54. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, the last appointment we have here today is file item 54. The confirmation of Vincent Wells for reappointment to the Seismic Safety Commission. He's a retired fire captain, a paramedic, and he served on the Contra Costa County Fire protection district from 1997 to 2020.

He was first appointed to the Seismic safety commission in 2021. He also was approved in a unanimous vote. The Rules Committee on January 28 respectfully ask for an aye vote.

There are no Members to be recognized. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37. No 0. Appointment is confirmed. Okay, we're going to go back and lift the calls. Item 51. Lifting the call on item 51. Secretary, please call absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37. No, zero, the appointment is confirmed. Moving to lifting call on item 52. Secretary, please call absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37 Noes zero. The appointment is confirmed. Lifting the call on item 53. Secretary, please call absent Members.

[Roll Call]

37 No, zero, the appointment is confirmed. Members, we are moving to Senate. Third reading item 67. SR 69. Senator Niello, you are recognized.

Senate Resolution 69 by Senator Niello relative to Montessori Month.

Senator Niello. Thank you, Mr. President. It is my pleasure to present SR69, which recognizes February as Montessori Month. For those of you who might not know what Montessori is, it's a method for. For teaching that's been around for more than a century now.

It has a child focused approach that Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, developed for educating children. And it has been transforming schools around the world since 1907. Dr. Montessori has ties to California. She came here in 1915 to demonstrate her method at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Raise your hand if you were there.

1915. That same year, Dr. Montessori was an invited speaker to the prestigious annual conference of the National Education association and in Oakland, bringing it back now to 2026. When you enter a Montessori classroom, you see children working independently and in groups, often with specially. Thank you, Mr. President. Often with specially designed learning materials.

They're taught to be deeply engaged in their work and respectful of. Of themselves and their surroundings. According to the American Montessori Society. The Montessori method fosters rigorous self motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development. Cognitive, emotional, social and physical.

The entire student from its beginning more than 118 years ago as a single classroom for a group of underprivileged children in Rome, Italy, Montessori education has taken a firm foothold on the education landscape. In the US alone, approximately 5,000 Montessori schools now serve over a million children.

And in California alone, there are close to 600 public and private. There are Montessori charter schools serving approximately 40,000 students. The Montessori teaching profession, like the traditional teaching profession, faces shortages and credentialing hurdles. They're working closely with the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing to develop a pathway for early child development permits.

I hope the CTC and the profession will continue to collaborate positively and contemplate broader pathways to licensure beyond the childhood development permits, as we do need more educators in California. In closing, let me share a quote from Dr. Montessori. She said, do not tell them how to do it.

Show them how to do it and don't say a word. If you tell them, they'll watch your lips move. If you show them, they'll want to do it themselves. That's the basis of the teaching method. So, Members, please join me in recognizing Montessori students and educators today by supporting SR69, designating February as Montessori month.

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

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37 no. 0. The resolution is adopted. And Senator Niello, you have some special guests with us today. Yes. We will return the privileges of the floor so you can introduce your guest.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Joining us in the gallery today is a group of Montessori educators and students from the Sacramento area. The specifically, they're from the California Montessori Project, or CMP. That is a public tuition-free TK through eight charter school network, serving approximately 3,000 students at six schools in the greater Sacramento area.

They have been here today with, as I said, educators and students. The students meeting with some legislative offices and beginning to learn the advocacy process. Again, learn by doing. That's what they're doing. They're doing it. Please welcome our guests up in the gallery.

Members moving to Committee announcements. Senator Stern, you are recognized from the joint leader's desk.

Thank you, Mr. President. Upon adjournment, the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change will be meeting in room 126.

Thank you, Members. We are going to pause just for maybe just a few seconds even. Thank you for your patience.

Members, we are moving to Senate third reading item 73. And we will recognize Senator Weber Pierson from the Majority Leader's desk. Secretary, please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 122 by Senator Weber Pierson relative to Black History Month.

Senator Weber Pierson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Senators, this year we do more than observe Black History Month. We mark 100 years of truth telling, 100 years of resistance, and 100 years of unapologetically honoring black life, black brilliance and black history through Senate Concurrent Resolution 122.

In 1926, historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, the predecessor to Black History Month, because he knew that when history is hidden, distorted or denied, injustice repeats itself. He believed that a nation does not know its history is destined to repeat it.

And he declared that black history must be studied, taught and honored because black history is American history. He created this observance during a time when textbooks excluded black contributions, classrooms ignored black voices, and public narratives pretended black achievement did not exist. His answer was to speak the bold and unapologetic truth.

100 years later, that truth is still necessary. We are still fighting attacks on voting rights. We still see black history being removed from classrooms. We still see government agents terrorizing communities and government officials recycling racist stereotypes in modern form. This is why the work continues.

Although black history is celebrated in February, it should be celebrated and embraced every single day because black history is not seasonal. It is a permanent foundation of American history. It is woven into the fabric of this nation's democracy, economy, culture and conscience. We celebrate black history because without black people, America would not be America.

Without Lewis Latimer, the light bulb would not shine as it does today. Without Garrett Morrison, the modern traffic signal would not guide our streets. Without Marion Croak's word, video calling, as we would know, would not exist. Our contributions are not limited to inventions and innovations. Without black culture, the world would sound different, taste different and feel different.

There would be no jazz shaped by Louis Armstrong, no poetic fire from Langston Hughes, no soul stirring voice like Aretha Franklin, and no global culture force of hip hop. There would be no rock and roll, no blues, no funk and no pop music.

Without black culinary excellence, America would not taste the same signature dishes perfected and elevated through black magistrate, such as soul food, barbecue traditions, gumbo, jambalaya, seasonings, and countless Southern staples that have shaped the flavor of American cuisine and influence kitchens not just in the United States, but across the world.

And without black resilience, this nation would not have the freedom it claims today. Black people fought for Liberty during slavery, organized during Reconstruction, resisted terror during Jim Crow, marched during civil rights movement and continue march mobilizing today.

Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X, Rosa Park and Fannie Lou Hamer forced this country to confront its conscience. Their struggle became the blueprint for movements for labor, immigrants, women, LGBTQ Americans seeking their own justice. Because of that legacy, the walls designed to confine our brilliance, restrict our progress and silence our ambition have crumbled.

We have seen this nation elect Barack Obama as President and Kamala Harris as vice President. We have seen pioneers like Mae Jemison and Katherine Johnson prove that black excellence reaches from the operating rooms to outer space. We have seen black excellence every day in classrooms, hospitals, courtrooms and neighborhoods across this country. And let me be very clear.

What we achieve is not because barriers don't exist. It's because we break them down. And we will keep breaking them down. Black history is power. It is truth. It is resilience. It is brilliance. It is innovation. It is survival. And it is excellence.

Today and every day, we must celebrate who we are, what we have done, where we are going, and what we will do. Black history is an inspiration to all people. And that is something that this nation should not only acknowledge, it should embrace, uplift, protect, and proudly promote. SCR 122 honors 100 years of recognizing black history.

But more importantly, it affirms that our stories will not be erased, our contributions will not be denied, and our future will not be limited. And on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SCR 122.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Seyarto, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm proud to rise in support of SCR122. Today. I wish to thank the Senator from San Diego who serves as the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus for working with Republican Caucus on this year's annual Black History Month resolution.

Prior versions included various names of notable black Americans, but their names have recently been absent for the last several years. I appreciate that their names have been restored for the 2026 version alongside individuals whose accomplishments have contributed to the rich history of this nation. I simply ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Becker, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus in strong support of SCR 122 in recognition of Black History Month. As my colleague from San Diego so eloquently said, this is both a celebration and a call to action.

I kicked off this month at the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum and Learning center in my district. With the slogan honoring the Past, Inspiring the future, the museum features over 22,000 square feet of exhibits celebrating black history in the United States.

The museum, all hand curated by Carolyn Hoskins, preserves treasured artifacts honoring civil rights leaders, but also incredible inventors, amazing artists, educators, athletes and community leaders whose stories are too often overlooked. There, she tells the stories of people like Sam McDonald.

Sam began his career as a landscaper at Stanford University, and he rose to become the university's first black superintendent of buildings and grounds. And he ultimately donated his own estate, including over 400 acres of nearby redwoods, to Stanford.

His life reflects perseverance, leadership and generosity and continues to inspire new generations, including a local high school student who wrote a book about his legacy. All these stories at the museum and learning center remind us that black history is not separate from American history.

It is central to is inseparable from the stories of who we are and who we aspire to be. This month reminds us of the fundamental truth that justice is never inevitable. We have to fight for it. We have to defend it. We have to expand it. The black and Jewish communities have a shared understanding of struggle.

Both our communities know what it means to be marginalized. Both know what it means to be targeted by hate. And we both know that our safety, dignity and our freedom are bound together. That is why Jewish leaders like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marched arm in arm with Martin Luther King Jr.

In Selma, later saying he felt as though he was praying through his feet. Communities must stand together against racism, against hate, against bigotry, against intolerance. Black History Month is not only about remembrance. It's about responsibility. Responsibility to honor the truth and to continue the unfinished work of justice. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Ochoa Bogh. You are recognized.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I rise in support of Scr122. Thank you to the Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus for leading the ceremony today to honor, say, white leaders in coordination with Black History Month. This is a big year for Black History Month.

I'm grateful to the work of Dr. Carter Woodson, who in 1926 broadened public awareness of black Americans by launching a week dedication. This week was originally chosen to coincide with the celebrations of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two Americans who have had immeasurable impact in our nation and where we are today.

The story of black Americans today and in 1926 are important and need to be shared and heard. We will Hear countless stories today of black Americans who have changed the course of our history, inventors who have made our lives better, and politicians who have worked for equality and betterment of all Americans.

I've had a history on the Senate floor to share many of their names and their accomplishments proudly.

And today I'm proud to recognize the tremendous work of men and women like former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Cabinet Secretary Ben Carson, Senator Tim Scott, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who will stand the test of time for the content of their character.

These are just a few of the Republicans who stand with you today, and I'm proud to be one of them. In the words of Councilman MacArthur Wright of the city of Twentynine Palms, one of my cities in my district. He stated, permission to read

Without objection, seeing none. Permission granted.

We have come a long way, but there still is much work to be done and strikes to accomplish. I ask for an aye vote on SCR 122.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Cervantes, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I rise in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 122. I want to thank our colleague from San Diego, the Chair of the Black Caucus, for authoring this important resolution. Today and throughout Black History Month, we honor the lives, contributions, and voices of the black community in America's past, present and future.

The leadership and the activism of the black community have been the driving force behind many of the most transformational social justice movements in our nation's history. It is an undeniable truth that much of this activism arose out of necessity and often in face of violent and brutal opposition, oppression.

This is why it is so important to honor the black leaders whose perseverance, excellence, and commitment have helped move us closer to a more just society. The black community's activism have paved the way for social justice movements across the board, including within the LGBTQ community.

From Martha P. Johnson's pivotal role in the Stonewall Riots to the leadership of Bayard Rustin in the national civil and voting rights movements, among the many leaders who have shaped our world, the LGBTQ community is deeply grateful to the countless black activists who have fought for our rights and dignity alongside our own, their own.

Black history is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the profound impact that generations of African Americans have made through their sacrifices, leadership and activism. Their struggles, and have also inspired other communities, including the Latino community, to fight for justice and equality.

Thurgood Marshall's legal work leading up to and including his time on the Supreme Court of the United States helped establish civil rights that continue to protect and empower communities of color.

Marshall may be best remembered for arguing against failed separate but equal doctrine and Board v. Brown v. Board of Education, a decision that laid the foundation for many legal developments that would occur over following decades. These milestones in civil rights empowered not just African Americans, but also Latino Americans and other marginalized groups.

The ripple effect of Marshall's work continue to benefit us all today. Members, it is essential that we recognize the power of unity and collective progress. The work of Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, Marsha P. Johnson, and others demonstrate how interconnected our histories and our struggles are. These leaders didn't just change their own communities.

They changed the course of an entire nation. And we, the Latino Caucus, the LGBTQ Caucus, are deeply grateful for their leadership and inspiration and support.

And so, on behalf of both the LGBTQ Caucus and Latino Caucus, we express our eternal gratitude to our friends and allies in the black community for so often being the forefront of the collective fight for a better tomorrow. We respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Richardson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, today I rise on behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus to recognize Black History Month, an essential reminder that the story of America is incomplete without including the stories, challenges, and successes of African Americans you've heard today. The references to Dr. Carter Woodson.

And I want to remind all of us here, because I said this earlier in the year, that the reason why Black History Month was selected in February is because it was chosen. Because Frederick Douglass birthday was February 14th and Abraham Lincoln's birthday was February 12th.

Those two birthdays culminated the history and the recognition of African Americans, which is why February was chosen. What began as a week has grown to a month. But what I hope all of us would begin to think about is that it shouldn't be a week or just a month.

Why isn't it every day in our history books today? Friends, I can attest to the progress that we've made here in our own California State Senate and Legislature. Former Assemblywoman Senator Barbara Lee is now Mayor of Oakland. Former Assemblywoman and Speaker Karen Bass is now Mayor of Los Angeles. Former Assembly Member Kevin McCarthy is mayor of Sacramento.

Congresswoman and former Assemblywoman Maxine Waters is ranking Member of the U.S. Congress Financial Services Committee. Former Assemblywoman, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, who is also a respected Member in Congress on the Committees of Judiciary and Foreign affairs, and former Assemblywoman. Senator. Excuse me. Holly Mitchell is an undisputed leader on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

But right here, right now, we're still making history. Former Assemblywoman and Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pearson is chair of the Black Caucus and now chair of the Senate Health Committee. And Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, she's chair of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee.

And myself, I'm told that I'm the first African American woman to hold the position of Assistant Senate Majority Leader in our state legislature's history. I would hope to believe, and I can confidently say I know, that our PT didn't select us because of our color.

In fact, she selected us because we're smart and we're darn good at what we do. And that's true for many other Americans that aren't being recognized today and should be. So why, if we talk about our history that we've accomplished, why do we still need to talk about Black History Month today?

Well, there's been the stalled renewal of the Civil Rights Act. Maternal health for black women continues to result in a higher mortality. Unemployment rates for black men and women remain in the lower percentile for populations.

And then look at still, Even now in 2025, the censorship and removal of artifacts from museums, removing holidays from national park past days. And then, just to name a few, look at, in California and in this nation, our schools are still in many cases, separate and not equal.

In my own school that I attended, I saw schools on one side of the town that had better science, you know, the microscopes. They had better athletic fields. I played basketball and ran track and field. We had to go to other schools to practice because our schools didn't have the sufficient facilities to have us be successful.

So when we look at what's happening today with black history, I urge many people in California and across this nation not to have concern, not to express anxiety, because really, African American history is American history. It's just seen through a lens that unfortunately not everyone knows.

So as we look at this Black History Month and celebrate today, these unsung heroes, let's remember that the struggles and achievements today are really to create new history, new movements, and hopefully new wins. I ask for an aye vote of Scr122.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Rubio, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. And ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I also rise in strong support of SCR 122. I want to thank the great Senator of San Diego for bringing it forward.

This month is critically important that we all together stand in unison to say thank you to all those that came before us, black Americans who really did so Much. And we now benefit from their brilliance and everything that they did.

This month, we honor the men and women who carried courage as well in times where it wasn't popular, it was risky, and they were just ordinary people trying to fight a big fight. We honor the innovators, the activists, and the trailblazers who built doors that they themselves could not walk through. We honor their sacrifices.

They fought for our freedoms when they themselves could not be free. But Black History Month is not just about looking back, but it's also about honoring the living legacy of those that are still with us and those that are still in motion. It is about recognizing black excellence in every field, from arts to the sciences.

And I thank our great colleague from Los Angeles, went down the list of all those that serve currently in higher office who have really broken barriers for everyone else that will come after them. They marched, they organized, they endured humiliation and so much violence.

But even after all of that, they still believed in the promise of this beautiful country. Let us remember that this month is an invitation to deepen our understanding of their work, their sacrifices, and everything that they have provided that we have taken advantage of.

Again, I just want to highlight what the great Senator from San Diego pointed to. All their innovation, inventions, and everything that has made our life easier. And yet many don't get thanked. Let us remember that this month is about again, continuing to highlight their contributions. Thank you. Thanking them.

And it's a reminder of their resilience and their beautiful culture that we also get to enjoy every single day. So with that, I also ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support as well. I want to thank the caucus for providing a copy of Carter Woodson's book Miseducation, and this book. And so many of the lessons that he brought forward in the establishment of Black History Month are based on his early life.

And when he was 20, he accepted a teaching assignment in the Philippines, which had just recently been part of the conquest of Spain by the United States.

And the United States took control of the Philippines and over the next several years, sent an army of teachers to teach Filipinos whatever we in the United States wanted to teach them.

And Carter Woodson, maybe not uniquely, but importantly, from the moment he arrived, moment he landed in the Philippines, said, no, that's not what we are here to teach. Instead, he taught the stories of the Filipino leaders who had fought to prevent the takeover, had fought against Spain, were still fighting for their own independence.

He taught the stories of culture and of language. And in that moment, he was living the values that we are now celebrating today, which is that we must continue to tell our own stories, that that is a part of what history is. Because history is not in the past. History is with us all of the time.

And every year when we do this celebration for the month, I'm constantly reminding myself, what would my life, what would my community's life be but for black history and black present? What would I eat? What would my soul be? What would I be singing in the car? How would I know that I was alive?

What rights would I have? Could I love anyone? Would I even exist if it weren't for loving versus Virginia As a child of an interracial couple, how profound the black community's contributions.

And we say that sometimes as though it's a voluntary thing, but it is a response to repression, where you invent the light bulb and you can be evicted at any moment where you cannot get married as you create a form of music that is a part of America's cultural power and our legacy.

It is not just a contribution. It is a fight. It is a struggle. And it is a joy, but of excellence. And that is why this month is so important. It is why it is deserving of our recognition once again. And I urgent I vote.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Wahab, you are recognized.

Thank you. Black history is American history. It's the story of freedom fighters who expanded democracy when the law refused to see them as equal. Equal. We've had plenty of conversations just this year about that very subject. Black communities built the country's wealth, culture, and innovation, often while being denied fair pay, safe housing, and equal protection.

We don't honor black history with words. We honor it with action. The fight for civil rights wasn't just a moment. It's a mandate. Voting rights, fair housing, equal justice, economic opportunity. Those promises still have gaps, and it's our job to close them. Black history is not only pain, it's power.

It's brilliance, resilience, faith, creativity, and leadership that changed what America could be, what people thought America was, and what America could be and still can be. This month is a commitment to protect civil rights, defend truthful education, confront discrimination, and invest in communities that have been excluded for generations. Because when black families thrive, America rises.

And the most patriotic thing we can do is keep moving this country closer to the ideals that it was built upon. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Valladares, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I rise as chair of The Hispanic Caucus, and as someone with Afro Latino votes, or roots myself as a proud Puerto Rican, to honor Black History Month. This month is both a celebration and a reflection. It's a celebration of extraordinary contributions in business, science, public service, faith, the arts, the.

The military, and in families who built strength and opportunity through perseverance. And it's a reflection on struggle, on the chapters of our history that were painful, that were unjust, and that were difficult. Chapters that remind us that progress is not automatic. It requires courage, it requires faith.

It requires people willing to push forward even when the path is hard. Black history, as has been said by many today, is American history. It's the story of resilience in the face of barriers. It's the stories of entrepreneurs who built wealth despite closed doors.

It's a story of leaders who demanded equality under the law and dignity in their communities. It's the stories of families who believe deeply in hard work, in education, and in opportunity for the next generation. As a Latina, I understand that our histories are intertwined. The black experience in this country has shaped the broader Latino experience as well.

Our communities share stories of perseverance, of faith, of cultural pride, and an unwavering belief in the promise of America. What inspires me most, though, is not just the struggle, but the triumph. The triumph in faith over fear, the triumph of character over circumstance, the triumph of opportunity, expansion, expanding, generation after generation.

While we acknowledge that work remains, we should also acknowledge how far we have come. Black History Month reminds us that progress in America has always come from people who believe this country could do better and then rolled up their sleeves to make it so.

As policymakers, it is our responsibility to continue creating conditions where every child, every family, every community, regardless of background, has a chance to thrive. Members, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senators. Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Akilah Weber, you may close if you wish.

Thank you, Mr. President. I really want to thank all of the centers who spoke up on this resolution today, especially those on the other side of the aisle. It's really good to be able to see unity and harmony around the importance of learning black history, of not erasing black history and respecting black history and black people.

On your desk is a gift from the California Legislative Black Caucus. In honor of Dr. Carter, Carter G. Woodson, who is the founder of Black History Month, we gift you his renowned book, Miseducation of the Negro. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on Scr122.

Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes. 39. No. 0. The resolution is adopted. Senator, Weber, Pierson, you have guests in the gallery, please, or on the floor.

Yes. Colleagues, today we gather in celebration of Black History Month to recognize individuals whose impact often goes unseen, but whose service has been deeply felt. The California Legislative Black Caucus created unsung heroes to recognize and shine a light on those who work tirelessly in our community.

Not for applause, not for headlines, but because they are committed to uplifting others. These are mentors, advocates, small business owners, faith leaders and organizers, and the everyday change makers who strengthen our neighborhoods, expand opportunity and embody the very best of public service. Today, we pause to say thank you.

We pause to ensure that their work does not go unnoticed. And we affirm that history is not only shaped by those whose names appear in textbooks, but by those who serve faithfully, consistently and with heart. And with that, it is my honor to introduce this year's California Legislative Black Caucus unsung hero honorees.

We will begin with my honoree, San Diego Fire Rescue Department, Captain Jason Shanley, founder and President of Homework San Diego, an innovative workforce re entry initiative that partners with local building trades and community organizations to provide support for individuals from incarceration by providing employment, mentorship and on the job support.

Senators, on behalf of me and Senate District 39, please welcome Captain Jason Shanley.

Rosie Lee Hooks is Director of the Rosie Lee Hooks Watts Tower Art Center and a multidisciplinary artist who career spans more than 35 years. Throughout her distinguished career, she has dedicated herself to uplifting community voices, preserving cultural heritage and expanding access to the arts for future generations.

Senators, on behalf of Senator Richardson From Senate District 35, please help me welcome Rosie Lee Hooks. Lauren Brazile is the founder and Executive Director of We Grow LA, a Los Angeles based nonprofit advancing food access, sustainability and community wellness.

Founded to expand equitable food access, the organization leads community driven initiatives that uplift families and strengthen neighborhoods across Los Angeles and beyond. Senators, on behalf of Senator Smallwood-Cuevas From Senate District 28, please help me welcome Lauren Brazile.

Leroy "PhotoHam" Hamilton of Los Angeles is an acclaimed self taught photographer and visual archivist known as the James De Van Dare of South Central whose work documents and celebrates the history, culture and excellence of Black Angelenos. Senators, on behalf of Assemblymember Brian From Assembly District 55, please help me welcome Leroy "PhotoHam" Hamilton. Sa.

Marilyn Washington-Harris is a gun and community violence prevention advocate and the founder and Director of the Khadafy Washington Foundation where she works tirelessly to promote healing, awareness and solutions that address the root cause of violence while supporting impacted families and safer communities.

Senators, on behalf of Assemblymember Banta From Assembly District 18, please help me welcome Marilyn Washington-Harris. Vernell Brown is a lead community intervention worker for the Office of Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and a proud native of South Central Los Angeles.

Through tireless service and a people first approach he advocates, he advances violence prevention, supports vulnerable residents and works collaboratively to strengthen and uplift his community. Senators, on behalf of Assemblymember Elhawary From Assembly District 57, please help me welcome Vernell Brown.

Doctor Jawane Hilton is a Carson native, pastor and City Council Member; committed to strengthening neighborhoods through faith, education and public service. Through his leadership in local government, ministry and youth development, he continues to advance public safety, expand opportunity for at-risk youth and foster unity across the Carson Community.

Senators, on behalf of Assemblymember Gibson From Assembly District 65, please help me welcome City Council Member Dr. Jawane Hilton. Robert Pullen-Miles was elected to the Lawndale City Council in 2004 and has served as mayor since 2014, reflecting more than 22 years of dedicated public service to the City of Lawndale.

Throughout his career, he has championed youth development, secured critical funding for community investment, and built collaborative relationships that support and empower local families. Senators, on behalf of Assemblymember McKinner from Assembly District 61, please help me welcome Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles.

The Honorable Bernice King Tingle serves as Vice Mayor of Mountain Horse, California's newest city located in San Joaquin county in Northern California. With decades of dedicated service, she continues to champion public safety, youth empowerment and community driven leadership that reflects the voices and priorities of her residents.

Senators, on behalf of Assemblymember Ransom From Assembly District 13, please help me welcome the honorable Bernice King Tingle. Doctor Suzanne Afflalo is a dedicated physician, Medical Director of Alliance Health Clinic and community health leader who has spent more than 25 years advancing equitable, patient centered care for the underserved communities of San Diego.

Senators, on behalf of Assemblymember Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins from Assembly District 79, please help me welcome Dr. Suzanne Afflalo. Last but not least, as far as those who are here today, is someone who definitely deserves his honor.

Vincent Hayes is a 20 year old Vacaville Volunteer firefighter who saved a man in cardiac arrest at Disneyland on August 4th, 2025 by administering CPR and using the automated external defibrillator. Though he had only recently begun his firefighter and paramedic training, his quick action and composure reflect extraordinary dedication to public service.

Senators, on behalf of Assemblymember Wilson From Assembly District 11, please help me welcome Vincent Hayes. And unable to attend today's ceremony, but we'll still honor Cleveland or CJ Johnson, a 20 year US Air Force Veteran and former Moreno Valley Board of Education Member whose lifelong commitment to service had been strengthened from his community and his country.

On behalf of Assemblymember Dr. Jackson from Assembly District 60, please help me honor Air Force Veteran Cleveland "CJ" Johnson who could not be with us today. And Senators, if we can give another round of applause for all of our honorees, the 2026 Black History Month Unsung Heroes.

And if any Senators would like to join in the final photo, please join us in the back.

Members, we do want to draw your attention to another special guest that we have here today on behalf of Senator Weber Pearson, please welcome Fire Chief Robert Logan of the San Diego Fire Rescue Department. Up in the gallery. Welcome. Members.

We are going to move to adjourn in memory, so if you could take your conversations to the back of the gallery or off the floor at least we would greatly appreciate that and give our undivided attention to those that are presenting their adjourned memories today.

And Members, once again, if you will take your conversations off the floor. We are return. We are returning to motions and resolutions for adjournments and memory. Senator Reyes, you are recognized for Your adjournment and memory.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, today I rise to request that the Senate adjourn in the memory of Grant Ward, sergeant with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and President of the Sheriff's Employees Benefit Association, SEBA.

On February 1, 2026 after a long and courageous battle with cancer siblings, Sergeant Ward passed peacefully, surrounded by his beloved wife, Lynette, his two daughters, Annie and Maddie, and his large and loving family. Our Inland Empire community lost a beloved son, and I lost a friend and a brother in our shared battles.

As SEBA President, Grant was a tireless advocate for his fellow deputies and for Members. He led with strength, conviction and heart. His leadership was steady, even in the most challenging of times. But beyond the badge and the title, Grant was a loving husband and a father whose greatest pride was his family.

I. I no longer remember what we once disagreed on. What remains are the meaningful conversations about our respective journeys, our families, and the real battles in life. The impact of those battles on our families was real, and I respected and loved Grant for his candor and for his willingness to speak honestly about struggle, strength and hope.

Our last encounter was on a flight to Sacramento. The battle scars were present for both of us, but so was hope. I gained strength from the words he shared about his fight, his battle, his struggle. Through it all, we were able to smile because we knew God was in control then and remains in control now.

Scripture reminds us in 2 Corinthians 58 to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We take comfort in that promise today. Grant Ward's. Sergeant Grant Ward's legacy lives on in the deputies he mentored, the Members he represented, the community he protected, and most importantly, in the family he cherished.

We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to his wife, his daughters, his extended family, his colleagues and his friends. May they find strength, comfort and peace in the days ahead. I'd also like to acknowledge Alicia Rosa, vice President of SEBA, who is in the gallery today joining us for the adjournment.

In memory on behalf of SEBA, I also want to acknowledge Ben Tharialt. On behalf of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, PORAC, thank you both for being here for this adjournment and memory. So in honor of San Bernardino County Sheriff Sgt. Grant Ward, Public servant leader, husband, father and friend, we respectfully request that we adjourn in his memory.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Unberg, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I join with my colleague and friend from San Bernardino in recognizing the Life and legacy of Sergeant Grant Ward. Sergeant Ward was an example of what a law enforcement officer should be. An example for us, example. Example for the folks for whom he advocated.

An example for our community. I extend my personal condolences to the organization as well as to his family and recognize the sacrifice that his family made during his career for all of us. And I join with my colleague from San Bernardino asking that we adjourn his memory.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too want to rise and remember Grant. What a good guy. Before Grant went to San Bernardino, he was a LA County sheriff and worked in the same district that I worked at in City of Industry.

For a little bit he disappeared and then he reappeared at the airport one day. And that's where I got to see Grant on a almost weekly basis. And he was always a positive, happy and always representing his sheriffs, but also more representing that he enjoyed life, he enjoyed his family.

And to his testament on how hard he worked, I think that last day that you may have seen him was two weeks before he passed away. It was that flight and we got to see Grant and he was happy. And he told me his struggles. He was telling me, you know, he's me.

And when he's telling me, having a medical background somewhat, I could tell he was in trouble, but you couldn't tell by what he was saying. He had such a positive outlook. He said he was going to fight and he did that, but only for two more weeks. And then it finally got him.

So I want his family to know that a lot of people cared about Grant. He was a good guy. He'll always be remembered by us. And the flight's a little bit less happy with him not on it. So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. And Members, I too today rise and to adjourn in the memory of my friend, Sergeant Grant Ward. Grant had an infectious smile, the kind that entered the room before he did. He radiated optimism.

He was proud to be a deputy sheriff and just as proud to be a voice for the men and women on the front lines. As President of SEBA, he fought for their safety, their training, their pensions, their legal protections. He believed deeply that the people who protect our communities deserve someone protecting them.

We talked often about morale, about the pressures on law enforcement, about making sure Sacramento understood what deputies were facing on the ground in San Bernardino County. Grant loved his job, he loved his people, and they knew it. When Grant told me that he had pancreatic cancer, it hit me hard. My Mother passed away from pancreatic cancer.

It is a brutal disease, often diagnosed late, often measured in months, not years. I knew what the road could look for him ahead, for his wife, for his two daughters. And I remember wanting to offer hope, wanting to talk about the treatments and the advancements since my mom's diagnosis.

But the truth was that Grant didn't need my optimism. He already had his own. For nearly two years, he didn't let the cancer define him. The defining word for Grant was lived. He lived with gratitude. He loved without reservation. He served until he couldn't anymore. My last conversation with Grant was on December 27th.

I sent him birthday wishes, and we joked about how epic December birthdays are. The lights, the music, the spirit of the season. And he sent me a video from his hospital room, thanking me, joking that they had just fused his back together with carbon fiber. He was visibly sick, but his smile was still there.

His voice was still steady, and his spirit was still strong. And that was Grant. Even in the hardest of moments. He chose courage. He chose gratitude. He chose light. Today we mourn a leader in law enforcement, but even more, we mourn for a husband and for a father whose family was his greatest pride.

To his wife and daughters, he fought for his community the way he loved his family, fiercely and faithfully. Grant's watch may have ended here on earth, but the example he set of service, of strength and unwavering optimism, will continue. In every deputy he uplifted, in every family he supported, and in every life, he touched Grant.

Thank you for showing us how to serve and how to live. I respectfully ask that we adjourn in Grant Ward's memory.

Senator Ochoa Bogh you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, it is with profound sadness that I rise to adjourn in memory of sheriff sergeant Grant Ward. Grant was an amazing leader and most importantly, a family man. I'll always remember his enthusiasm for life and work. His optimism, kindness, thoughtfulness, and honesty.

I'll sorely miss his vibrant smile, presents and hugs. His dedication to ensuring the safety of his community and protecting the interests of his fellow officers will never be forgotten. Grant was young, taken from us in the prime of his life. He was a hero to many and will be deeply missed by many in our community.

I wish Grant's family, the sheriff's employees benefit association, the san bernardino county sheriff's Department, p. Peace and comfort during this time of deep sorrow. I would be honored if this body would adjourn in memory of Grant Ward.

Our sincere condolences to the family, friends, co workers and community that was impacted by. By this Sergeant. And Senator Reyes, I believe you have some guests that are associated with this. Did you want to introduce them?

I believe I have introduced them.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Please bring the name of your adjournment memory to the desk to be properly memorialized. We will move on to Senator Weber Pierson for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to adjourn in memory of the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson. Civil rights leader, faith leader, presidential candidate, and tireless advocate for justice. Reverend Jackson stood on the front lines of the modern civil rights movement. He marched along Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Carried forward the mission of economic justice and spent his life demanding that America live up to its promise. He founded the Rainbow Push Coalition to advance civil rights, expanded, expand voter access, promote economic empowerment, and open doors for those that had been long shut out.

Reverend Jackson believed in what he called the Rainbow Coalition, the idea that progress is strongest when people of every race, every background and every faith stand together for dignity and opportunity. He gave a voice to the voiceless, challenged systems of inequity and never wavered in his commitment to justice, even when the path forward was difficult.

His life reminds us that change does not come from silence, but from courage. As we reflect on his legacy, may we recommit ourselves to the unfinished work of equality, voting rights, economic fairness and civil rights for all. In honor of Reverend Jesse Jackson's life and legacy, I respectfully ask that this body adjourn in his memory.

Thank you very much, Mr. President, colleagues and I also rise to ask that we adjourn in the memory of the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, who I had the incredible honor to meet the first time as a young Senate campaign staffer at the Democratic State Convention in palm Springs in 1988.

And I will never forget that interaction the first time I met Reverend Jackson, because he took a moment to be with a young, aspiring Democratic activist, young person of color from the border region, still on my own journey of self discovery and finding my purpose in life, and reminded me of the morality, the social morality of our politics.

He told me then, and I think he said later in speeches too, that if you're morally right, your politics will fall in line.

I was inspired by Reverend Jackson's life and legacy and work, watching him share so painfully and publicly his own journey, his own experiences, and translating that into what that should mean for the rest of us. He lifted us up so many times.

He inspired Me on so many occasions with not just his work and his example and his passion, but his inspiring words that were meant to lift us all up and give us hope. I will never forget, as a young staffer, his words at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 1988.

They have always been with me and have inspired me, my interest in politics and service.

He was wise enough to know that oftentimes he was speaking truths, painful truths, not just to the political opposition of the other party or people whose culture and ignorance didn't allow them to understand what it was like to be on the receiving end of injustice and hatred and bigotry and racism.

He understood that the fight for civil justice, a civil society for civil rights, was always a living, breathing imperative that must always be defended and that we would always struggle with. Even then and even now. I remember those words. I was born in the slum, but it wasn't born in me and it wasn't born in you.

And you can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes and you can make it. He spoke to me. He understood. He said in that speech, I understand.

I understand what it's like when people look down on you, make assumptions about you because of what they see in front of them, the color of your skin, where you might be from your pedigree or perceived lack thereof, where you went to school and where you didn't.

I've lived my own personal life experience being on the receiving end of those microaggressions.

And sadly, I'll speak a hard truth right now on this floor, as someone at my age, at this stage of my career, in 2026, in this building, on this floor and in this building, and in our Democratic Party circles, where many profess with their speeches and words to be champions of the downtrodden and minorities and champions for civil rights, still practice those biases in those microaggressions.

Not always malicious, sometimes ignorant. We're very good in our own party about elitisms and about bias. And Jackson always reminded us in his speeches to look inward and not just outward, not to preach to everyone else what they should do, but what we should live and what we should do.

And then he brought it back with forgiveness, in spite of his pain, and asked us to do better, that we could do better, that we could demonstrate better, that we could live better through our actions and in doing so, keep hope alive. I respectfully ask that we adjourn in the memory of the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson.

Thank you, Mr. President. And I too have a 1988 experience. But let me just say, at that time, as hard as it is to believe, he was the only presidential candidate that was representing every stripe in the rainbow. And it was very important. But he came to Santa Cruz, and I was the mayor.

And it was late in the campaign. It was thought that the nomination was locked up. But 2,000 people showed up at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. I was to introduce them. And there was this elaborate Secret Service project as we all waited. Turned out this couple approached me from Santa Cruz, and they were about to get married.

But the about to be bride's father was being held hostage in Lebanon at the time. In the course of this conversation, we concoct, well, what if Jesse Jackson married them here? And with all the national press coverage, would this crack to Lebanon? Would her father being held hostage hear about this?

So we radioed ahead to Jesse Jackson's bus, and he said, well, I'd like to interview the couple. So he gets there, he interviews the couple, and he says, I can do this. And I had to go on stage and talk some poor kid out of his bouquet of flowers.

It turned out an employee of the Civic Auditorium had a Bible in her glove compartment. The mother was in town, and she was hurriedly summoned, and she had the marriage license. And so he arrived and stepped into the Civic Auditorium lounge, and it was just the five of us.

I stood up for the groom, the mother stood up for the bride. Jesse Jackson married them. And when the door opened, it was like the Marx Brothers with the National Press. About 40 of them fell in the room. And it was a national story for a day. They were interviewed on the Today show the next morning.

And when he was finally freed, there was a reception where we all met him. And he said, I'm really sorry to say the word didn't get to me, but Jesse Jackson will live on in my heart for the rest of my life.

And it was just one of those moments where, in a very personal way, he stepped up to help somebody that was really in need. And it's just what he did for decades, and it's what we are honoring today. So I am proud to join in adjourning in his memory.

Senator Durazo, you are recognized.

Thank you very much. Keep hope alive. I am somebody. Those are the words that Reverend Jackson used everywhere he went because he knew how important they were to people who are going through bad times. He was a powerful inspiration and especially to my union, the hotel and restaurant workers, and to immigrant workers.

He was a strong ally who Marched side by side with them. I had the privilege of being with him on several occasions. In some of our campaigns, he marched with hotel workers through Beverly Hills, on Rodeo Drive and downtown Los Angeles.

He stood with us and food service workers through almost five years of a campaign to win a contract at USC. Finally, while in a very long battle with a hotel in downtown Los Angeles, the Neotani Hotel, we were just about. Didn't know what to do next. How do we go forward? It. It just had been years.

We were. We went to a national meeting in Chicago, and at that national meeting, I told the story of what we had been going through in Los Angeles. When he heard our story, he said, he just stood up and said, let's go to Japan where the owners are. And we did.

He went with us and he accompanied us, met with the owners of the hotel chain and impressed upon them the importance of settling.

But everywhere we walked, in downtown and Tokyo and other places, you know, he was so tall and so dignified, but everywhere he went, especially the women there who were a little bit shorter than him, but he went up to every single one and shook their hand or gave them a hug, but mostly just shook their hand, and they were just mesmerized by him.

They knew who he was. They had never met him before, but they knew who he was. Everywhere he went, he left that impression that, yes, you keep hope alive. No matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult it is, you move forward and you will win.

And that's what he taught hotel workers and dishwashers and cooks and immigrants when they were side by side. He taught them how to feel that they are somebody. And I respectfully join in adjourning in his memory.

Senator Cortese, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thanks to our colleague from San Diego for bringing this forward. Just briefly, I want to just speak to how far ahead of his time the Reverend Jesse Jackson always was. And I think we all know that.

But one example of that for me goes back to around the beginning of my political career, 25 years ago, when I was kind of befriended by Butch Wings, who was the political coordinator for Rainbow. We used to just call it Rainbow Coalition, but Rainbow Coalition Push.

So anytime the Reverend Jackson was coming into San Jose, I'd get a phone call not only indicating that, but on a couple of occasions, I had the great honor of introducing him in front of crowds in the city of San Jose.

But the most memorable of those was an introduction in front of 5,000 students packed into a big gymnasium at a regional public school. In San Jose. And this goes back to my comment about him being ahead of his time.

People were kind of sitting around on the stage, including former Assemblyman Joe Cotto, who was there at the time, you know, trying to anticipate what he was going to say. He had such tremendous charisma, and you kind of was a game sometimes to see which direction he was going to go.

And he surprised all of us by looking at the students with that charisma of his and saying, how many of you have ever contemplated suicide 25 years ago, 25 years ago, this isn't post pandemic or during the pandemic or whatever. And a significant number, a large number, too large number, raised their hands, thought he was done.

And he said, now how many of you raise your hand? How many of you know somebody who has contemplated suicide here in this school? And every single individual in that gymnasium raised their hand and he went on to make a his point about what they needed to do to seek help. He captivated, of course, that room.

So many of the issues that he worked on were kind of like that. We can celebrate the sort of prophecy that he was giving us at the time, but we also, I think, regret the fact that in some of those areas, we're still working so hard to just make a little bit of progress with that.

Again, I want to thank our colleague from San Diego for doing this, especially on this day, on this day. And I too, would request the adjournment in his memory.

Thank you. Thank you, Senator. Please bring the name of your adjourned memory to the desk to be properly memorialized. If there is no other business. Pro tem. Limon, the desk is clear.

Thank you, Members. Our next session is on Thursday, February 26, at 9am thank you to our Legislative Black Caucus for today's remembrance, but also for recognizing the centennial. 100 years. 100 years, Members, of recognizing Black History Month in all shapes or forms, and ensuring that Even in those 100 years, the voices don't become softer, but become louder.

That the issues don't go into an abyss, but continue to be relevant and at the forefront of the California State Legislature. So thank you all and thank you for this book, which has come up in our history and certainly, certainly in those who have done some work in the graduate level in education. So with that, we adjourn.

Thank you, Pro Tem. The Senate is adjourned. We will reconvene Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 9:00am.