Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

We have a quorum. Now, members and guests beyond the rail and in the gallery, please rise. We'll be led in prayer this afternoon by our chaplain, sister Michelle Gorman. After which, please remain standing and follow me in the pledge to our flag.

So we gather again in God's presence. God of all peoples and nations, as we recognize May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we pray in gratitude for the rich historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of AAPI descent to The United States and to California in particular.

We pray for those who persevered through generations of xenophobia, racism, bias, and violence to contribute their skills and talents in the areas of science and medicine, literature and art, infrastructure, government and law.

We pray for those who continue today recognizing their power and unity, enriching the diversity of this land and working together in a spirit of partnership and collaboration for the common good. We echo the words of Margaret Cho, the power of visibility can never be underestimated.

We pray in your name, gracious God. Amen.

Now please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag.

So, due to, a personal inattention to detail this morning, and as a presiding officer, I proclaim that orange is the new red. Thank you very much. And Senator Jones has a guest in in our floor today. His son, Matthew, who is considerably taller than him.

Matthew, welcome to the California State Senate. So what are we? Moving on to messages from the governor, they will be deemed read. Messages from the assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read with amendments adopted.

And without objection, the Senate journals for 05/04/2026 through 05/07/2026 will be approved as corrected by the minute clerk.

Are there any other motions or resolutions? Senator Arreguin.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to request that file item a three, Senate bill 830, be removed from the inactive file in order to be returned to the assembly for further action. So noted.

Now, considerations of the daily file will move to governor's appointments. Senator Groves, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like, clarification. Is my dress the new red as well? Yes. Thank you, sir.

Exactly.

Thank you, sir. It is a shade of orange. That's why I made clarification. Thank you, sir. Colleagues and mister president, file item number one is a confirmation of Clint Kellum as the director of department of cannabis control.

Mister Kellum was previously the chief deputy director of the department, and prior to that served as the chief deputy executive director of the California Infrastructure and Economic Bank Development Bank.

He also held multiple roles at the Department of Finance. He was approved, by the rules committee on April 8, respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Senator Grove, you are recognized for the next appointment.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item number two is a confirmation of Jennifer Osborne as the director of the Department of Industrial Relations.

Miss Osborne has a long career as executive branch starting with the Department of Finance in 1998 and working her way up to the executive positions including the government operations agency, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation,

but most recently, she served as the chief deputy director of the Department of General Services from 2021 to 2025. She was approved by the rules committee on a five o vote on the April 8, and I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Senator Grove you are recognized again.

Thank you, Mr. President, Colleagues. File item 4 is the confirmation of Dr. Trinidad Solis for an appointment to the medical board of California. Doctor Solis practices family medicine, and he has been doing that since 2022. She excuse me.

She, has been in the Fresno County Department of Public Health, first serving as the deputy director of public health, and last year as the chief public health officer. She was approved by the rules committee, again on April 29, and a unanimous vote respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Senator Grove you are recognized again.

Thank you. Excuse me Mr. President. File Item 5 is the confirmation of Dr. Gerald Tolbert for an appointment to the medical board of California. He is an emergency room physician currently serving in the emergency department at UC San Diego Health,

and he was also the medical director for the medical student initiatives and served as assistant director for medical education under UC San Diego Stanford Institute of Empathy and Compassion. He was approved by the rules committee on April 29 on a five o vote. Respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Seeing no debate or discussion, secretary please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Now to, privileges of the floor. Senator Gonzales, you are recognized at the Majority Leader's desk.

Thank you, Mr. President, colleagues. Please join me in welcoming to the Senate Chamber, Kay Buck, CEO of the Coalition Abolish Slavery and Trafficking or CAST LA, and the talented Mira Sorvino.

Kay Buck joined CAST in 2003, where she helped develop the first US shelter for trafficked women, and laid the groundwork for evidence based comprehensive care for survivors.

Under Kaye's leadership, CAST became the first organization to receive the presidential award to combat slavery and trafficking. I'm also very proud to call her my Long Beach neighbor.

And though you may know her from some of our favorite movies like Romeo and Michelle's High School Reunion, she's also received an Oscar in 1996 for Mighty Aphrodite.

When she isn't on the movie set, Mara Sorvino is a tireless advocate for human trafficking prevention and support of all survivors. Mara was appointed as a United Nations goodwill ambassador to combat human trafficking in 2009.

In her role as ambassador, she has traveled the globe meeting with survivors, workers, aid workers, and elected officials. Maira has advocated in the state legislature for funding to support trafficking, survivor support services, and bills aimed at preventing sexual harassment.

Please join me in welcoming and thanking Kaye and Mira for their hard work to uplift and empower every survivor of human trafficking here in California.

Other Members might like to be in the photo. This would be the time to join in.

Now moving back to consideration of the daily file, Senate third reading, file item 54. Senator Wahab, at the Majority Leader's desk, you are recognized. Secretary, please read.

Senate resolution 97 by Senator Wahab relative to Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.

You are recognized.

Thank you. I rise today as Vice Chair of the AAPI caucus to present SR 97, recognizing May as Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.

California is home to more than 7,000,000 Asian Americans, one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in our state. For more than a hundred and eighty years, Asian and Pacific Islander communities have shaped the story of our country.

From building the Transcontinental Railroad, serving in our armed forces, to leading movements for civil rights, the API community has stood at the center of American history.

Yet it is important to acknowledge that our stories are also marked by exclusion, discrimination, and sacrifice. Generations before us transformed hardships into hope and from that created communities rooted in dignity, compassion, and set and sorry, and belonging.

Now more than ever, it is important to recognize the diverse tapestry of the API community and all the languages, cultures, religions, and so much more in lived experiences.

Today, API Americans continue to lead as educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, health care workers, artists, policymakers, and teachers who shape the future of this state.

Celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander, American Heritage Month is the opportunity not only to honor these contributions and histories, but also reflect on the values that bind us together. With that, I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you are recognized.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Good afternoon, colleagues. I rise on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus in strong support of SR 97, recognizing May 2026 as Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

I'm proud to represent one of California's most diverse districts, the 28th District, which includes several vibrant AAPI communities of Los Angeles.

In my district, Koreatown, for example, is one of the largest and most dynamic Korean communities in the nation and stands at the heart of the Korean American community of The United States, a hub of cultural celebration, civic leadership, and lasting contributions to the region.

Also in my district are a few blocks of Little Tokyo and a few blocks of Filipino town. AAPI families, institutions, and businesses help anchor a community where many cultures coexist, thrive, and support one another,

while playing a vital role in shaping California through small business ownership, labor, culture, and civic leadership. This month also allows us to recognize the importance and significance of rich histories, culture, and contributions.

It reminds us of the shared struggles of black and Asian communities we face throughout American history.

The black community endured slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, redlining, voter suppression, and systemic discrimination that denied generations equal access to education, housing, employment, and economic opportunity.

Asian American and Pacific Islander communities also faced exclusionary and discriminatory policies, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, one of the first federal laws banning immigration based on race.

And the incarceration of more than a 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War two. Anti Asian violence and discriminatory housing and labor practices persisted.

Despite these injustices, both communities persevered through collective action, through organizing, and through self and community determination.

Black and Asian communities have stood together in moments of civil rights, labor rights, and voting rights, and racial justice.

For example, in my district, there is a deep alliance, racial and economic alliance between the black and Korean communities following the 1992 uprising where the disinvestment in communities became the collective fighting ground for justice for all of our community members.

And this relationship states back until the early history of the black freedom struggle as leaders such as Frederick Douglass spoke out against the Chinese Exclusion Act, while activists like Yuri Kochiyama worked alongside Malcolm X and the broader civil rights

and black pride and freedom movements. The Asian American movement of the nineteen sixties and seventies was heavily influenced by the Black Power Movement and emphasized solidarity among communities of color fighting for justice and equality.

At a time when hate and division continue to impact our communities across the country, SR97 reminds us in Californian that as Californians, progress is strongest when communities stand together.

As members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, we recognize this this struggle and promise, and we stand in solidarity with this powerful community, and we proudly honor the resilience and lasting contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the state of California, I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Senator Choi, you're recognized.

Thank you, President and the Members. It is an honor to stand in support of SR 97 recognizing Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

During the month of May, we recognized and celebrate the rich history, culture, and the contributions of AAPI communities across our nation and here in California.

Asian Americans and the Pacific Islanders have helped to build America through hard work, sacrifice, entrepreneurship, military service, education, science, medicine, public service, and the arts. Their stories are often into fabric of our country.

As a Korean American immigrant, I deeply appreciate the opportunities this nation provides. At the same time, AAPI Heritage Month reminds us that diversity is one of America's greatest strength.

When people from different backgrounds come together with mutual respect and shared values, our communities become stronger.

This month is, also an opportunity to educate the next generation about the struggles and achievements of AAPI pioneers who overcame discrimination, opened doors, and others. Let us continue to promote understanding, unity, and an opportunity for all people.

Today is something we celebrate all the contribute contributors to the California culture and the history and to America by honoring later all the honoris that we have in the capital. I urge you to vote s e r ninety seven, and thank you.

Senator Cabaldon, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mister President. When I first came to this capital as a staffer, there wasn't a single Asian American or Pacific Islander serving in the legislature.

Year after year, so many Californians' perspectives and voices and histories and stories weren't told here. And so it is an incredible incredibly meaningful to be on this floor with two of my colleagues now serving in this caucus.

Look, there are seven and a half million Asian American and Pacific Islander Californians. And if you're, doing the math, there should be seven of us on this floor, maybe eight. There are three.

And together, we represent heritages from more than half of the world's population in so many different countries and religions and languages and traditions, that we have to keep telling these stories and finding more of them on this floor.

But I'm very, very proud of my two colleagues, and the work here to try to bring these stories to reality.

Because for so long, it was possible to in California, if you'd come here from another planet and just heard read the LA Times or watch TV, you would think the Asian American story in California was, maybe some Chinese folks helped build a railroad.

And then fast forward, some Japanese American Californians were incarcerated. Then there were a bunch of kung fu movies, then we were all model minority math whizzes and engineers.

The story has been all over the place, and yet we have been here from the very beginning. Fun fact, nobody came here from China to work on the railroad.

The grueling, back breaking work to link this country to build the biggest public works project this country had ever experienced. Chinese folks came to this country, to California, like everybody else came to California at the time for the gold rush to make their wealth.

They were met with laws that stripped them of property, stripped them of rights, stripped them of the ability to work and own and keep the proceeds from mining. So they were left with no alternatives but to help build the railroad, the key infrastructure in the state.

When that project was done, they constructed the levees by hand, the levees that make the delta that are where my district is, but also, guarantee the water supply for all of California, its critters, and its people.

They were 80% of the farm workers in the Napa Valley growing the wine industry, and this was true throughout the Northern Central Valley.

But by that point, California was was through with Chinese Californians. The constitution included some of the most some of the most evil racist provisions ever. And California said, we don't want any more Chinese folks coming to this country.

We don't want them having children. We want them owning land. What we instead now we want is Japanese folks to come here, and they will now work the fields. They will now do all of the labor that we excluded Chinese Californians from.

And a few years later, the story repeats. And that's when Filipinos started to come to this country in large numbers. Over and over and over again, that has been the story here in California.

And then in the more recent two generations, three generations, as refugees that we have welcomed into California from Southeast Asia, from Central Asia, from Afghanistan, from elsewhere.

But we have welcomed without acknowledging that they are here in part because of our own policies that have sprayed napalm and and in Southeast Asia that have disrupted societies and economies and democracies throughout Asia.

And so today, we're acknowledging the heritage and the struggle and the work. In my own community, my own district, there were Chinatowns in every single city. From Eilton, population 600, to Valeo, everywhere in my district.

There were Japan towns and virtually all of them as folks came from the railroads and started to work the fields. They built not just my district, but so much of California as well. Today, most of those are gone. They are erased.

It's one of the reasons it's the honoree that I'm so honored so pleased to recognize today from my own district, is the Locke Community Foundation that's preserved the the most well preserved complete place in America.

But these are communities that despite all the challenges have built our state, have built their own communities, have celebrated and transmitted their heritage, their culture, their values through the generations.

They've made California better to today's entertainment industry, the technology industry, to so much of what our state is about. And so, colleagues, I'm extraordinarily honored, to be able to be here.

I thought as a child there would never be any Asian American legislators because there never had been. It is so profoundly important.

Very, very much appreciate the strong support and the representation, the lifting up of our community and its stories that each and everyone on this floor does every single day. I've heard them today and every other day on this floor.

Thank you for continuing to to advance that. Thank you for lifting up Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the state, and I urge an Aye vote.

Senator Becker, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Ppresident. Colleagues arise today as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus in support of SR 97. The Jewish American and AAPI community share much in common. For one, we share a month celebrating our heritage this month.

But more importantly, we share a history of contributions to this country for generations, while too often still being marginalized.

Despite that, both of our communities have persevered. We've grown. We've thrived. We've helped shape California and this nation, advancing the values of diversity, inclusion, and freedom that define who we are.

I also wanna recognize AAPI Jews who are a growing and vibrant group that strengthens both of our communities and creating space, to celebrate Asian Jewish identity and build deeper connections across cultures.

I'm proud to represent a district that is home to a very large and diverse AAPI community. From cultural festivals to night markets to the establishment actually today, right now in my district of the first ever sister city partnership between The Kingdom Of Tonga

and a city in The United States, East Palo Alto, my district. These traditions and celebrations bring vibrancy to our neighborhoods and foster greater understanding and connection.

The AAPI community literally built this state and this country From the earliest waves of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino immigrants to today, AAPI residents have built business sense, strengthen our communities, and contribute to every aspect of civic life.

After the wonderful talk from my colleague, I have to thank my own political mentor, Mike Honda, who was in the state assembly and then in Congress for representing our area.

And and and right now, we actually be left to the first Japanese American supervisor in Santa Clara County. We cannot forget that in recent years, particularly in Covid, AIPI AAPI communities faced a very troubling rise in hate and violence.

And in that moment, we saw the power of solidarity with communities standing together to speak out and support each other. And we are very proud to pass several bills against API hate that have had a had that had a very positive impact.

That spirit of Solidarity is what we must carry forward. I thank my colleague from the East Bay for introducing this important resolution, and I ask respectfully for an Aye vote.

Senator Rubio, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. Today, I rise on behalf of the Latino caucus in support of SR 97 to honor the extraordinary legacy, leadership, and lasting contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans across the

great state of California, let us celebrate the rich intertwined history of Asian Americans, native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Latino communities in California. Two communities whose stories are not separate, but deeply connected in the fabric of our state.

For generations, Asians and Latino Californians have stood side by side, building our railroads, cultivating our fields, opening small businesses, and shaping the cultural and economic backbone of this great state.

Their labor, resilience, and determination helped transform California into the global powerhouse it is today. But our shared story and history is not only one of contribution. It is also one of struggle and solidarity.

Like the great Senator of Sacramento just stated, many came for opportunities, but later were exploited. Like my father and the rest who came over through the Bracero program and built so many of our roads and bridges, They labored in harsh conditions, but later were kicked out or discriminated against.

Both communities have endured exclusion, discrimination, and injustice, from the Chinese Exclusion Act to mass deportations during the Great Depression, from segregated schools to barriers in housing and employment.

These histories remind us that progress has never come easily. And yet, time and time again, Asian and Latino communities have come together, not and divided up differences, but united by a common pursuit of dignity, opportunity, and justice.

We saw this solidarity in the labor movement where Filipino and Mexican farm workers stood shoulder to shoulder to demand fair wages and humane working conditions.

We see it today in our neighborhoods where cultures blend, languages intersect, and a family share traditions that reflect both heritage and hope. This shared story is one of perseverance, but also partnership.

At a time when division can feel loud, this history reminds us of something quieter, but far more powerful, that our strength lies in our ability to stand together, to recognize that while our backgrounds may differ, our futures are bound together.

So today, let us honor not only the distinct contributions of Asian Americans, but of the solidarity with other communities that has defined their journey in California. And with that, I respectfully ask for an eye vote. Thank you.

Senator Wiener, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, mister president. Colleagues that rise today in support of SR 97, on behalf of, our LGBTQ caucus and also as a proud representative of Senate District 11, which has a huge and robust and powerful API community.

San Francisco has long been one of the most densely populated AAPI cities in The United States and as a center of AAPI culture.

Since the arrival of early Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Korean immigrants in the nineteenth century, the community has taken root here, working hard, building culture, participating in civic life, and helping make our community what it is.

Its influence touches every corner of San Francisco and San Mateo County. San Francisco is home to the oldest and largest Chinatown outside of China, And Daly City, is known as New Filipinotown for its rich history, as a home for the Filipino community.

In addition, our, statewide, but particularly, in San Francisco, our LGBTQ, Asian neighbors are, just a huge part of our community and have contributed so much both to the LGBTQ community, and to our AAPI, communities.

For example, Margaret Cho, queer San Francisco, Korean American, comedian, actress, author, musician, activist. Gina Rosero, a Filipina transgender activist and supermodel.

Kim Coco Iwamoto, the first transgender state legislator in Hawaii's history who's an alumni of San Francisco State University, and so many more, just organizations, political organizations that empower our, LGBTQ AAPI communities.

We also know that we have, amazing, LGBTQ, Asian elected officials, like Mark Takano or various members of the California, state legislature.

We have George Takai, who needs no introduction in terms of his influence on the culture and now on politics after having survived internment with his family during World War two.

This is a community that has, gone through so much in the history of California. Good, bad, and ugly, but way more good than bad and ugly.

I'm proud to represent it as should we all, and I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Senator Durazo, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to add just a few words, to my colleagues here, especially our colleague from Yolo County who's so always so articulate. May was chosen deliberately on 05/07/1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in this country.

And then and on 05/10/1869, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in large part, as he said, by Chinese laborers who endured brutal conditions, low wages, and a country that too often refused to see them. That erasure did not end with the nineteenth century.

It's been recurring. And yet, in the face of exclusion and discrimination, AAPI communities have not just endured, they have built.

I have the privilege of representing the 26 Senate District home to Koreatown, Thai Town, one of two recognized Thai towns in the country. Little Tokyo, one of three remaining Japan towns in the country. Historic Filipino town, Chinatown, and Little Bangladesh.

They're not just neighborhood names, they are declarations of presence, of belonging, of a community that has earned its place in our city and in the state, even when laws were written to say otherwise.

California is home to more AAPI residents than any other state. That's not just a demographic fact, it is our responsibility. This month, let us celebrate and recommit the work of making sure that belonging is protected, not just proclaimed. I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.

Senator Perez, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in strong support of SR 97 celebrating API Heritage Month. I proudly represent Senate District 25, which includes the West San Gabriel Valley, which historically has had the largest number of Chinese Americans,

Taiwanese Americans, Vietnamese Americans in California located within its district. The West SGV includes Assembly District 49, who is proudly represented by Assembly member Mike Fong.

This was actually the first ever API CVAP seat that we ever had within the state legislature, allowing the API community to have representation here.

And that's the really the long history that we've seen in the San Gabriel Valley. This rich history of different cultures coming together to support one another, to support the API community with gaining political power.

Congresswoman Judy Chu who is now our congresswoman was actually the first ever Chinese American woman to be elected to Congress and she came right from our district. From the city of Monterey Park which is considered to be the first ever API ethnoburb.

And so there's this long history that we have of the API community within our district.

It's part of the reason why I always tell everybody I represent some of the best food in the state of California. And really, it's such a pride and such an honor for us to be recognizing this day. Respectfully urgent, I vote.

Senator Grove, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. As we recognize all AAPI individuals across our state, I would like to take a personal point of privilege and recognize Jay Tamsey, the president and CEO of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with over a thousand

active businesses that promote jobs and, community contributions throughout Kern County. And he also currently serves as a state on the state board of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, promoting small business success throughout the state.

And it's my pleasure to welcome him to the Senate Chamber. Following in his father's and grandfather's footsteps, he was the youngest president of the Filipino community of Delano, holding that position in leadership and other leadership positions for the Filipino community for over twenty years.

He's a leadership a member of the Filipino American Cultural Association where the, organizations provide cultural awareness and scholarships to graduating high school students.

He's the youngest grand marshal to be honored to ever be honored in the Filipino weekend grand marshal parade along with his father, Jimmy Tamsey senior. I should have said his name is Jimmy Tamsey, but his friends call him Jay.

He's got thirty years of leading Filipino weekend in Delano, California. And in this little tiny town of Delano, it's the largest Filipino parade, in the state of California. And it's my personal honor to rec recognize him as one of the awardees.

Seeing no other discussion or debate, Senator Wahab, you may close.

Thank you. You know, oftentimes, we sit here and I often wonder when are we gonna be seen as American enough. And I've said this many, many times.

In fact, you know, as an Afghan American, a minority amongst minorities, we talk a lot about these legislative caucuses, the diversity caucuses. And I often hear why, why are they important.

Right? People kind of, dismiss them, think that it's not necessary, think that we're Americans and and that is it. That's all we need to focus on. And to some degree, we understand why people say what they say.

And I wanna highlight that the work of these community leaders, whether we're talking about the Legislative Black Caucus that has been around for 59 years, or the Legislative Latino Caucus that's been around for 53 years.

Right? We highlight the work that they have done, and the API Legislative Caucus is no different. The Jewish Caucus is no different.

We wanna elevate the work of these community members, of these Americans, and highlight the importance of what they bring to our society.

And oftentimes, when we see the news and we see some tragedy, many of us in diversity caucuses pray that the negative news is not about our community members, to be vilified in the press, specifically based on an identity, a race, a gender, an orientation.

And that is the reality of why these caucuses are so important. You know, I do wanna highlight that when we're talking about the Asian community, the violence, for example, at the Atlanta spa shootings, if you guys remember that, we confront the stereotypes

that dehumanize our communities from the emasculation of Asian men to the sexualization of Asian women, reflected in tragedies like that Atlanta spa shootings, where Asian women were targeted in a climate of racism, misogyny, and hate. And we say we must do better.

And when we talk about that, I wanna highlight why these months are important. It's because we celebrate the positives.

Because if we allowed the press and the media and elected officials at the highest level, specifically strip our humanity away in public, we can't be prideful. We can't be proud Americans.

And that is the whole reason why we do this, so that our children know that we have a beautiful history, a beautiful culture to be proud of. So AAPI Heritage Month is a celebration of culture, courage, and contribution,

but is also a reminder of what our communities have endured. From the Muslim ban to attacks on refugees, from Covid era scapegoating and anti China rhetoric that fueled Asian hate, to visa policies that leave our H1B visa workers and families in

fear, to too many AAPI communities that have been targeted instead of protected. We must also confront the stereotypes that dehumanize our communities.

As I said, the emasculation of Asian men, the sexualization of Asian women, and the erasure of working class refugees, Muslims, Pacific Islanders, and immigrant voices that built this country.

We cannot honor AAPI heritage while staying silent about the hate, the exclusion, and the policies that tear families apart. This month, we uplift our communities, celebrate our resilience, and recommit to fighting for dignity, safety, opportunity, and a future free from fear.

With that, I wanna highlight to all the members here, on your desk is a traditional teacup set. Please accept this gift on behalf of the AAPI Legislative Caucus. And with that, I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

The Ayes are 39, the Noes are 0. The resolution is adopted and under privileges of the floor Senator Wahab, you are recognized.

Definitely. I would like to introduce at least Senator Choi to highlight his honoree.

Thank you, Members. I'm so proud to recognize Suzy Suh, the first Korean American prime time news anchor in Los Angeles and a proud Orange County native.

Through her decades of a trusted journalism and community service, she has helped inform, uplift, and represent the communities across Southern California with excellence and integrity.

You can catch her anchoring CBS LA at 8 and 10PM. I'm proud to present my honorary.

Alright. Representing the Locke Foundation with us today, Douglas Shaw and Stuart Walthall. The Locke Historic District in The Delta in the Locke Historic District in The Delta in the 3rd Senate District is, according to the National Park Service, the largest, most complete, best preserved example of a rural

agricultural Chinese American community in the entire United States. And even though its population declined after prohibition and later the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, many of Locke's original buildings more than from more than a century ago are still in use today.

One one of the five formal gambling halls of what was at the time called the Monte Carlo of California is still is the Deloitte Museum. The former boarding house is now a museum preserving tools, clothing, and other Chinese American artifacts from the early nineteen hundreds.

And the Zhong Schoolhouse is now the Locke Chinese School Museum where visitors can see the original museum in Dessett students used one hundred years ago.

Where so much AAPI history in rural California has been burned, erased, or abandoned, The Locke Foundation's unrelenting efforts are a unique, profound, and unbroken line of heritage from those who built the Delta and California. Please welcome the Locke Foundation.

Alright, folks. We'll move through this. Today, I'd also like to honor Nina Chung, the assistant director of community and government relations at San Jose State University in this role.

Nina works to foster relationships with community and local government's part partners to advance policies that support student success, equity, and community engagement.

Prior to joining San Jose State, she worked in the California State Assembly where she focused on policy related to health care, education, women and girls, immigration, and social justice.

Please welcome Nina. Alright. And honored by Assembly Member Fong is Ruchana Sussman, a human trafficking survivor of the 1995 El Monte tie garment slavery case.

Following her captivity, Richana carved a path to the American citizenship for herself and the 71 other survivors and has since served as an advocate for freer wages and workers' rights as the founder of the White Springs Cafe, an award winning vegetarian and

vegan Thai fusion restaurant in Arcadia, she frequently donates food to people in the community. Please welcome her.

Honored by Assembly Member Harabedian is Caroline K Anderson, the first Asian American woman to serve as the governing board president of the Kenyatta. Kenyatta. Thank you, guys. Unified School District Board of Education.

She also serves on the LA County School Trustees Association board and is active in several civic, and AAPI led leadership organizations dedicated to advancing community engagement and representation.

In 2023, she was named woman of the year for the 28th Congressional District and the 41st Assembly District. Please welcome her.

Alright. Honored by Assembly Member Ta is Kheng Bao, a teacher at Westminster High School in Orange County with sixteen years of teaching experience and a master's degree in educational administration.

He is also the cofounder of Tian, Performing Arts, which promotes Vietnamese culture through traditional drumming, lion dancing, and other cultural performances. Mister Kong, lives in Westminster with his wife and their three daughters, Gianna, Genevieve. Genevieve.

Genevieve. Thank you. And Giselle. Thank you. Alright.

Honored by Assembly Member Kalra is Vanessa Hatakeyama representing the Japanese American History Museum of San Jose.

Located in the heart of the historic San Jose Japantown, the museum serves over 9,000 annual visitors and is sustained by a multigenerational network of staff, board, and volunteers.

The museum was founded in 1987 by second generation Japanese Americans and continues to collect, preserve, and share Japanese American history and art serving as San Jose, Japantown's cultural anchor. Please welcome.

Honored by Assemblymember Patel is Nanda Mehta, a passionate entrepreneur and CEO of Creative Journeys, a travel and event management company that she founded in 1990.

In 2015, Meta also launched AHANA, a nonprofit organization with the mission of elevating cultural awareness of South Asian communities through the powerful lens of women's voices.

The organization is known for placing Yoni Ki Baet at the forefront of its work, which is a nationally recognized and growing collection of authentic, bold, powerful stories written and performed by South Asian artists. Please welcome her.

Honored by Assembly Member Colosa is Charmaine Sunshine Morales, an RN that serves as the president of the United, Nurses Association of California and the Union of Healthcare Professionals.

As a Mexican and Filipina American, she is the first woman of color to serve as the union's president. Prior to this role, Charmaine started out as a night shift nurse and has since become a voice for those who feel invisible.

Under her inclusive leadership, she has made the union grow a sorry. She has made union growth a cornerstone of her work. Let's welcome her.

Honored by Assemblymember Banes is Jay Tomsey, a business and community leader from Kern County that has built a reputation for advancing small business growth, strengthening cross culture collaboration and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

As president and CEO of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and founder of its Business Education Foundation, he developed Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Academy to empower thousands of entrepreneurs from

underserved groups such as AAPI and Latino communities. Please welcome him.

Honored by Assembly Member Chen is Lei Weng, a Chinese American business executive with over three decades of international experience in real estate development, infrastructure, and cross border leadership.

He has held senior roles at GemDale USA, Power China Real Estate Group, Walt Disney Imagineering, and WSP USA. Some of his major projects include the Shanghai Disney Resort and the O'Hare Modernization Program.

He is also active in several businesses and community organizations in Southern California. Let's honor him today. The wonderful note of unable to attend today is Glenn Fukushima, honored by Assemblymember Muratsuchi. Sorry.

Mister Fukushima is an American academic, businessman, and philanthropist. He is currently a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington DC, and in April 2022 was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as vice chairman,

of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation following his appointment by president Joe Biden. With that, you see our honorees extremely diverse, and we're gonna take a group photo. So thank you.

Now I'll invite caucus Members with the honorees. Okay. One more photo with the API caucus Members and honorees.

Now, on behalf of Senator Ashby, please join me in welcoming Ayanna Gonzalez, national champion collegiate boxer, along with coaches and boxers with the Sac State boxing team. Welcome to the California State Senate.

One moment, pause for technical issues.

Under, privileges of of the floor, Senator Ashby is ready.

Thank you, presiding officer. I have the incredible distinction today of recognizing an amazing Californian that most of you know. I want to ask your help today in honoring a friend to all of us who is retiring. This is Mr Brian Rice, currently serving as president of the California Professional Firefighters. Brian Rice has been involved with the California Fire Service and the firefighter labor movement for more than three decades.

He spent over thirty years with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department, becoming a deputy chief of operations. He was elected twice as president of the Sacramento area firefighters local 522. He served twelve years in that position. He was elected in 2018 as president of the California professional firefighters, taking his leadership statewide and representing over 35,000 frontline firefighters across California. As CPF president, he advocated for firefighters wages, for hours, and for working conditions, and many of you wrote bills to help him do so.

He also served as co-chair of the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee, helping to set professional standards and improve training for fire service throughout the Golden State. He is a stalwart champion for the Byrne Institute and he chairs the non profit California Fire Foundation, which provides support for families of fallen firefighters, delivers disaster relief for communities, and awards grants to help strengthen community safety. I met Brian when he was the president of Local 522, and I served on the Sacramento City Council.

We worked together first on fire issues that were facing the city of Sacramento, including brownouts, which many of you who come from local government know can be devastating. It's where you close down one fire station and just hope that fires don't happen in that area and cover it with another farther away.

Incredibly dangerous to do. We worked ourselves out of that situation, and then I convinced then President Rice to help me save libraries in Sacramento, a story he tells often. At first, he asked me, 'what does this have to do with the fire department?' But quickly, he learned that the firefighters who enjoy, as you know, incredible popularity in the community could use that to do so much more. And so in Sacramento, they did.

They saved two public libraries in two disparate neighborhoods where our literacy rates were the lowest. But he didn't stop there. He went on to help with school districts and school bonds and parks and helping Sacramento in every corner and in every way possible. Brian Rice is an incredible human being. He is a dad and a husband to Liz who's here with him today, and a grandpa, and recently a great grandpa.

And if you wanna see some of the cutest kids in the world, just ask him. He will gladly show you all of them. One of my favorite stories about Brian is how he met Liz. They went to the same church. And Brian saw a single mom with these little girls and said, are you raising these girls by yourself?

Which I think he thought was a great pick up line. Turned out it was because they've been married for over forty years and they are one of the most lovely couples I've ever had the privilege to know. Senators, I know there are many of you that wanna speak, but at the appropriate time, I will ask you to please help me welcome and thank Brian Rice for his service to our amazing state.

Senator Laird, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister president. It's unnerving to regularly stand up and salute somebody that's younger than me that's retiring. But in this case, it is special. When Brian was elected head of the firefighters, I was resources secretary. And from the beginning, he was cognizant that the Cal Fire local was the largest local within the professional firefighters, and he sought to represent them in every possible way.

When the Moss Landing battery storage fire happened, he was one of my first phone calls, and he said, "Well, given the danger and the inability to put that fire out, sending fire not sending firefighters in was the right call," and it was the perfect validation for exactly what was going on.

When it comes to protecting workers' rights, we were partners in trying to get a workers comp presumption to emergency workers, including 911 operators, and he didn't care if they were in his local or outside his local. He made sure that he fought for them. And also, as many of us may know, every year for charity, he runs flights and flights of stairs fully loaded with all his equipment. And I donate because he is willing to do that and it's not me.

So I really wanna congratulate him.

He is just a public servant in every sense of the word. I actually wish he was staying on, but he deserves a long and rich retirement, and I'm really proud to join in honoring him today.

Thank you, mister president. I also rise to honor Brian Rice. I have witnessed firsthand, Brian, your, your passion for not just the profession, but for youth. Those that were looking and aspiring to become a firefighter.

Senator Grayson.

And he would give them the time and respect in his response to them just as he would a person considered important like a board member. And he treated them with the highest of respect. And so to pour himself out like that into future generations spoke volumes of him. I also have witnessed him firsthand in his passion for health and well-being of all firefighters throughout California, in particular cancer research, something that he's been very, very passionate about.

And thank you for that and your advocacy for that as well.

You're to be commended for an exemplary career. And I know that you're a hero to many, and you're a hero to me. So with that, thank you and congratulations. Well done, my friend.

Senator Durazo, you're recognized.

Thank you. Hi, Brian. Well, Brian, the labor movement is built upon people like yourself that show up, year after year, negotiation after negotiation and refuse to walk away until the job is done. By any measure, you are one of those people. You dedicate yourself to the Sacramento metro firefighters, leading local 522 at the helm of the California firefighters.

All of this speaks for itself. You have been a steadfast advocate for men and women who run toward danger, so the rest of us don't have to. But I wanna say, Brian's commitment, of course, is to firefighters and all firefighters beyond the region, beyond the state, beyond the nation. But I want you to also know that he walked alongside farm workers just a couple of years ago for their right to organize and have a union.

He walked out there in this really, I know, because I was there.

Really, really deep sun, and he was there with them. He didn't go there to be better than them. He went there to be equal to them. And I'm so proud to know you, for standing with all people you recognize that work, all work has dignity. And finally, that you're leaving the union in the hands of the first Latino president in the California firefighters history. Handpicked.

Handpicked firefighter, the first Latino and to lead the state firefighters. So with that, thank you and have a great retirement.

Senator Perez, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister president. Brian, it's such an honor to get to recognize you. I can't believe you're retiring so soon after we've gotten to know each other. I've been here in the legislature now for just a year and a half, and I feel like I've gotten to know you so well in that short time period.

I remember in the days following the Eaton fires and a matter of three, four days, you and the entire CPF team came down to Pasadena to make sure to hand out those cash cards so we could get people immediate assistance.

And the line was around the block. I mean, so many people needed help in that moment. And there is so much uncertainty and people trying to figure out whether or not their homes are still standing that you all just continue to show up and continue to provide aid to folks. And I think what's always been so moving to me is each and every time I see you, the first thing you ask me either, how is Altadena doing?

And you just wanna make sure that my residents are doing well and that they're going through the rebuild process successfully.

I know you're no stranger to fires and the impacts that it can have on communities, how it can completely change somebody's life. And I've just been so grateful for all of the compassion and the kindness that you've shown both Altadena and Pasadena, the way that you've shown up, the entire CPF team has shown up. It's meant so much to me and it's meant so much to the entire district.

So thank you for all that you've done both before I knew you, but also during this short time period. I know that you'll continue to be invested, and I welcome you back anytime to Altadena to come and visit as we continue this long process of rebuilding.

Thank you.

Senator Allen, you're recognized.

Yeah. I just wanna join the the chorus of praise for this this extraordinary leader. Congratulations to you, Brian, and thank you for all that you've done for our state. My same sentiments as was mentioned by the Senator from Altadena after all we've experienced, Brian reached out very quickly and brought a lot of support and love to the community, helped us through all that we were going through.

I also just wanna mention, Senator Laird, Senator from Santa Cruz mentioned all the, the annual stair climbing that that Brian participates in.

And it's, of course, an incredible achievement. But where do all those donations go to? Well, they go to studying and fighting blood cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, a lot of these ailments that we know that our firefighters disproportionately suffer from. Brian's been a great environmental leader in addition to a great labor leader because I think he recognizes all these environmental hazards, cancers, PFAS.

We worked really closely together on reducing PFAS in firefighting gear because there's a recognition of how much these hazards impact the members.

And he's always always looking at the big picture, always trying to make things better for people. And we just really appreciate all the work you've you've put in, all the partnership you've shown with us, and all the the legacy you've left in our state. It's really you've made our state better in so many different ways, and I just wanna congratulate you and your family on your well deserved retirement.

And Pro Tem Lemon, you're recognized.

Thank you. Brian, this is a journey for so many of us that have gotten to work with you over the years. A lot of members have talked about your many contribution leading CPF, and those includes taking ideas and issues to becoming the practice in the law. We started talking about pre positioning, and now that is the way that we do work.

Members have talked about the work that you have done to ensure that all fire safety is better and healthier, and doesn't cause and produce the toxins that it does and harm to our firefighters, and that is the law.

We have talked about the important role that, firefighters play with all communities across the state, cities and counties, and knowing that contract counties and many others also, have impacts and need to think about the workforce. We have looked at weeks, 66 hour weeks, for firefighters, and so many and the list really goes on. But so many of those ideas and issues, have gone through a process.

A process, that you have been leading, where you have brought the issues, you have advanced the understanding for us, and you have done it with your firefighters and the state of California at the forefront. I'm so grateful to you, for your leadership, for your work, as someone who has, three counties, two of which have annual, many, many, wildfires, including the Thomas Fire that we had in 2017.

We have navigated, and as you've heard other members say, we've navigated the pain that some of, that destruction brings to the community. The physical pain, the emotional pain, that doesn't end with the firefighter. That doesn't end in that moment, but that continues for many, many years to come. And you have helped this legislature lead through that and also pass laws. Liz, you have been there through quite a journey.

For anyone who is married to a firefighter who leads our state, there are sacrifices that family members make. And those sacrifices are ample, but also the support that you've provided. Because every time that Brian talks about what he looks forward to, spending time with you and the family is what makes him smile the way he does. And we know that you've also sacrificed as a loved one, and we're excited that he gets to have you now with more time.

The state will miss him, but we know Doc's gonna do a good job, as he gets ready to lead, and we're grateful to you for your leadership and for everyone that you have represented.

But for first and foremost, for ensuring that our state is a safer state because of the work that you've done. Congratulations on your retirement.

So, mics went up that I didn't notice before I recognized you, and I apologize for being a bit out of order. Senator Cabaldon, you recognize.

Thank you, mister president. I think I might be the only one on this floor that mister Rice has helped to protest. When you're mayor for twenty years, you have a more nuanced relationship with firefighters and their union than you might on this floor. And I certainly had all of those relationships. And it speaks so much to Brian Rice's character that he brings the entire ethos, the entire vibe of being a firefighter to this work.

When he was president of 522, local 522 covers West Sacramento. And Brian Rice will never go into a fire without being prepared. When the siren goes on, here I'm not talking about: this is a metaphor. You know, going into policy issues or to politics, to protests, that Brian and and his colleagues insist that all the equipment checks out. Everything has been prepared.

It's all been properly maintained. We are ready to do this and we're gonna do it right. I've never seen Brian or his team walk in and say, "Hey, we just had this idea. What do you think?"

It's always meticulous. It's always perfect in its execution. Even if you don't agree, you know the work has been done. When there is a fight, when everything is falling apart, Ryan Rice is the kind of leader statewide that you can hear saying, "I'm in the other room, we're gonna get down this door now.

Just calm down. It's gonna be okay. Breathe. It's gonna be alright." And that Brian Rice will never say, "Hey, we got exactly 50.1% of the votes that we need.

We're going out." He Brian will like his members, will leave no one behind. And will even in the midst of the worst fights, it's always each individual person. What are they, what are they feeling? What are they experience?

What can I learn? That is something that, is a hallmark. And it's very unusual, I've discovered in this world, to lead not with sharp elbows, but with a profound sense of heart and purpose. And just on behalf of people in my own district and community, but just as a human, human to human, Brian, thank you for your service to our region. Thank you for your service to our state.

Senator Reyes, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister president, members. What an honor to be here with a dear friend and his beautiful wife. For many of you, you've done lots of work with Brian over the years, but I've got to tell you that for me the best example of who Brian is, is the work we did together on AB 2147.

A very important bill about second chances for inmate firefighters who were being trained and being allowed to learn something new, and it wasn't easy to have the leader of the professional firefighters not only lead his men and women, but to lead California for something that was better for all of California.

And what you did by providing the leadership and also the compassion that was needed to pass that legislation, I think is something that I will hold very dear in my heart for as long as I am a legislator and beyond.

Because the work has transformed the lives of so many of those who never would have received a second chance. It was something that was so important not only to them, but to their families and to the the to the cousins and to the little brothers, those who were on the wrong track. It provided something so meaningful.

AB 2147 provided for inmate firefighters an expedited expungement so that after they had served their term, they had been vetted to be able to be, hand crews, and to receive that training. Once they they left, they had the opportunity to go through the process of an expedited expungement, and with that then to be able to sit through and take the test to be an EMT, and one day be what they always wanted to be as that firefighter.

And it was your leadership, and again it was your compassion that allowed this to be passed, and I am so grateful to you for what you did. Thank you.

Senator Strickland, you're recognized?

Well, I have to first say it's impossible to follow-up that that wonderful speech by Senator Reyes. But I wanna wish Brian all the all the best in your retirement. And, you know, you've done a fantastic job for the firefighters. And you and the firefighters do whatever you can to keep us safe in California. One of the biggest things that I have deep respect is you really fought for your member's safety to make sure their health and safety was taken care of.

And you did a great job for your membership. You know, things like presumption and studying, you know, the health care, studying causes of cancer for your members, and fighting for your members. And California is a better place because of your leadership, and I just wanna wish you well on your retirement. And look, the most essential role of government is public safety, and you and your members do such a great job for the people of California.

When the rest of us are running away from danger, you and your members are running towards danger.

And I just, I'm glad that you're healthy, and I hope you enjoy your retirement with your family. And I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you.

Senator Stern, would you recognize?

Thank you, mister president. You can help other people through your pain because you know pain yourself. And, Brian, I wanted to thank you for being willing to share that when these fires roll through, the pro tem was talking about pain and you've walked through the ashes of my community and even my own home.

But would your members take in with them and how it can break spirits and break hearts and even, break your will to live, you've shown, that that is not some disorder to be shunned, but that it's an injury to be healed. And even when we lose your members, as we lost in the last, what, three months of 2025. I think we had four members of California's firefighting community take their own lives.

You had the courage to talk about your own story and show your own strength. And I think you've opened up for a a generation of firefighters, not just in this state, but around this country and the world that being tough is also knowing when you need help and, you save lives. And I'm just proud to have done that with you. So where there is where there is humility, there is greatness. So you are a great man in that regard.

And the other firefighter here, Senator Seyarto, you're recognized.

Thank you very much. And, you know, on on behalf of all of our firefighters throughout California, I think I can help represent them today in, extending to do our our greatest thanks for your tireless work and trying to make sure that we have lives, beyond retirement, but also that we don't set ourselves up for future failure while we're working. When I came on the job, it was common to not wear your breathing apparatus.

It was common to go in with your turnout coat, but not your turnout pants. And all through the years, we've made these advancements.

And, during Brian's term, we are especially hit hard, with cancers, the growing cancer risk from all of the different chemicals and, and also the mental health issues that, that firefighters and on all emergency responders carry with them. And, your tireless efforts to make sure that you're up here educating, all of the people that are involved in policy making, so that they are aware of what we're dealing with out there is appreciated by all of our firefighters throughout the state.

And I know it's not an easy job. They're hard to wrangle sometimes. But at the end of the day, people are very, very appreciative of your tireless efforts.

And I just wanna say on on behalf of the unofficial firefighter caucus that that I really, really appreciate not only your friendship but your advice over the over the years on what we need to do more for our next generation of firefighters. And I appreciate you have to be careful what you work for. Otherwise, the firefighters do have lives beyond the fire service and you wind up doing this. So anyway, congratulations on your retirement and, enjoy. Thank you.

And, Brian, as a friend of many years, I wish you a wonderful and as busy as you want retirement. And you and Liz work on that another forty years. And with that, I turn it back to the majority leader, Senator Ashby.

First of all, I should note that Brian Rice is a constituent of Senator Niello's portion of the Sacramento County area, though he has my full heart. You have probably already surmised, Brian is a hero to everyone. Firefighters and all of us and so many people as, the Good Center from Los Angeles has already indicated, have benefited from his life and his willingness to share his story so openly. Brian, I love you, man, and you know that. You're family to me.

And on behalf... I know you have one of these from the assembly, but it's lame compared to us. We're cooler than them. This one's red, so that makes it more important... We are so grateful for you and, Liz. Sacramento is a better place because you chose to call it home.

The state of California is better off because you stayed and fought when you could have retired. You didn't. You climbed up one more rung and helped that many more people. And we are all so, so grateful to you. So one more time, colleagues, let's thank Brian Rice.

Everybody might wanna join for another picture now.

So back to consideration of the daily files, Senate third reading, we'll go to file item 87. Senator Jones, secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 168 by Senator Jones relative to motorcycle safety awareness month in California.

Mister president, I'm a guest for this presentation, so I'll wait for, the prior presentation to clear out.

When you're ready. Thank you, sir.

Thank you, mister president and members. I rise today to present SCR 168, which designates May as motorcycle safety awareness month. Since the nineteen eighties, the California Highway Patrol's California Motorcyclist Safety Program has helped train more than 1,200,000 riders and supported over 1,400,000 licensed motorcyclists statewide. Over the last five years alone, the program has trained and licensed more than 155,000 motorcycle students. With support from the California office of traffic safety, California has continued investing in rider education and public awareness campaigns, including Caltrans.

And I certainly appreciate this effort from Caltrans on the road signs on the freeways that say, quote, share the road, look twice for motorcycles. As a motorcycle rider myself, and as I know there, Senator Grayson and others on the floor that are motorcycle riders, I certainly appreciate that effort by Caltrans. These efforts have helped reduce annual motorcycle fatalities in California by ten percent, even as the national average has increased by one percent. California has long led the nation on motorcycle policy and safety.

And today's resolution is both a celebration of that fact and a reminder of the ongoing dangers motorcyclists face on our roadways.

Motorcycles also provide an efficient form of transportation that helps reduce roadway congestion, parking demand, and wear on public infrastructure. I might put a plug in here. Instead of having bike lanes, we should have motorcycle lanes on, you know, some roads. Yeah. I know.

I was I knew I knew I'd rile somebody up about that. As a motorcycle rider myself, I appreciate the importance of ensuring all drivers remain aware of one another and safely share the road. I respectfully ask for your aye vote today on SCR 168. I have some guests today, mister president, with me today on the floor

Senator Jones? Senator Jones?

Yep.

We'll take the vote first. Senator Grove has the comment. We'll take the vote, and then we'll meet your guests.

Let's do that.

Yes. What sounds like a plan. Senator Grove, you're recognized.

I have a comment on Senator Jones' guest, so I will wait. Thank you, sir.

So secretary, please call the roll. This is eligible for a unanimous consent. Seeing no objection, the ayes are 39 and the noes are zero. It is adopted. Senator Jones.

Thank you, mister president and members. I'm honored today. We are honored, actually, all of us, to be joined on the floor, here in the Senate, by assistant commissioner with the California Highway Patrol, a trailblazer, Robin Johnson. And, mister president, may I have permission to read, please?

Thank you. Members, this is from the California Highway Patrol's, press release when commissioner Johnson was, promoted to assistant commissioner. This is pretty incredible, actually. With twenty six years of dedicated service, Robin Johnson has consistently broken barriers, notably as the first woman to serve as the special representative to the legislature, and as commander of the CHP Academy. Her distinguished career includes roles as a motorcycle safety officer.

Permission granted.

Let me just read that again just in case you all missed missed. Role as she was a motor cop. How cool is that? I asked her about that. At the time, she was a motorcycle officer.

She was one of 12 female motorcycle officers in the state of California. And the first female emergency vehicle operations course sergeant at the academy. Robin Johnson's leadership and commitment continue to inspire future generations in law enforcement. Mister president, I'll yield, to Senator Grove, and then I have some other, visitors in the in the gallery.

Senator Grove, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister president. I my colleague from Santee and I both went to the same press release to comment on commissioner Robin's comment or Robin Johnson's leadership and commitment to the continued service that she has for the California Highway Patrol. So I will say that she joins, leadership and that commissioner Dury is also a motorcycle cop. And I can say this, and all the ladies in the legislative caucus will give it a round of applause.

I'm sure you give the woman a right pair of shoes and a gun, and she can do anything.

I suppose the gun helps too. Senator Jones, your other guests and you may close.

Yeah. Yes, mister president. Up in the gallery, I have Dave Seiler, chairman of the Abate of California, Bill McLennan, executive director of Abate, and other California motorcycle safety program officers, commanders, and administrators. Ladies and gentlemen, if we can give commissioner Johnson and our guests a round of applause, I'd appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Now if others would like to join in on a photograph. And next is file item 22, SCR 148 by Senator Padilla. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 148 by Senator Padilla tip to GM1 gangliosidosis awareness day.

Senator Padilla, you are recognized.

Thank you, mister president. Members arise today to present Senate Concurrent Resolution 148, which declares 05/23/2026 as GM1 gangliosidosis day. This is a rare and inherited genetic disorder that primarily affects children. It is a devastating disorder. Debilitating ramifications include developmental regression, mobility deterioration, visual impairment, and neurodegeneration.

It is a progressive disorder resulting in irreversible damage. The longer someone is affected and unfortunately, more than fifty percent of those impacted die before their fifth birthday. The faster a diagnosis is made, the sooner a patient can work to limit the damage with therapies, medication or clinical trials, which may slow disease progression or help with symptom alleviation. However, while research into enzyme replacement therapy, gene therapy and other possible treatments are ongoing, there are still no approved treatments for GM1.

It is that lack of standardized and scientifically proven treatment for GM1 that makes early diagnosis all the more important.

This disease is still not yet well known. And because of this, it takes an average of four years or more before most families with these children receive a diagnosis far too long and often very late. The more that we can educate people, the better chance we have to find the treatments and interventions that may save lives. My first year in the Senate, I came across the story of Violet Law, who tragically passed away in November 2023 from GM1 at the age of four.

Violet's beautiful life was full of laughter, smiles, swimming, Disneyland trips, friends, and family.

Her story and the tireless efforts of her parents, doctor David Law and doctor Veena Sisson were incredibly moving. A family experiencing the greatest challenge parents can imagine or face and meeting it with grit, poise, and purpose. Violet and

her parents spurred a movement that raised thousands of dollars toward research efforts and spread awareness about GM1. My colleagues, I respectfully ask for your aye vote to continue every year to raise awareness of this devastating disorder.

Seeing no discussion or debate, this measure is eligible for unanimous consent. Seeing no objections, the ayes are 39. The noes are zero. And I believe you have guests.

I do, mister president.

The motion passes. The resolution passes.

Thank you. Come on up. With us today is the president and founder of Cure GM1 Foundation, Christine Wagner, who is here in honor of her daughter, Iris. Varuna Gopalan, board member of the Cure GM1 Foundation, and Munmeet Patel, here in honor of their son, Kian. Doctor.

David Law, board member of Cure GM1 Foundation, who is here in the memory of his daughter, Violet. These people are strong advocates for increasing awareness of g m one in the hope that others afflicted with this disorder can have a fighting chance. Please welcome them, colleagues.

Members, next up is file item 39 SR 95. Senator Nilelo, secretary, please read.

Senator Resolution 95 by Senator Niello relative to myotrophic lateral sclerosis awareness month.

Senator Niello, you are recognized.

Thank you, mister president. I appreciate the opportunity to present SR 95, which proclaims May as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis awareness month, otherwise known as ALS in the state of California. ALS is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease, that robs people of their ability to walk, speak, eat, and ultimately to breathe. While cognition is often preserved, the body the body steadily fails.

Sadly, there is no cure. Nearly thirty thousand Americans are living with the disease at any given time. On average, a person is diagnosed with ALS every ninety minutes. Additionally, every ninety minutes, a person loses their life to this disease. Sadly, most individuals survive just two to five years following the diagnosis.

As I'm sure you can imagine, the burden on families is profound. People living with ALS often require complex, multidisciplinary care, expensive durable medical equipment, home modifications, and advanced communication technologies as speech becomes increasingly impaired. Ensuring timely access to emerging therapies and participation in clinical trials is critical, not only to extend survival, but to improve their quality of life. Designating May as ALS awareness month in California sends a powerful message of solidarity to the thousands of Californians living with ALS and their loved ones.

It affirms our commitment to advancing research, strengthening care, and ensuring that no family faces ALS alone.

I respectfully ask you to join me in shining a brighter light on this urgent public health issue by supporting SR 95.

Thank you, Senator Singh. One mic up. Senator Choi, you are recognized.

Thank you, Preston and and the members. I rise today in strong support of SER, Senate Resolution 95 recognizing ALS awareness month and honoring those affected by ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a devastating and progressive disease that attacks the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, gradually robbing individuals of their ability to move, speak, eat, and eventually breathe. While the disease takes away physical strength, it never takes away the courage, dignity, and the determination of those living with ALS.

Today, we honor the patients, families, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers who contribute continue contributing to this difficult fight every day.

We also recognize the organizations and the advocates are working tirelessly to raise awareness, support the research, and pursue better treatment, and ultimately a cure. I mentioned last year, I believe, that my in laws, my son's mother is suffering this unfortunate illness disease, and she has lived a long time, the average expectation of the lifetime after acquiring that horrible disease. So I know how devastating it is for the families that when you have close family members suffering of this kind of a horrible disease.

This resolution reminds us that public awareness matters. Compassion matters, research funding matters, and the hope matters.

I strongly urge you an eye vote.

Seeing no further mics up for discussion or debate, Senator Nilo, you may close.

I just respectfully ask for an aye vote so that we can give this terrible disease the recognition

that it needs, respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you. This item is eligible for unanimous roll call without objection. Seeing and hearing no objection, ayes 39, no zero. The resolution is adopted.

Senator Melo, you have guests

Yes. To be introduced. We do. In the gallery, we have Jack Davis, Norrell Richards, Heather Dawson, Erin Johnson, Anne Graff, and Lori Bonds joining us in the gallery. Welcome to the California state Senate.

Senators, let's welcome. Now item number 40, Senator Dolly. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 156 by Senator Dolly, reddited to National Stroke Awareness Month.

And you are recognized.

Thank you, mister president and the members. I rise today to present X XCR one fifty six for claiming May as stroke and brand this month. There are over seven billion stroke survivors in The USA. I had a stroke over two years ago. Pardon my purpose now at elevate elevating stroke awareness and bringing attention to aphasia.

Phased aphasias means loss of language, not intelligence. People with aphasia have thoughts, opinions, and ideas. We look fine, but aphasia is invisible. One in four adult worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. Prayers and the support of my family and colleagues my my is my motivation.

Globally, stroke were the leading cause of death and disabilities. Each stroke impacting people differently. One and one and three Americans don't know how to name the stroke symptoms. And one half one one half the Americans do not know they're at risk. High blood pressures, the leading cause of stroke, along with high cholesterol, Sorry.

Obesity obesity and diabetes. I urge every California to learn be fast, a roaring a roaring sign of stroke, balance loss, eye sight changes, throat, face drooping, arm recessed, speed difficulty, nine time to tell 911. Be fast. Every minute counts. The in acting fast will will mean difference between recovery and lasting testimonies.

The excuse was I I was blessed to have a stroke in my hospital where escalating care was invalid bulb in minutes. Some people are not. The a stroke can hit in the mall, in the carpool line, in the middle of the night. I would not be here today without the maybe care of the, doctors, medical teams, rehab therapists, and doc hospitals. We we could can't oh my gosh.

So Thank you. Yeah.

Senator Araghien, you are recognized.

Thank you, mister president. I also rise today in support of Senate concurrent Resolution 156, which raises awareness of the risks and impacts of strokes, which are one of the leading causes of death and long term disability in California and our nation. And I wanna thank my colleague, the Senator from Bieber, for introducing this resolution and for her courageous advocacy on this important issue.

Aye, like I think many of us, are truly inspired by the courage, the strength, and determination that she not only shows in how she represents her constituents, but to be a voice for one in four adults around the world who experienced a stroke in their lifetime. Recovering from a stroke is a long and arduous process.

So to be here today as a California State Senator and to share your story is truly, truly incredible and a powerful testament to your character. I wanna give her a round of applause. And just a little bit of context, around one in three survivors of stroke develop aphasia, a communication disorder which impacts one's ability to speak. Those who develop aphasia do not lose their ability to think. It creates a disconnect between transferring the thoughts in one's mind into speech.

And one of the leaders of treatment and rehabilitation for aphasia my district, the Aphasia Center of California, whose office is in my district and home city of Oakland, founded in 1996. The Aphasia Center was the first independent nonprofit in the country to provide direct services for people living with this symptom. Their work over decades have helped countless people overcome the odds of living with a speech disability by providing meaningful progress in communication treatments Ephysia Center and those who are at the forefront of treatment and recovery.

And once again, thank my colleague, the Center from Bieber, for her courageous advocacy on this important issue. Respect plaster and I vote on SCR 156.

Senator Valladares, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister president. Members, today I rise in support of SCR 156, recognizing May as stroke awareness month. Today is deeply personal for our Republican caucus and for this body. We're not just talking about statistics, we're talking about our colleague, about courage, about resilience, and about the power of the human spirit. Our colleague, the great Senator from Bieber has shown this chamber what true strength looks like.

After surviving a stroke and living with aphasia, she continues to serve, continues to fight, and continues to use her voice even when that voice comes differently than it did before. And I think that that's what makes her story so incredibly powerful. Because her voice is not diminished. If anything, it is more powerful than ever. She reminds people across California that life after stroke is still full of purpose, dignity, leadership, and hope.

She is inspiring, resilient, brave, and truly a role model for so many families facing these challenges. And this issue matters. Every forty seconds, someone in America suffers a stroke. It remains one of the leading causes of death and long term disability. But outcomes often depend on one thing, how quickly someone can access care.

That is especially important in healthcare deserts like many in like my district. Rural communities where hospitals, specialists, rehabilitation services, and emergency response times can mean the difference between recovery and tragedy. For families in those communities, awareness matters. Early intervention matters. Access matters.

So today as we recognize Stroke Awareness Month, may we also recommit ourselves to ensuring that every Californian, no matter their zip code, has access to the care and the support that they need. And to our colleague, thank you for your example, for your perseverance, and for your courage. California is better because of your service. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Ashby, you're recognized. Well, I too would like to urge an aye vote on SCR 156, but I wanna note that, the Senator from Bieber has taught us all so much. And it's been incredible to watch her progression. Even over the last year or so, her her fight to get those words back to be able to say what she needs to say is so much stronger than it was even a year ago.

She is a living embodiment of what is possible if you just never ever ever give up and keep trying.

And I remember a year ago when she did this because she asked me to speak for her. Yeah. And I would like to note today, I am not speaking for her. I am speaking in support of her.

Senator Dahle, as they say in the song, it's getting better all the time. You may close.

Thank you for my colleagues for the comments I see you make. I have speech therapy twice a week. I have eye therapy. I have therapy all the time. And the, a rehab therapist, like, really smart and kind and I love him.

So so I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

This, resolution is eligible for unanimous consent. And seeing no objections, the ayes are 37. The noes are zero. The resolution is adopted. And I believe you have some guests.

Yes. Members, I'm today, I'm going to resent as the FASIA Senator of California with a Senate resolution. Rexha denies their their hard work and supporting the stroke survivors and aphasia. I've I've I have firsthand and, firsthand knowledge the impact the organoidization. Here with me today, the, fascia center of Hap California, Manta Olson, my speed therapist.

Sarah Burton, the director, Geeti Serra. Yeah. So the clinical director, and Amber Barton, office administrator. I I want to thank you for a credible work to do every day to help survivors navigate their recovery. Due the two years ago, I have I was honored to be a member of the Phasia Group Young Stroke Survivors.

With me today are Peter, Wendy, and Eric. Please join me to recognize them.

And continuing on Senate third reading, moving to item 91 by Senator Groves. Secretary, please read.

Senator resolution 110 by Senator Groves. Redited to hospital week in California.

Senator Groves, at the majority leader's desk, you are recognized.

Thank you, mister president. Colleagues, I rise today, in recognition of National Hospital Week in California. I'd like to start by expressing my gratitude to the doctors, the nurses, the emergency room personnel, health care workers, and hospitals throughout my district and the state who provide essential care to the communities that we serve. California hospitals serve vital pillars in our communities of they birth children, they care for the ill, they support those in need, and provide specialized medical care for millions of patients each year.

From rural communities to suburban neighborhoods, our major urban centers, hospitals remain essential for protecting the health and well-being of Californians and our state.

In addition to delivering care, hospitals support local economies, they create jobs, They serve as trusted institutions. Times, in public health emergencies and disasters. When hospitals reduce services, close or close, Californians and their families lose access to emergency rooms, maternity care, cardiovascular care, mental health services, and a litany of other medical necessary treatment. Preserving access to quality health care is essential to protecting public health, both urban and rural.

National Hospital Week provides that opportunity to recognize the extraordinary commitment of California's health care workforce, its vital roles the hospitals play in strengthening our communities, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SCR 110.

Senator Weber Pearson, you're recognized.

Thank you, mister president. Members, today I rise today as a proud joint author of SCR or sorry, SR 110, which recognizes National Hospital Week in California. I wanna thank the great Senator for Bakersfield for bringing this resolution before us. This resolution honors hospitals, healthcare workers, and support staff who care for Californians every hour of every day.

This resolution is about the nurses finishing long overnight shifts, the emergency room doctors responding in a crisis, the environmental services workers keeping patients safe, the technician behind the scenes, and every staff member whose work often goes unseen but is absolutely essential.

Hospitals are more than places where people go to heal. They are trusted community institutions and the cornerstones of neighborhoods across our state. Hospitals are where some of the most important life moments happen. They are where a parent rushes with a sick child at 2AM, where the trauma team responds after a serious accident, where babies are born, where families gather in moments of fear, hope, and healing. In communities across California, hospitals are a lifeline.

Whether rural, suburban, or urban, they provide round the clock care people rely on twenty four hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days a year. As a physician and someone who has spent countless hours in hospitals here in California and across the station, I know firsthand that quality care is never the result of one person alone. It takes a team of doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, technicians, first responders, food service workers, and support staff all working together under intense pressure to care for patients.

California hospitals care for millions of patients each year, including more than 15,000,000 emergency room visits. They also provide critical behavioral health services, specialty care, rehabilitation, and preventative services that strengthen community health.

They are also the centers of learning and innovation, training the next generation of physicians and health professionals who will care for Californians in the years ahead. And hospitals are the economic anchors. In many communities, they are among the largest employers supporting families, local businesses, and regional economies. But we also know that hospitals are under a real strain. Workforce shortages, rising cost, and growing patient needs are creating serious pressures, especially in rural and underserved area.

When a hospital loses services or closes, a community loses far more than just a building. It can mean longer ambulance rides, delayed emergency care, fewer maternity options, and fewer potentially life saving resources close to home. This is why this week is not only a celebration, but is a reminder of the importance of protecting access to care for every Californian. During National Hospital Week, we thank every person who walks through hospital doors ready to serve others with compassion, skill, and dedication.

I encourage all Californians to join us in recognizing this week as hospital week in California and respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR 110.

Thank you.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Groves, you may close.

Thank you, mister president. And I thank my colleague who is also an incredible OB GYN doctor and has served in many hospitals for her comments on this resolution. From rural communities to suburban neighborhoods and major urban centers, our hospitals remain essential in protecting the health and well-being of all Californians. And so I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

This measure is eligible for unanimous consent. And seeing no objections, the ayes are 37. The noes are zero. The resolution is adopted. And now lifting the calls. Oh, I excuse me.

You have guests.

I do, sir. Colleagues, it's my honor to introduce Jim Server Suver. Excuse me, the CEO and president of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, a hospital in my district that was one of the financially distressed hospitals and in a rural and isolated area. It was a difficult thing to adjust to and difficult resources to garner because we allow resources for rural hospitals, but not isolated hospitals.

And isolated hospitals have an exceeding larger population than rural hospitals, and they serve a larger population, but they're still in the middle of nowhere and have very limited resources.

Since becoming the CEO in 2009, Jim has helped ensure that quality health care remains accessible to families living in one of California's most rural and isolated regions. The region also includes the the naval where the Naval Air Warfare station of China Lake, which is the the United States military's largest research and development arm that brings new technology to the warfighter to protect those that protect our nation. Under Jim's leadership, Rich Crest expanded the health care clinics.

He's fought to maintain critical medical services like labor and delivery centers despite the financial challenges that he's experienced by these rural isolated hospitals because of inadequate reimbursement rates and policies that come out of this building that increase cost per hospitals. After the two thousand and nineteen earthquakes, Jim was appointed to the commission of emergency medical services, a role recognized by his steady leadership during a time of crisis in the Ridgecrest community.

The governor went to visit our Ridgecrest community and the hospital, in which we established incredible services for our entire community and took care of the individuals that protect us on the base. The impact of Jim's work can be measured not only in programs and services, but in the peace of mind that he has provided countless of families in Ridgecrest, including military members of our or members of our United States military and their family in the surrounding areas on the 395 Corridor.

Jim is one of the most quiet, humble, kind individuals you would ever know. He's fought hard for not only hospitals across our state, but again, my community that's isolated. And I can tell you that he doesn't ever expect anything.

He picked up the phone one day and he called me, and he said, do you think it would be possible to get our payments from CDPH from ninety days down to thirty, so that we could stay open another six months? CDPH immediately complied. But this is a man who didn't ask for millions of dollars, again, 5,000,000 on the distressed financial loan program.

He could have asked for way more, but he's just a humble, kind person, and his heart of service is just to make sure that the community that he represents is protected, and he provides adequate, excellent health care to our community. He really is leading the way when you think about, rural and isolated health care, and it's my honor to present him this resolution, in reference to all rural hospitals and hospitals in our communities that we all serve.

Every one of our constituents, they may not go on a vacation, they may not need, any type of service that we spend a lot of money on in this building to provide services for, but every one of our constituents will need a hospital one day. And Jim Suver is the impeccable representative of hospital presidency and resiliency, and just an a steady hand in the times of crisis, and it's my honor to have him on the floor today. Please welcome my guest.

Now others may wanna join in for a picture. Senator Groves, your guest has a tough job. And now we will move on to lifting the calls, the four governors appointments. The first is item number one. Secretary, please call the roll.

All the absent members.

Blakespear.

Choi. Aye.

Limon. Valladares? Aye.

The ayes are 38. The noes are zero. That appointment is confirmed. Now file item number two. Secretary, please call the absent members.

Allen? Aye. Blakespear? Choi? Aye. Guzman? Valldares?

Aye.

The ayes are 38. The noes are zero. That appointment is confirmed. Next is file item number four. Secretary, please call the roll and

Blakespear?

Members.

Choi? Aye. Jones? Aye. Limon? Maguire?

Valladares, aye.

So 37? 37.

The ayes are 37. The noes are zero. That appointment is confirmed. And now appointment excuse me, file item number five. Secretary, please call the absent members.