Senate Floor

Secretary will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. Colleagues, if we can return to our desk and please rise. Will the guests be on the railing, please rise. This afternoon, we'll be led in prayer by Reverend j Jason Benzie.

Let us pray. God of all peoples and nations, you show us the splendor of diversity and the beauty of unity. Make us who come from many languages, genders, abilities, nations, orientations, and perspectives, a united body that delights in our many and varied gifts. Defend our liberties and give those entrusted with authority the spirit of wisdom that there might be a greater measure of justice and certain peace. Arrogance and hatred that infect our hearts.

Break down the walls that separate us. Unite us in bonds of love. And through our struggle and confusion, enrich our unique calling with purpose and conviction. Namaste. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We have no privileges of the floor. Messages from the governor will be deemed read. Messages from the assembly will be deemed read. Mess reports of committee will be deemed read and amendments adopted. Moving on to motions, resolutions, and notices.

Motion to approve Senate journals. Without objection, the Senate journals for 06/08/2026 through 06/11/2026 will be approved as corrected by the minute clerk. Under floor amendment motion, there are floor amendments at the desk. They will be deemed adopted. Pursuant to Senate rule 29.1 b, the following bills are referred to the committee on rules.

Item number 12, AB 28. Pursuant to Senate rule 29.1 c, the following bills are referred to the committee on rules. Item number a 56, AB 40, AB 37, AB 745, item a 40, AB 904, item 11, AB 1130, and item 13, AB 1267. Senator Loehr, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I move that measures reported by the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, which are June sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth, be given a second reading upon being reported and ordered to the third reading.

Senator Niello, for what purpose do you rise?

I protest that motion. Request a roll call vote.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Laird is asking for an aye vote on this motion. Senator Niello is asking for a no vote. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

We're gonna go through the role one more time. Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Aye is 26. Noes, nine. The motion carries. Senator Laird, you're recognized for your second vote

Thank you, madam president. Members, I move that joint rule 62 a be suspended to allow the committee on Budget and Fiscal Review to hear measures related to the budget on Tuesday, June 16, Wednesday, June 17, and Thursday, June 18 without sufficient notice. I ask for an aye vote.

Senator Niello, with your protest.

I object to this motion and, would agree to substituting the last vote for this vote.

I appreciate the consideration, but we have a lot of members not on the floor, so we're gonna do the roll call again. Senator Laird is asking for a no vote. Senator Niello is asking for a no vote. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Give us a second, colleagues. We're looking for other senators. Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes, 29. Nos, 10. The motion carries. We're moving on to our consideration of the daily file. We have items one through 13 under second reading file. Secretary, please read.

[Second Reading]

Reading will be deemed read. We have items seventeen, eighteen, and 20 under governor's appointments all by Senator Grove. Senator Grove, file item 17.

Thank you, madam president. Colleagues, file item 17 is a confirmation of Julie Lee for reappointment to the Delta Stewardship Council where she currently serves as the chair. Before joining the council in 2022, she is serving in the executive branch and under as the undersecretary for the government operations agency. She was approved by the rules committee on June 3 on a unanimous vote respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Colleagues, I rise to offer some unsolicited advice to the Delta Protection Commission appointees. The Delta is a damaged natural resource that provides water to 27,000,000 Californians. The Delta Tunnel has been proposed as a solution to the water problems. However, the Delta Tunnel is extremely expensive. And even if this it started, it may never be finished, leaving many communities stuck with a very large bill and no water to show for it.

The tunnel would be extraordinarily damaging to the Delta region. So my advice is to look for other alternatives, such as the California Water Renaissance idea to develop a statewide sustainable water plan to be part of a solution for reliable water supply for the remainder of the century. I will vote for these appointees.

It's ..., please.

We were

Point well taken, the presiding officer was close to calling that as well. So but the speaker has ceased. Senator Grove, you may now close.

madam president.

Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Senator Grove, file item 18, please.

Thank you, madam president. Colleagues, file item 18 is a confirmation of Anna, or excuse me, Anne Patterson for the appointment of the Delta Stewardship Council. Prior to this appointment, she served as the governor's office in various leadership positions, including singular counselor, cabinet secretary, and legal affairs secretary. We all know her. She's incredible at everything she does and she was approved by the rules committee on June 3 on a 5-0 vote. Respectfully asked for an aye vote.

No mics up. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Senator Grove file item 20.

Madam president, colleagues file item 20 as a confirmation of Santa Cruz County Sheriff Christopher Clark for the appointment of the Board of State of Community Corrections. He joined the BSCC in January, and his appointment, is supported by the California State Sheriffs Association. He was approved by the rule rules committee, on June 3. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Sarah Laird, you're recognized.

Madam, president, I just wanna say that he is my hometown sheriff. He's really popular, really qualified, responsive to the people, and is an outstanding appointment for this, and I urge an aye vote.

Senator Grove, you can you may close.

Respectfully, thank my colleague, my good colleague from Santa Cruz for making good comments on this individual. I agree with him and respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senators. Senators. Please take all conversations off the floor. It's really, really loud in here. Moving into, secretary, please call the roll on file item 20.

[Roll Call]

Senator Grove moves the call. Moving into Senate third reading, we have one item, item 37, Senator Choi. It's your resolution. Secretary, please read.

Senate joint Resolution 17 by Senator Choi relative to veterans.

Senator Choi. Thank you, madam president. I'm pleased to present the SA 17, which honors Republic Of Korea veterans who fought alongside American troops during the Vietnam War and the later became United States citizens. More than 300,000 South Korean troops served in Vietnam, making the Republic Of Republic Of Korea our nation's largest ally to that conflict.

SAR 17 urges Congress and the president to allow states to extend burial and memorial benefits in state veterans' cemeteries to these veterans who left Korea to stand shoulder to shoulder in Vietnam with the American soldiers.

Congress has already extended certain medical and home loan benefits to veterans of other allied countries. SGL 17 does not expand eligibility or create a new state benefit. It asks for Federal Government to clarify whether states may honor these veterans without risking federal cemetery funding. I respectfully ask for your aye vote on this important resolution.

Senator Archuleta, you're recognized.

As the chair of the military and veterans committee, I support Senate bill j r 17 to recognize the fact that our veterans, those who served in Vietnam, who served alongside many cases with the South Vietnamese soldiers who also gave up their lives and sacrificed. And there, they saw sacrifice together.

And now that some of them are in their eighties and nineties, to recognize them here in California, to allow them that privilege to be buried in California as American citizens that they are, I support Senate Bill SJR 17.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Choi, you may now

close. Thank you, Senator Ochileira, for your supporting statements. As a chairperson of the Veterans Committee, I urge your aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. Hi. Alvarado-Gil. Hi. Archuleta.

Hi. Hi. Hi. Ashby Becker. Hi.

Blaisebier. Hi. Cabaldon. Aye, Caballero, Aye, Cervantes, Aye, Choi, Aye, Cortesi, Aye, Dali, Aye, Durazo, Aye, Gonzales, Grayson, Aye, Grove, Aye, Hurtado, Aye, Jones, Lair. Aye, Limon.

Maguire. Aye, McBurnie. Aye, Menjivar. Aye, Nilo. Aye, Ochoa Bog.

Aye, Padilla. Aye, Perez. Aye, Reyes. Aye, Richardson. Aye, Rubio.

Aye, Ciardo. Aye, Smallwood Cuevas. Aye, Stern. Aye, Strickland. Aye, Humbert.

Aye, Volodares. Aye, Wahab. Aye. Weber Pearson. Aye.

Weiner. Aye.

Senator Choi moves the call. We are now moving into the Senate supplemental file number one for item 87, AB 109 on behalf of Senator Laird. Secretary, please read.

Assembly bill 109 by Assembly member Gabriel, and equity into the state budget to take effect immediately. Budget bill.

Senator Laird.

Thank you very much, madam Preston. AB 109 is the budget act of 2026. All told, the AB 109 budget package includes 355,900,000,000 in total spending, 253,000,000,000

of which is the general fund. It maintains 36,500,000,000 in combined total reserves. It's balanced in both 2026, '27, and 2027, twenty eight fiscal years, and it will cut the structural deficit almost in half. Our state continues to face some hard choices in this budget.

And in making these hard decisions, the legislatures come together and remain faithful to the framework that was put forth by the Senate, which is committed to responsible budgeting, maintaining the vital programs Californians depend on, and it takes a balanced approach making targeted reductions and adopting $5,000,000,000 of new revenues.

As part of the balanced approach, we expect the legislature to act on the revenue trailer bills for which there is a three party agreement. Additional significant aspects of this budget include, delays until 07/01/2027. The governor's proposed new cuts to Medicow beneficiaries with unsatisfactory immigration status and known as UIS, such as eliminating coverage for asylees.

It delays until 07/01/2027 the cuts to UIS Medi Cal beneficiaries from last year's budget, which was scheduled to take effect this year, such as clinic payment reductions and the loss of dental benefits. It provides up to $190,000,000 in forgivable loans for distressed hospitals and $250,000,000 to support our public hospitals.

It adopts the Be Home Soon program to safely transition older adults and people with disabilities out of nursing homes and hospitals and back home or to the community with family and caregivers, saving the Medi Cal program hundreds of millions of dollars annually. It preserves current childcare slots and adds 22,770 new child care slots in twenty twenty six, twenty seven. It provides additional funding for affordable housing and the homeless housing assistance and prevention program.

It maintains funding for in home support supportive services, rejecting all of the governor's proposed reductions. It provides funding for a variety of other areas, including for cow food, county administration, for medical and cow fresh, immigrant legal services and new judgeships and courthouse construction.

And within proposition 98, it restores over $250,000,000 to community colleges in this split. This budget represents the work of 54 budget subcommittee hearings and six full committee hearings. I would like to thank and acknowledge the subcommittee chairs and members, as well as staff, our assembly partners in the administration, the legislature and the governor share a common goal of ensuring the fiscal stability of the state and protecting our California values. I look forward to having an agreement with the administration very soon. Members, I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Laird. Start up with Senator Strickland.

Thank you, madam, president, members. I rise in opposition of AB 109, the budget act. At the outset on the overall macro, California doesn't have a revenue problem. It does have a wasteful spending problem, an addiction to spending problem.

What you're doing today, and I agree with the budget chair, the budget chair says, we have some hard choices, But the problem is you pass those hard choices off to the next governor, whoever the next governor of California is, and the future legislature because we do have a structural deficit moving forward.

And then when you look at the chair, the chair said that we're gonna have revenue trailer bills coming forthwith. That means not only do we have record revenues coming into the state of California, but let me equate that to everybody that doesn't understand that inspeak. That means higher taxes and fees on California citizens. At a time when both Democrats and Republicans have sat on this floor, the number one issue across the California is the affordability crisis.

What's coming before you, not only do we have record revenues coming in, but now we're going to increase your taxes and fees on those same hardworking California families who are already having a tough time.

What we don't see in this budget is proper funding for proposition 36 that passed all 58 counties, almost 70% of the vote. We don't see that to give the law enforcement the tools they need to keep us safe across the state of California. What we don't see in this budget is actually a payback, a repayment of billions owed to the Federal Government in unemployment insurance debt that almost every other state across the nation has done. And we can't pay it back when we have record revenues.

Remember, when will we pay it back?

And then when we look at other things that are just again, what are we doing in terms of affordability crisis? Did we do we suspend the gas tax that we could lower the gas prices by a dollar 8 a gallon tomorrow for hardworking California families? Put a 100 and $1,100 back in their pocket at a time when we have this affordability crisis. You choose not to do that.

Instead, we're gonna be waiting for these budget these trailer bills that are gonna come forward with more higher taxes and fees that you're gonna see on, again, those hardworking families that are having a hard time between between deciding between a gallon of milk and a gallon of gas.

Those seniors on fixed incomes can't afford these high gas prices or this affordability crisis. These young students who are just graduating from college can't afford it either. And so what we're doing in at a time when we have record revenue, we're now putting in also, we're gonna add, again, taxes and fees moving forward as by said by the chair moving forward, what do we fund? We fund the high speed rail.

One of the easiest things that we could decide to not fund is the high speed rail, which has been a wasteful spending project.

They'll go down as the most wasteful spending project in probably world history. We have in funding, we have governor Newsom's die diaper access initiative that will cost $20,000,000. But when you allocate it, it's about 50¢per diaper. But if you go to Target, it's about 16¢per diaper. So that, again, is a a wasteful spending program.

We have, you know, a whole bunch of these different wasteful spending programs that are moving forward. Again, the budget is the blueprint of our priorities. Hardworking families are making tough decisions on their family checkbook. And what this legislature has done done at a time when we have record revenue is match the spending to that revenue, leave a structural deficit, and on top of that, raising taxes and fees on hardworking California families. And for those reasons, I ask for your no vote on this budget.

It's a bad budget for hardworking California families.

Senator Niele, you're recognized.

Thank you, madam president. Excuse me. Every Sunday on CNN, Fareed Zechariah has a news show. And he begins each one of those with what he calls Fareed's take. That is his take on issues that he thinks are important that week.

Yesterday, very timely, it was about California. Now Fareed, not exactly a right wing commentator, took our state, at least the governance of our state, to very serious task. The title, his title, was how California became a case study in failed governance. The state's economy is dynamic. Its government is sclerotic.

His words, not mine. He went on to cite housing, people living, education, homelessness, sluggish job creation, all very helpful criticism from a liberal commentator and I offer it up as such to your loyal and friendly opposition. But he led with the fiscal record. That's what makes it timely. His statistics are since the year 2000, population up 15% while spending has grown 200% on a per person basis from 2,300 to $6,300 and total state employees up over 50%.

I think more relevant for our discussion today, during the eight years of the current administration, populate population growth is actually flat while spending is up 90%. That per person number increasing from about 3,300 to today's 6,300. And during that time inflation was really quite low except only the last two or so years.

Though I know that some of you for some of you, the phrase grows tiresome, but it is very difficult to deny as mister Zacharias take implies that California has, as my friend from Huntington Beach said, a spending problem. And this budget does not include spending reductions to cover our ongoing structural deficit that will be left to the next administration to tackle.

I will repeat as I have the entire time I've been back in the legislature and involved in our ongoing troubled budget. The only way out of our structural deficit, which still exists, of course, is to do a hard analysis of the efficacy and realistic sustainability of select spending programs. That hasn't been done. I don't see any sign that it will be done, but I know that the taxpayers of our state would appreciate that very much. I urge a no vote on AB 109.

Senator Menjivar, you are recognized.

Thank you, mister president. Let's talk about what this budget does for the affordability crisis because, you know, senators have spoken and shared that we're not addressing the affordability crisis. In fact, this body, the Democrats on this side fought to ensure that people who wanted to go back to work and can't afford to pay for childcare got childcare slots. They got 22,770 child care slots because it's so expensive to put kids in child care. That's going to help everyday Californians.

What the Democrats in this body did for the affordability crisis was held the line and ensured that seniors did not get kicked off of Medi Cal because all the other parties in our tango wanted to keep it at perhaps 2,000, dollars per asset test. And because of the Senate, the Democrats in the Senate, seniors won't get kicked off of Medi Cal. Let's talk about affordability.

Seniors wouldn't be able to, pay for their care, wound care, whether it be any kind of, any kind of care for them. That's our win here in addressing the affordability crisis.

Another thing we did for affordability was to ensure that people stayed on IHSS. Because you try to hire someone to care for your loved one, and you don't qualify for IHSS. You know how expensive it is to get in home care? It's above and beyond what we wouldn't be able to afford.

So we fought to ensure that we kept IHSS in the budget because the governor wanted to make sure that they keep he wanted to cut the amount of hours people got and how the amount of, the amount of people that could provide care.

So if we're talking about affordability crisis, we we held the line and ensured that we address everyday Californians' issues. What we also did was to push out and ensure people stayed on coverage for Medi Cal so that they didn't lose dental coverage starting July 1. That's a huge win in the affordability crisis Because starting July 1, the UIS population, people who are legally a lot legally, permanent residents here would have lost dental coverage.

You go try to pay to get a crown or get a deep cleaning without health insurance. See how expensive that is.

That's a win in our books for addressing the affordability crisis. We were able to get a cola increase for childcare providers, an increase to their pay to address how expensive things are. We weren't able to get the exact amount that we wanted, but it was a cola. Cola they haven't gotten in a long time. They're gonna get a little bit more in their paycheck to be able to afford how expensive things are.

And we wanna talk about the affordability crisis. We had to do so much in here because HR 1, the big ugly bill, cut so much in health care that pushed people off of CalFresh, that pushed people off of health care, making it more expensive for for them to afford food, to afford health insurance. But we held the line and get air in it are giving counties hundreds of millions of dollars for that.

So Senator

Yes, mister president. Point of order. HR 1 is not a part of this bill.

Yes. It is.

Okay. I give me one moment.

Yes. It is.

Under your point of order.

Yes. It is.

Senator, point of order at this point is not well taken because the speaker is relating cuts that are directly to related to what was done in the budget. I am gonna ask that the speaker, at the moment, please keep your comments directed toward the budget and relate it toward the budget.

With all due respect, presiding officer, my entire remarks have been on the budget as the Chair of the budget software in health and in health and human services. I'm really well aware of the impacts on HR 1. We had to take action in our budget subcommittee on county admin funding as a result of HR 1. In fact, HR 1 was in the budget items of everything that we voted on, so it is in line with with the vote we will be taking today.

I'd like to also continue my remarks with wins on the affordability crisis with a brand new program that that was born here out of the Senate called the be home soon program.

That this is gonna help address the cost that, we spend on taking care of people in acute, hospitals. We are now gonna be able to remove people from acute hospitals and put them in community care, saving hundreds of millions of dollars for Californians.

So if we're if we're accused of not of not looking at how to trim the fat, or if we're ever accused on not looking at programs of how equitable they, they are, here's proof that we look at things and what we're spending and how we can do it better. And this is a brand new program that is gonna if passes the three party deal, that's gonna get kids with complex needs out of hospitals to get care in their homes by private dirty nursing.

That's gonna take seniors or other people at a comp with complex needs out of hospitals that cost so much and put them in other places close to their home.

That's gonna save us a lot of money. Now, I recognize there's a lot of outstanding things. I stood here last year very frustrated that we put a freeze on the UIs population for Medi Cal. And we haven't undone that yet. But there is a commitment, at least me personally and a lot of senators, that we will come back and once we have the ability, we'll put them back on health insurance because we know that every if everyone has health insurance, that is a savings for Californians.

It doesn't just impact impact the UIS population. It impacts everyone. But outside of that, I am very proud of the Senate body that we held the line on every single delay that would have kicked in July 1, the draconian cuts to human services, and the commitment to ensure that we get to the 206,800 childcare slots that we promised Californians. Without respectfully asking for an aye vote.

Senator Durazo, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. This has obviously been a very difficult, situation for many, if not everyone in in the all of my colleagues. During our budget discussions, I asked if there could be a path to restoring Medi Cal to immigrants. So far, the answer has been no. We've carved paths for renewable energy.

We've carved paths to higher education. We've carved paths to affordable housing and home ownership because carving paths makes progress. That's how we move progress forward. No path means a dead end. This budget saves money by re by removing poor people from medical coverage.

It builds those savings into the baseline and creates no mechanism for restoration, even if federal conditions change. Meanwhile, it delays, but not yet rejects cuts to dental and community clinic services for UIS enrollees until July 2027, putting us right back here next year. And A Bill that we, have not yet, had presented to us, AB 177, says it's fine for employers who receive huge tax cuts in HR 1 to wait another year while their low paid workers remain on state subsidized care.

I appreciate your gave me the time. Thank you

Senator Choi.

Thank you, Madam President and the Members again. I rise to express my opposition to AB 109. Californians wanna see real relief and a legislature that is responsible for the tax dollars they already paid to this state's government. However, when you read this budget bill, it is clear that the supermajority expects tax increases to fund this budget. While my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will say the tax increases to fund this budget bill are aimed at billionaires.

That is simply false. AB 109 relies on the MCO tax on Medicare and commercial health insurance plans, which would hike commercial health insurance plans by $1,500,000,000 for everyday people and businesses. The super majority continues to fail its businesses by not paying back the state's unemployment insurance debt with the Federal Government and taxing our businesses into extinction.

Some of you may remember when I was in the assembly, I introduced a bill to pay off the entire federal uninsurance debt when we had enough surplus, but that was killed in the committee. And now we are paying billions of dollars to take the interest alone on the bill, not to speak of paying off the balance that we owe.

This budget also continues a false narrative that oil companies are price gouging Californians. In budget committee two, I asked the evidence of oil companies' price gouging our residents, but no evidence was provided despite the SE CE CEES, California Energy Commission, investigating for three years. This makes it difficult to justify spending millions of millions more on new oversight and the regulatory structure when we know that California specific taxes, fees, and regulatory policies are the major contributor contributors to the burden Californians face at the pump.

We all like to brag about California being the number fourth world economy. If we have such a large we we are rich, so to speak, than the bragging about our power of economy in California, then we should be able to take care of all the needs.

But the the fact is that we are collecting enough taxes, but we have a spending problem, and we call it a structural deficit. Giving the attorney for example, giving the attorney general $14,000,000 to show to sue oil companies will simply turn into higher prices at the gas can gas pump. And then also, we are bragging about our state being the, sanctuary city for Medicare care services.

But when you invite all documented undocumented people to our state and the little support of Medicare services through Medicare, that will continuously grow our spend its unnecessary expenditures on our budget, and we call it def deficit budget, structural deficit budget. Rather than providing certainty, this budget leaves significant decisions unresolved.

It is a baseline budget, with the major policy and the funding details still to be negotiated. As I said in the budget committee in the morning, Californians deserve a transparent budget process. Unfortunately, this year's process has fallen short of that standard. There are some specific items in this budget I do support. I am pleased to see more funding for UC and then our distressed hospitals.

There are issues, which this budget went further to address such a fully funding prop 36. Unfortunately, this budget is, not truly balanced and does does a little to address the affordability and the public safety issues that our constituents desperately want this legislature to solve. For these reasons, I respect respectfully, you know, and I urge everybody to vote no.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Wiener.

Thank you very much, Madam President. I rise in support of, the budget, and I am appreciative of the work that was done, particularly to reverse, proposed funding cuts from the administration around various forms of health care. Every year, we rally as a Senate and as a legislature to protect funding for our residents who really need it, whether it's around dental or home health care or community clinics, and I'm appreciative for that work.

I am rising to speak, about public transportation and funding for public transportation because our transit systems are in a, very precarious, situation right now, and this has been a real challenge for a few years, now. One of the things that has made it worse, is HR 1, the, big, horrible, bill, which among many other things cut funding for public transportation.

Because apparently, when Donald Trump is not auctioning off the White House to UFC, and to Paramount, he's focused on cutting access to public transportation and other horrible things. So in, the governor's proposed budget, including in the May revise, there were cuts proposed, to public transportation, including commitments that we made as a legislature, in terms of funding, multi year funding for transit. We made multi year commitments, and those commitments are not honored in the proposed budget in the May revise.

In addition, the California Air Resources Board in blowing up cap and invest as a giveaway to the oil industry, among other things, reduced funding for public transportation. So we are in danger of not adequately funding transit in the state of California.

And that will lead to service cuts, which we do not need, and our constituents who rely on transit to get around do not need. It will harm them, and it will harm people who are driving, who are gonna have to contend with more congestion. I'm appreciative that the leadership in the Senate and the assembly, and that we have agreed that we are going to continue to work on transit funding, through the summer.

That I want I'm here to express that that is, to me, a a red line, incredibly important issue we need to support transit and not allow these reductions to go into effect. So I ask for an Aye vote with that caveat.

Thank you.

Senator Gonzalez.

Thank you, Madam President and Members.

I rise today really, really, just being very thoughtful and mindful of this process and certainly appreciative of the work that's been done, but I will say this is a very, very tough decision for me to make personally, given still what seems to me as, a bit of a two tier system ensuring that everyone has health care, but if you're born somewhere else that is not The United States Of America, that, you know, we may have to think twice about your health care.

If you make this the fourth largest state, the fourth largest economy in the world, but yet somehow you still would be required to to pay a premium for your healthcare. To me, I know, this all seems very, very unfair. And while Aye, again, appreciate the work that's been done to push where we can, our other colleagues in the in the other house, to push the administration.

I know and I am certainly personally dedicated to doing this work even more to make sure that those cuts don't continue to further harm people in our communities, that further close the clinics that we all trust and care about, continue to close the the hospitals in rural and urban communities across the state, and that we all invest whether regardless of our party affiliation, we all invest in ensuring that people's basic right to health care is uplifted.

And so, while I am very, very, you know, just personally, it's really hard for me to do this. I will I'm gonna support this bill today with those with those issues still in the forefront and certainly top of mind.

I'd also like to say that, you know, the assumption of tax revenues that may not be realized yet, although it's in the billions of dollars, I do believe that we do need to put some of that set aside, not just to patch holes and exist in this deficit, you know, environment, but to ensure that we are setting it aside for a medical two point o if we need to. I'm really committed to that and I hope that we would be able to do that.

We need to. Most of these people, but my mind you, are working people. Over half of them are working in our state. And so I would just ask that this body continue to do the work, continue to make sure that we are committed to revenue, whatever that looks like, even if it's telling our friends in the industries and major corporations that they need to pay a little bit more too.

I'd rather they pay more than the farm worker in the Central Valley or a janitor in Los Angeles paying a little bit more for health care. And so with that, I respectfully ask for an Aye vote and will continue to work, on this.

Senator Ochoa Bogh.

Thank you, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. I'd like to start by thanking the Republican consultants who did the deep dive on this budget in a short period of time, and I am gonna name them Kirk Feeley, Megan D'Souza, Heather Wood, John Marie McKinney, Anthony Archie, Chantel Denny, Matt Osterly, and Armando Hernandez. I greatly appreciate all of you. That said, I think our current budgetary process is helpful, but still needs quite a bit of work.

What we're voting on is not the final budget agreement and it's balanced based on items that will not be discussed on this floor today, and I think that should be really concerning for all of us.

While legislators will receive their pay by passing on an untimed budget, taxpayers will not be receiving the transparent and responsible budget that they deserve in return. However, I do want to express my deep gratitude for several items included in this budget that will make a real difference in my communities. First, our colleges are seeing an increased funding for enrollment growth at the community colleges and for the compacts for the CSU and the UC systems. Thank you for honoring this promise and providing the full 5% increase.

Our colleges and universities have consistently been asked to do more with less and this funding will be critical for them.

While increased funding is beneficial, I have concerns about cuts to the middle class scholarship program. Next, I'd like to say thank you for funding jockships, not courtships, but judgeships today. I appreciate my colleague from San Pedro, comments today about the need for additional judgeships in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. These positions would be transformational transformational for the Inland Empire.

And while I appreciate the additional 300,000,000 included in the budget, the legislature must continue to invest in trial court construction projects, new capital outlay, facility modifications, and deferred maintenance throughout the state.

I know our state courts will continue to make adjustments to ensure that essential court services are provided and cases are heard, but current demand far exceeds available resources and facility space. Underscoring the critical need for solutions to ensure residents have equal access to the criminal justice system. When residents must wait unacceptably long periods to have their day in court, justice is delayed and too often justice is denied.

In future budget discussions, I would like to see funding provided to public water districts statewide to help them comply with the state's recently enacted chromium six requirements, estimated across the state to be about $1,000,000,000 to facilitate. Many districts service many districts service small, rural, and disadvantaged communities that simply do not have the financial capacity to meet these mandates on their own.

Water districts across California are working to comply with Chromium six MCL, but many are finding it extremely difficult to do so without additional support. A state investment would help guarantee that residents of rural communities have access to safe, reliable drinking water without placing unsustainable financial burdens on local households. I'm also grateful for the California Indian Nations College receiving a funding allocation, which will provide stability for the school as it continues to grow and expand.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge how blessed we are to serve on the budgets of one, because I know many of the other subcommittees face difficult decisions about the programs that should be prioritized for funding. This budget is delivering a historic historic level of funding for our schools and we provided more targeted services to give our students the best opportunities possible to succeed.

While we're able to fund both needs and wants for education, other subcommittees must make difficult choices between worthy programs and in some cases between life saving services. With all of these concerns in mind, I want to just share that I'll be abstaining today, but I am extremely grateful for those items that were that I mentioned today, and thank you to my colleagues for collaborating on these issues.

Senator Cabaldon.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We've heard on on the floor today a common a recurring refrain, which is maybe this budget could be more fiscally responsible, it spends too much money, and then immediately followed by a list of $1,000,000,000 per person of things that we wished were in the budget. And isn't that what budgeting really is all about and why we're here today and why the budget is is so critical? But we cannot have it all. Neither side neither side of the aisle can have everything.

This budget though goes a long way towards create putting both California on a healthy financial course going into the future for not just our grandchildren and our children, but for us in two years, but also making critical investments. So I first want to just rise, with the chair of the budget subcommittee number four on state admin, Senator Hurtado, just to emphasize, the really important investments that this budget makes, in housing and in homelessness.

Dollars 900,000,000 for the programs that are essential to build affordable housing that we've approved, we've applauded, many of us have gone and and broken ground. This gets us to the ribbon cutting and then to the keys for folks to be able to finally get a roof over their head. Cali 40,000 units are ready to go.

This will go a long way towards advancing that. And second, for the substantial investment in the housing and homelessness prevention program, that is absolutely critical to meet an enduring need on California's streets and make sure that there are housing services, and the other resources that local communities need in order to address the homelessness issue. Now it is true that we're, that we're, the budget is built on a trailer bill that is not yet on the floor, but it's no secret what the topics are.

It's in the May revise, the governor's proposed it, it's been adopted in concept in both houses of the legislature, so there's, there's no shadow games going on here. It is just the normal budget proposal that's been proposed.

And that, I think critically, the main one of those, it's not a tax increase. It's not a tax increase. What it does is it says, hey, look, for my my district in Yolo, Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, Sonoma and Sacramento Counties, the overwhelming majority of my constituents pay more taxes every year than 20 than 80 companies in a state, 20 of whom pay nothing. Zero. So this doesn't raise the tax rate.

It doesn't raise the tax responsibility. It just says the price of a free society, the price of of maintaining democracy and the whole notion of private property and public safety depends on all of us contributing something. And that applies to the barber or to the laundromat owner in my district, but it also applies to the very wealthiest corporations that are currently paying none of their corporation's tax. So this doesn't change the rate. It simply says everybody gotta pay something.

And the people are already paying and it's time for these small number of corporations that are evading any tax liability and their corporate tax at all to pay their fair share.

And so with that, I wanna, also join in thanking the chair and the leadership here, but also to recognize the substantial efforts in in the other house and their work to come together, in many ways on the for the first time in a long time on some of these really critical priorities because we know California is a a potent, wealthy state in so many ways, but that wealth is not distributed evenly, and the wealth is not, is not, is not gonna be with us for all time if we don't make these appropriate investments.

So thanks. I look forward to voting for this as well, and I would urge an Aye vote.

Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Madam President and ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. I also rise in strong support of this bill. Today, we're voting on a budget that truly reflects a commitment to California's children, working families, and those who need it the most. As someone who represents a low income community, I know that affordability continues to be top of mind for so many families, but I am happy that we continue to support childcare programs and preserve programs that help bring stability to families, especially our children.

It allows parents to to continue to go to work and expand opportunities, and and that grows a family and those opportunities.

The budget continues to invest in education, which is critically important. Everything starts with that base, making sure that our children have the education that they need and deserve. Especially funding for distressed hospitals is part of that critical piece because we know that access to health care ensures that people can go to work and ensures that children can go to school, and they don't have to stay home because they can't afford child care. I wanna just add that.

I wanna thank the budget, the budget committee because I know that we don't recognize all the work that goes into these discussions, and we know that it's not a perfect solution, and we know it's not a perfect budget.

But in this moment when there's so many issues happening all at once, and then we are being impact impacted by federal cuts, this is a good middle ground. I know that the work is far from over, and we are truly committed to continuing the discussions to ensure that we continue the fight the fight for everything that's been expressed on this floor.

And I'm just, again, happy that I can contribute and that I can be part of this great floor here because a lot of work went into it, and I just don't want that to be lost that so much work went into it. So with that, I ask for an eye vote. Thank you.

Senator Gomez Reyes.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I had an opportunity to speak during our budget hearing, but just and I spoke, at great length about the more the the judgeships that are going to be added throughout the state of California. But without a doubt, there are some areas that need them the most, and the the records clearly show it. And that is the Inland Empire. I'm very pleased about that.

The caseload for our judges is on average 18% more than it is anywhere else in the state of California. And with new judges, they'll finally be able to rest and be along the the same as as the rest of the the judges. The but before that, I do want to talk about the fact that this was such a transparent and inclusive process.

If there every subcommittee met countless times, together as subcommittees with the chair, chair Laird, with our PT, Limon, and of course with our own subcommittees, and making sure that we reviewed all of the items within our subcommittee. So within my committee, GGRF remains an issue.

And I am glad that this was brought up by my colleague from San Francisco, something that we hope is going to be renegotiated, reevaluated, so that all of those issues that remain important issues, transit, clean air, clean water, affordable housing, these are things that are part of tier three. We want to make sure that they get funded.

I appreciate the fact that our community colleges were recognized as being an important part of higher education, and that came with additional funding in various areas, and I sincerely appreciate whether appreciate that. Whether it's the Dreamer Center or the LGBTQ Center, whatever it was, these are things that are going to be provided in the community colleges. But there are great wins that also came in other areas.

I really appreciate these are not within my subcommittee, but these are really important wins. Special education received a substantial increase to $20,000,000. This is something that has been asked for and asked for and asked for for years by our communities. And finally, it is included in this two two party deal. Universal school meals, billions of dollars again is being provided for that.

Sickle cell disease centers of excellence, $30,000,000. This is important. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center happens to have one of those. The fact that we are providing money for distressed hospitals, we're looking to forgive loans also. These are things that are important that make sure that that our hospitals that take care of of our constituents are taken care of.

CalFresh, an additional $20,000,000 for distressed I'm sorry, disadvantaged seniors, 10 and a half million for the invasive fruit fly study and remediation. I also want to not forget the fact that healthcare for all has to be a goal. We have great wins in this and my colleagues have talked about this. I sincerely appreciate all that has been done but providing healthcare for those when we talk about our undocumented, it is important because they do provide and they do pay for, their taxes.

And although this budget doesn't include it, I know that it is something that we will look at in coming years.

But without a doubt, this is a budget that others have called an imperfect budget. It is. Every budget is imperfect, but without a doubt there are great wins for all of our communities, and with that I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Senator Richardson.

Thank you madam president. Well, this comes to an old saying, everything has been said but not everyone has said it. Colleagues, I just wanna hit two points. One, for the public, I think it's important that they understand that we didn't just start this process a couple weeks ago. Back in January, our pro tem Limon and our chair Laird led a both policy and a budget retreat, where we as senators collectively talked about our priorities.

And it was at that time that we as subcommittee chairs, which I happen to be one of, began to talk about what were the things we were gonna focus on through that period. So it's important for the public to understand that each of us represents approximately a million people. And of those million people, we have been continually, as the chair said, 56 meetings, talking about what those priorities are. And we will continue to do that.

But today, we're gonna be voting on what has been negotiated thus far, and we know that they're gonna continue to work to hit those very key points that are important to all of us.

The last point I wanna make is there's been discussion, both in committee on the floor on prop 36. In subcommittee five, we handle the funding of prop 36. It's important people to know, yes, prop 36 is being funded to the tune of $50,000,000. We had last year approximately nine thousand cases, and of those cases,

gone towards incarceration. In incarceration. In our committee hearings, we did not have an upswell or complaints of being able to have sufficient funding to be able to do the process of implementing prop 36. We will be providing a recap for everyone of that status in, within this next week, but I just wanted to assure you that Prop 36 is being funded for $50,000,000 With that, I urge an Aye vote on AB 109.

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Senator Stern.

Yeah. Thank you, madam president. I rise in support of this measure and wanna appreciate all the good work of my colleagues.

I think this was gonna be a, a very hard vote and an awful year, and somehow I think we've turned it around here, over the last few months and it's no in no small part due to the good work of our leadership, and and all all three parties to to get ourselves in a place where we don't have to make the most catastrophic cuts, and we can forestall some of the the worst impacts, that we've seen from the Federal Government.

I Aye, I'm excited about a lot of aspects of this budget, but I do wanna applaud, the comments of, our subchair of the budget subcommittee number two, a Senator from San Bernardino, who's been watching like a hawk on how our greenhouse gas reduction fund is being spent.

I personally and I think my my personal view is maybe shared by by others that I've heard through the caucus. I'm a little uncomfortable using the greenhouse gas reduction fund to balance operational costs that were typically done by our general fund. I think we that is embedded in part of our vote here today. I think it's a one time of about 1,350,000,000.

And I appreciate that these are important operational expenses that have to be addressed, but they do tie our hands somewhat in terms of funding other priorities that members may have, whether it's transit or clean transportation, sustainable housing, wildfire mitigation, research and development, higher education.

So these are priorities. And what I just hope going forward into the summer is that we don't let that that piece fall off the table, and that we don't sort of get ourselves into this rut where we're using a fund that's really supposed to be for reducing emissions and use it as sort of our fiscal balancing tool, every time we need a bailout from from for the general fund. And so, I think that there's a lot of room here to keep negotiating.

I hope that, I know that this house is is very ready to do that, and we've heard that repeatedly. And I just hope that the other parties will will join us at that table and and really take a second look at this, because I do think we're in a different paradigm here based on the carb rule.

I don't believe that that rule is, necessarily the as as horrible as folks are saying, and it's a giveaway. I do think there are new guidelines and new new boundaries that were put into place at the carb vote that actually gives us some room, and it may not actually drain the fund as much as we thought.

But some of that will bear itself out over the coming weeks as we really get the feedback we need from, say, the LAO or Department of Finance of what those projected revenues could be. But I just wanna make that general point. I'll be very supportive today and just hope we can keep the integrity of our greenhouse gas reduction programs going.

Thank you.

Senator Estela Cuevas.

Madam President and colleagues and agree with my good Senator from Inglewood's point. But I just wanted to to to make one thing clear. Today, we are not voting on a budget, plan that includes fair share proposal. A proposal built on a simple idea that when large profitable corporations depend on a workforce whose health care is subsidized by taxpayers, those corporations should contribute their fair share to the public system that keeps their workers healthy.

The Senate, we did a tremendous amount of debate, discussion, consensus building around fair share.

And why the proposal was so important was because we recognized the significant pressure that HR 1 has created on our health care system and, as a result, on our budget. We are here today to vote on, AB 109, and I fully intend to vote on it. But what we don't have, clearly, is a revenue strategy that speaks to the direct long term sustainability of our Medi Cal system, especially as we are, in this moment of of HR 1.

I know that we are going to have, hopefully, the opportunity to raise this issue, as it comes, hopefully, from as it comes, hopefully, from the other house. But what we're when we do have the issue before us, what we essentially will be doing is kicking the can further down the road.

And my question is, who are we kicking the can to? More seniors who can't afford and have access to health care are children and young babies who will go without preventative care, our mother who may be battling cancer, members of our communities who are fighting diabetes and other preventable diseases with the right treatment. Working people cannot be asked time and time again to carry the burden of balancing this budget.

This is an opportunity for large corporations, profitable corporations, to sit with community, to sit with government, and to figure out a way for us to ensure that we have adequate resources to fulfill our obligation to ensure when we say health care for all, when we say health care is a right, that we, in fact, are putting all of our resources where our words are.

I will be supporting this vote today, but this vote does not include the moral obligation that we have to solve our Medi Cal crisis.

I hope that this chamber and the leadership that we have shown continues to be a leading force in making sure that fair share is an issue that comes to the table, that we can get it done, that we are not kicking the can down the road and costing more California lives. And with that, I will be supporting AB 109.

Senator Perez.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of AB 109 and as the chair of budget sub one on education and wanna speak very briefly to the incredible investments that we've made in both our k through 12 secondtor as well as our higher education institution. This budget provides 43% increase for special education programs from last year, which is huge. We know we need more special ed funding, particularly for our k through 12 schools. We're fully funding universal school meals.

We're expanding learning programs. We're making investments into dreamers resource centers at a time when we know our undocumented students, as well as our mixed status families are looking for support. In the higher education end, we're fully funding the last year of the compact payments to the UC and CSU and reaffirming the commitment to include remaining compact funding in future budget cycles. We're making sure that our higher education institutions are fully funded. And for our community college system, we're providing an increase in enrollment funding.

We know so many of our community college institutions are seeing increases of 9%, 8% in enrollment just over the last year. It's great that we have more individuals enrolling into our institutions. We need to make sure we that they have the dollars to serve them, and that's what this is about. We're continuing to negotiate around middle class scholarship funding. We know funding the middle class scholarship is critical and crucial.

Those dollars ensure that our students can go to university and college and focus on their studies. The cost of college has ballooned, whether it's been transportation, housing, food, that all has a direct impact on our students and their ability to focus on their schooling. And so those investments are going to make a difference. I know that our budget share has been working so hard to continue those negotiations, as well as continuing the negotiations around the settle up funding.

We know that this is critical to our local education partners.

We need to deliver on our commitment and make sure that those prop $98 are being delivered to our local education agencies. I urge an Aye vote. Thank you.

Madam Pro Tem.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of AB 109. The proposed budget before you is a product of numerous meetings, countless hours of work, and negotiations among both houses to deliver a balanced budget through 2028. The budget plan maintains much of what this house has fought for. While we cannot backfill the federal cuts that we have received month and month again, we do show our commitment to our families and to our state.

As has been noted, this body has had to make very difficult decisions. As we heard members speak about the difficulty in making the decisions that brought us here. We also understood that without these decisions, the cuts are deeper, the hurt is deeper. Our state looks at ways that we can help advance childcare, healthcare and ensure that our long term fiscal outlook is a responsible one.

I wanna thank our budget chair and all of the budget sub chairs who have spent so much time to try to develop and deliver a budget that responds to the moment in time that we're in.

A budget that's not easy, a budget that leaves us with dreams and hopes of what we can do in the future, but acknowledges that without this budget, it would be significantly harder for the people that we represent. Senators supporting the budget today means that we get to advance to the next step for negotiations with the governor to bring back a vote for a final version. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Laird, you are now able to close.

Thank you very much, Madam President. And thanks to all my colleagues for their comments. I appreciate the debate. It was really worthy of a budget this size that does so many things. And let me repeat, this budget creates 36,500,000,000 in reserves.

This budget is balanced for two years. This budget cuts the structural deficit in half. And there were complaints about different sides of a balanced approach, but this budget contains cuts, whether it's a prison, an unallocated cut to the prison system, whether it's the efficiency in the medic, the operation of the Medi Cal program, all those things are balanced. That is what allows us to do it. And the whole notion that California is a failed state is complete utter nonsense.

In the last twenty five years, to use population as an indicator and not use inflation is ridiculous. If you look at when I was budget chair from 2004 to 2008 in the assembly and we had no reserves. No reserves. And we are at a point that we have 36,500,000,000 of reserves now. And we should call out the successes because in that period, 96% of Californians now have health insurance.

Debt and, for higher education students in UC has been wiped away in a major way. People are going to work because they have childcare, because of the slots that have been provided. And if you look at our climate work, we have moved to one of the biggest, and most successful and robust economies in the world while cutting our greenhouse gas emissions. That is not a choice.

And when you look at HR 1, the federal bill, and let me talk about it in terms of the state budget, because the federal bill really hurts hospitals.

It cuts the dish funding, the cloth funding, and what this budget does is come in behind to try to triage those public hospitals and those distressed hospitals to keep them going in the face of the federal cuts. If you look at food, there there are hundreds of thousands of people that are going to lose their food assistance, and we are coming in behind in this budget with money for food banks to try to deal, with that.

If you look at the new rules on people being on food assistance or medical care, This budget provides help to the counties to try to keep those people on health care and medical care. We try to come in behind on all those. And with regard to the chutzpah, the chutzpah of trying to look to the majority party here about gas taxes, let's talk about gas taxes since February 27, the day before the Iran War started.

Gas taxes have gas prices have gone up 30% in California. They've gone up 45% in The United States. The average American household has paid $447 more for gas since that war started. If this keeps up for a year, the estimate is $2,000. So to try to throw shade to the majority party on gas taxes with not owning what is happening due to the national administration and the most dramatic rise in gas taxes since the oil embargo in the seventies is shameful.

And that is really clear, with regard to this. So this budget really tries to upright fiscally sound California, try to protect against the cuts, tries to advance whether it is, community colleges or other things, it makes the best of a difficult situation. It is fiscally sound. It really tries to help people on the face of this. I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members. Eyes 28. Nose nine, the SM the measure passes. We're gonna be lifting four items which were placed on call. Secretary, please lift the call.

Call the absent members of file item 17.

Ashby Cabaldon.

Aye.

Aye. Gonzales. Aye. Limon? Aye.

Smallwood Cuevas? Aye.

Ayes, 39. No zero. The appointment is confirmed. Please call the absent members on file item 18.

Ashby Durazo? Aye. Gonzales? Aye. Limon?

Aye.

Ice 39, no zero appointment is confirmed. Please lift the call on file item 20.

Ashby, Dali. Gonzales, aye. Jones, Limon, aye. Seyarto, Balderz.

I

Balderz, aye.

Ayes, 36. No zero. The appointment is confirmed. Please call the absent members on file item 37.

Ashby Gonzalez? Aye. Jones? Aye. Limon?

Aye.

Ayes, 39. No zero. The resolution passes. Moving on to the consent calendar for the second day, we have items 81 through 86. Would a member wish to remove an item from the consent calendar?

I am seeing none. Secretary, please read all items.

Assembly bill 2455,1549,1583,1948,2286, and assembly bill 2556.

Please call the roll on the first item and apply the roll card to all the items.

Allen. Hi. Alvarado-Gil. Hi. Archuleta.

Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi.

Blaise Spear. Hi. Caballero. Hi. Cervantes.

Hi. Choi. Hi. Cortesi. Aye, Dali, Aye, Durazo, Aye, Gonzales, Aye, Grayson, Aye, Grove, Aye, Hurtado, Aye, Jones, Aye, Laird, Aye, Limon, Aye, Maguire, McNerney, Menjivar, Nilo, Ochoa Bog, Padilla, Perez, Reyes, Richardson, Aye, Rubio.

Aye, Seattle. Aye, Smallwood Cuevas. Aye, Stern. Aye, Strickland. Aye, Humbert.

Aye, Volodares. Aye, Wahab. Aye, Webber Pearson. Aye, Weiner. Aye.

I used 38. No zero. Consent calendar is approved. Moving on to committee announcements. Senator Becker or Senator Kabaldin.

Senator Kabaldin, you're recognized.

Thank you, madam chair. The Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection will meet upon adjournment, in Room 1200.

Thank you. Senator Becker?

Thank you, madam president. The Committee of Human Services will meet upon adjournment in Room 2200.

Thank you, Senator. Moving back to to motions and resolutions, we have three adjourned memories. Senator Choi.

If we could take all conversations off the floor. Senator Choi, you're recognized.

Thank you, madam.

Thank you, madam and colleagues. It is with the profound sorrow that I rise today to honor the memory of a true Korean patriot and independence fighter, the honorable Haejeon Lee, known as, in Korean as Lee Haejeon Jisa, who passed away peacefully on 02/04/2026 at the age of 104. Born in Pyongyang in 1921, mister Lee dedicated his youth to Korea's struggle for independence from Japanese colonial rule. While studying in Japan, he organized a secret reading society to foster patriotic ideals and the supporting cause of Korean independence.

For these courageous efforts, he was arrested by Japanese authorities and imprisoned for more than two years.

After Korea's liberation, he continued his studies before immigrating to The United States in 1948. Here, he built a new life while never forgetting his homeland. For decades, he served as a Korean language instructor at at the US Army Language School in Monterey, California, teaching Korean language and the culture and helping strengthening understanding between our two nations. In recognition of his sacrifice and the service to Korea's independence movement, The Republic Of Korea awarded him the order of merit for national foundation, ajok medal called ajokjang in 1990.

His body was transported to the to Korea to be buried in Korean National Cemetery for those who who are buried just like him as a patriot.

Mister Lee remained a respected leader in the Korean American community throughout his life through educational programs, commemorative events, and his work with the organizations dedicated to preserving the history of Korea's independence movement. He inspired generations with his patriotism and commitment to service. I had the honorable meeting Mr. Lee in two occasions, including at the Sacramento Korean Festival in 2025 and at the Korean American Day celebration in San Francisco earlier this year.

Despite his advanced age and declining health, he remained deeply committed to supporting and encouraging fellow Korean Americans, and he was proud to be present at the Korean American Day celebration in San Francisco.

Today, we extend our deepest con condolences to his family, including his son, mister Edward Lee, Touro-in-law, Jennifer Lee, and grandson, Austin Lee, who have joined us in the gallery up there. We pause today to remember honorable Hagen Lee, whose courage, patriotism, and unwavering devotion to liberty leave a lasting legacy. I humbly ask that we adjourn this Senate session in memory of honorable Hagen Lee. Thank you.

Senator Nealo, on this adjourning memory.

Thank you, madam president. Just a little over a year ago, Assemblyman Patterson and I authored a resolution in honor of Li Haqian, James Li as he's known here. It's it's a little bit difficult for us to, well, we don't remember because it predated all of us except Senator Choi, my friend from Orange County. But Korea was part of the empire of Japan. At that time, a rather brutal dictatorship.

And this gentleman was a freedom warrior early on, paid some prices for that in Korea. There's I have seen articles here says he was the oldest surviving independence activist. He turned 104 last year. That's what we honored him for in the in the resolution. But I guess one thing I might because he was so committed to that freedom that he had a significant role in.

And by the way, we were honored by him spending the rest of his life here in this country, though his remains will be sent back to North Korea. But perhaps in his honor, we can hope that at some time in the future, like East and West Germany, that South Korea. What did I say? North Korea. Oh, yeah.

Because I was thinking of what I was about to say that someday North and South Korea can be reunited under the South banner, of course, as East and West Germany were under the West banner, that would be the true final statement of liberty and freedom for all Korean people. Might seem impossible now, but I'll bet you, coming out of the, iron fist, if you will, of the empire of Japan, that probably seemed impossible too. Turned out not to be.

I join in the motion to adjourn in the memory of Lee Jae Jong.

To the three family members that have joined us today, thank you so much for allowing us to hear from your loved one's story. Our deepest condolences, Hao Zhongli was a dedicated public servant both in South Korea and here in The United States. Please bring his name forward, Senator, so that he may be properly memorialized. Senator, we know you're recognized.

Thank you, madam president and colleagues. It's with great sadness that I rise today to ask the Senate to adjourn a memory of Doris Fisher, a San Francisco icon. Doris Fisher was a cofounder of of Gap, a a truly iconic global brand that started in San Francisco founded by Doris and her late husband, Don Fisher. On Saturday, May 2, Doris passed away at the age of 94.

She was one of the first women to earn a degree in economics from Stanford University and began a career that completely changed the American fashion industry.

As the creative force behind Gap's original line of clothing and the voice of the brand, Doris helped transform a single store in San Francisco into a globally recognized brand. She was a dedicated philanthropist and remains an inspiration, for so many entrepreneurs today. She, Doris and Don donated hundreds of millions of dollars to education reform, to the arts, and to so many other, community needs.

As Gap grew to generate more than $15,000,000,000 in annual sales, Doris held the company to its core values, providing affordable clothing, for working people. She lived with the standard of generosity that cemented her vast legacy in the hearts and minds of individuals around the globe.

And I will say that the Fisher family in general is a just an anchor family in San Francisco and supports our city, as does GAP in so many ways. So please join me in a journey and memory, of Doris Fisher.

What an icon and what an amazing legacy. Please bring her name forward so that we may properly memorialize her. Senator Rubio.

Thank you, madam president and ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. Today, I rise with great sadness to adjourn in the memory of James Leslie Barbie. Marked by a life defined by his intelligence, discipline, compassion, and strong devotion to his family. James, in his early years served at in the US Navy as first class radio operator during the Korean War. That spirit of commitment remained throughout his entire life.

James Slater became an editor and proofreader for the Los Angeles Times. Although he retired in his early 50s, his love for learning and language endured through freelance editing work for several authors. His wisdom, deep knowledge, and thoughtful perspective were a gift to all who knew him. In 1996, James married his late wife, Penny. Together, they enjoyed hiking and going on adventures and excursions.

Penny often called him lovingly my prince, a sweet testament to their profound love and devotion to one another. During this free time, James always kept both his mind and body active. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and often solved them with expedition. And he was also exceptionally well rounded. James regularly recommended books and had such love for writing.

A man defined by his remarkable discipline and family devotion, James will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, please help me in attourning in the memory of James Leslie Barbee. Thank you, madam president.

Thank you, Senator. Please bring the sailor's name forward so the Senate may properly memorialize him. There is no other business. The desk is clear, madam pro tem.

Thank you, members. The next floor session is on Thursday, June 18 at 9AM.

The Senate is now adjourned. We will reconvene Thursday, 06/18/2026 at 9AM.