Senate Floor

Secretary will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. Would the members and our guests be on the rail and in the gallery, please rise. We will be led in prayer this morning by our guest chaplain, Reverend Jason Benzie, after which please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Chaplain.

Let us pray. From the cowardice that dares not face new truth, from the laziness that is contented with half truth, from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, good Lord, deliver us. Grant us, dear God, in all our duties, your help, in all our uncertainties, your guidance, in all our dangers, your protection,

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. 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. Under privileges of the floor, we do have some guests to be introduced. Senator Cervantes, you are recognized from the majority leader's desk.

Thank you so much, Mister president. Today, I rise to recognize an extraordinary public agency in the 31st Senate District as it celebrates a milestone of seventy years. The Jurupa Community Service District, again marks its seventy year anniversary. Jurupa Community Service District has done the hard work to provide essential services to our communities.

Since its formation in 1965, the service district has grown from a small local agency created to wastewater needs into California's premier public agencies serving more than a 135,000 residents in our communities throughout Eastville and Jurupa Valley.

Every single day, JCSD delivers the essential services that working families and small businesses depend on. From providing safe reliable drinking water and waste water services, operating street lights, maintaining neighborhoods, parks, JCSD helps improve the quality of life in the communities that I represent. None of this would be possible without JCSD's board of directors and the dedicated employees who work every day, often behind the scenes to keep the services that our communities depend on.

I am pleased to welcome today JCSD's director Lupin Nava, director Mark Moreno, and members of JCSD's executive management team who have joined us on the Senate floor. On behalf of the California State Senate, it is my honor to congratulate the Haruba Community Service District on seventy years of outstanding public service. Members, if you can please help me welcome and congratulate them. Thank you.

Alright. Members, without objection, we'll now move to Senate third reading to take up file item 35, SCR 186 by Senator Grayson. Clerk will read sorry, secretary will read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 186 by Senator Grayson relative to Thriving Families California Foundation.

Senator Grayson at the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Mister president. I am honored to present SCR 186 recognizing Thriving Families California Foundation for their upcoming fiftieth year anniversary. For five decades, community based organizations across California have played an essential role in being in helping families access affordable, reliable, and high quality childcare and early learning services. This all began in 1976 when California took an important step toward expanding childcare through community based solutions, and that recognized that every family has different needs.

That vision helped establish alternative payment programs and a statewide network of organizations committed to parental choice, family stability, and the healthy development of children.

As of today, that network reaches families in all 58 counties and supports more than, are you ready, 260,000 children through California's alternative payment and CalWORKs childcare programs. These organizations do much more than just provide childcare. They help parents remain in the workforce, pursue their education and training, and build a stronger future for their families. In turn, they contribute to the strength and economic vitality of communities across our state. The Thriving Families California Foundation has been an important statewide voice in that effort.

Through collaboration, advocacy, education, and leadership, the foundation has worked to strengthen California's childcare system and ensure that public investments effectively reach children and families. Its work reflects an important principle that childcare is not simply service for families. It is essential infrastructure that supports parents, children, our workforce, and our economy. And as we look forward to the the foundation's fiftieth anniversary, we recognize five decades of partnership, innovation, leadership, and service to California families.

Friends and colleagues, thank you for your attention today and the recognition of Thriving Families California Foundation. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Seeing no further senators, desiring to be recognized, secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 36. No zero. The resolution is adopted. Senator Grayson for introduction of guests.

Thank you so much, Mister president. I would like to introduce the incredible folks from Thriving Families California Foundation. I am pleased to have with us on the floor today CEO, Deneen Micheletti, government affairs director, Mackenzie Richardson, and communications and government affairs manager, Adelia Watson. We are grateful for all of our guests here today and for the strength advocacy and community that they represent and give to our communities. Senators, please help me welcome them to the floor.

Welcome to Senator Grayson's guests. Right. Continuing with Senate third reading, we'll now proceed to file item 45, SR 126 by Senator Rubio.

Secretary, please read. Senate resolution 126 by Senator Rubio relative to childhood cancer awareness month.

Senator Rubio at the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Mister president. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I rise today with great pleasure to present SR 126, which designates the month of September 2026 as childhood cancer awareness month here in the beautiful state of California. According to the National Cancer Institute, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children in The United States. Every child deserves a chance to grow up and live a long, healthy life.

Childhood cancer provides an unimaginable burden, not just to the children inflicted, but all the families that love them as well.

As many local hospitals cannot adequately adequately treat children with cancer, Families are forced to relocate or travel long distance for life saving care. My guests here today, Misha Mehta and Ryan Kolty and Sarva Sarvana Shana Duris know this struggle very well. Tragically, Mishas lost her son, Rayan's brother, Neet Kulti, pronounced at only six years old to brain cancer. Sarva also is a parent to a brain cancer angel. Neeve's mother and family have spent years building something out of that tragic loss.

The Neeve Kulte Foundation that continues to push for better research, better understanding, funding, and better outcomes for those children affected by cancer. It is critical that we continue raising awareness for this devastating illness and encourage further funding towards life saving research and treatments. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Arreguin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. I also rise today in support of SR 126, recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. And I want to thank the Senator from Baldwin Park for introducing this important resolution. Finding out that your child has been diagnosed with cancer has to be one of the most heartbreaking things a parent can

go through. But it's has to be one of the most heartbreaking things a parent can go through. But it's important to acknowledge that children and their families are not alone in this fight. Across the state, we are fortunate to have some of the world's premier institutions Child Oncology Awards in my district in the East Bay including at Kaiser Permanente Oakland, and at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in Oakland.

And just want to thank these healthcare workers who give families hope during some of the darkest moments in their lives.

Institute for generative medicine through the passage of Prop one Prop 71 in 2004. And it's renewal through Prop 14 in 2020. Medical advancements over the last couple of decades have this devastating disease. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Choi, you are recognized.

Good morning, president and members. I rise in support of SR 126 recognizing September as a childhood cancer awareness month. About ten thousand to twelve thousand children are diagnosed with the cancer each year in The United States. Compared with the cancer in adults, many diagnostic cancers are more successfully pediatric cancers are more successfully treated, thanks to the work of dedicated oncology professionals. Children's Hospital of Orange County in my district has been committed to treating childhood cancer for the past twenty three years.

There are so many other medical centers in my district such as City of Hope, UCI, and Kaiser. They are all dedicated for treating all forms of cancers. They continue to provide innovative and exceptional care to patients. And then I joined my colleague from Baldwin Park in supporting their efforts to spread awareness of childhood cancer and to provide the support to the families affected. I respectively ask for your aye vote.

Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you. I too rise in support of SCR 126 and thank my colleague from Baldwin Park for introducing this. Oh, My husband worked at some of you guys met last night, worked for a company for twenty years. And the owner of the company's daughter got cancer when she was just in her sixth grade year. And she loved family, friends, horseback riding.

She liked to shop, travel. And I say all that just to say that cancer is not discriminatory. Like, it doesn't matter what color your skin is, how much money you have, or don't have. And I can tell you that this family traveled all over the world in different countries to try to try things that were not authorized here in The United States to save Lauren's life.

And I think there's things that we could learn from other countries, and I think that there's things that we could adopt in other countries from other countries that would help save children's lives just like Lauren and the ones that were represented today by my colleague from Baldwin Park, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, senators. Seeing no other senators to be recognized, Senator Rubio, would you like to close?

Thank you, Mister president. And I know so many family members here on this floor, members who have, either sons, wives, there's a lot that wasn't set here, but I know, based on the personal stories that they've told me. But I also wanna make sure that, we recognize that there's a lot of research, a lot of funding for adult cancer, but still, we are falling short in recognizing that's affecting children more and more often.

And I wanna pass this resolution also on behalf of Andrew Hirschman, who is my best friend's son, who passed a few years back, who is a high school student, athlete, beautiful boy, always very, healthy. And and in one week, he was gone.

So I hope that we can all recognize her today that we have to do more for childhood cancer research and push for more funding. With that, I ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll Call]

Aye, 36. No. Zero. The resolution passes. Members, we are moving back to privileges of the floor for introduction of guests.

Senator Rubio, you are recognized at the majority leader's desk for the introduction of your guests.

Thank you, Mister president. Today, I do have the honor of introducing three warriors. I have here Misha Mehta, Rayan Colty, Sarva Shanna Rogers, three incredible individuals who have been fighting in the memory of their children who they've lost to to cancer. And I wanna just make sure that we acknowledge them and recognize them here on the floor. Thank you.

Messages from the governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted under motions, resolutions, and notices. This is a time for members to remove items from the consent calendar. Senator Durazo, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. I rise for the purpose of moving AB 2188 to the inactive file.

The desk will note. Senator Blakespear, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president and colleagues. I rise to request file item number 321 is pulled from the consent calendar for the purposes of author amendments.

Thank you. Desk will note. Senator Rubio, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. At the request of the author, please remove file item three nineteen, bill AB 2536 by Assembly member Rubio, and file item three twenty three AB 2644, again, by Assemblymember Rubio from the consent calendar.

The desk will note. Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. At the request of the author, please move the following budget bills to the inactive file, items 82 through 85, Assembly bills one ten, one twenty two, one twenty five, and one seventy seven.

And and I have additional, which is to, file items 126 through 138 to move as budget bills to the inactive file, and that's AB 111, 135, 163, 164, 165, 166, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, and 180.

Thank you so very much, Senator Laird, for that small little list of requests. The desk will note. Senator Ashby, you are recognized from Senator Reyes' desk.

Thank you, presiding officer. I would like to remove file item number 314, AB2429, as well as file item number 291, which is AB 1811, both from consent for the purpose of amendments at the request of the authors.

Thank you, Senator. The desk will note. Senator Becker, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. Please remove AB 2787, file item number 328 from the consent calendar for purposes of amendment. And please remove AB 1696, file item number 287 from the consent calendar for purposes of amendment.

The desk will note. Thank you, Senator. Senator Perez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. At the request of the author, please move file item two ninety, AB 2467 from the consent calendar to the inactive file.

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

Thank you, Mister president. At the request of the authors, I would like to remove AB 2118 and AB 2744 from the consent calendar for purposes of amending.

The desk will note Senator Arreguin you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. I rise to request that file item 318 AB 2502 be removed from the consent calendar for the purpose of author's amendments.

Thank you, Senator. Senator, Desk will note. Senator Valladares, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. At the request of the author, please remove file item 320, AB 2542 from the consent calendar.

Thank you for your patience and desk will note. Members, we are moving back to privileges of the floor without objection. We do have another introduction of guest. Senator Cortese, you are recognized from the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Mister president and colleagues. I rise today to welcome representatives of the Jane Center of Northern California and the Federation of Jane Associations in North America. That association is known as JANA. Based in Milpitas, Santa Clara County, the JANE Center serves families throughout the Bay Area, including communities in Senate District 15, and is a founding member of JANA, which represents JANE Centers across The United States and Canada. Their visit recognizes the International Day of Nonviolence and the JANA principle of Ahimsa.

This commitment to nonviolence is reflected in JANA teachings on compassion, ethical living, environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and respects and respect for all life. Although, the Jains work very, very much on an individual and a congregational basis in terms of this concept of ahimsa and nonviolence, They have also been global leaders with a belief that there won't be peace in the world until there's peace among the world's religions.

Members, please join me in welcoming representatives of the Jane Center of Northern California and JANA to the California State Senate. Here we have with us today Prem Jain, past president, Atul Shah, president, Yogesh Patna, West Regional Vice President, Doctor. Jayesh Shah, first vice president, AJ Batoria, a community leader, and I should add not just locally, but statewide and nationally as well, and Biren Shaw, treasurer of the organization.

In addition, I understand there are more than two dozen additional members in the gallery today. Please join me as they have now come over from the California State Assembly as you can see from the proclamation. Please join me in giving them a big welcome. Thank you.

Welcome to the state senate. Welcome to ... If other senators would like to join here in just one moment. Yes. Other senators, if you'd like to join in a group photo.

And members, we also have a very special, special guest with us today on the floor. We have Senator Durazo's son, Michael, accompanying her today at her desk. Let's welcome him to the California State Senate. Members, without objection, we are moving to the Consideration of the Daily File. Secretary-- for Second Reading of the file, Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1903, 2308, 2010, 2025, 2107.

Second Reading file is deemed read. Governor's appointments, we do have several items. Items Six, Eight, Nine, 10, 11, and 23. Senator Grove, you are recognized for Item Number Six.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, like the president said, we have six items. I'll try to get through them very quickly. The first item we should all be interested in--it's a confirmation of Daniel--aka Danny--Curtin for the reappointment to the California Water Commission, where he served since 2010. He's the director of the California Conference of Carpenters and also a consultant for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. He was approved by the Rules Committee on a five/0 vote on June 17th, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Seeing no members to be recognized, Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll call].

Secretary, please call absent members.

[Roll call].

Ayes: 36. Noes: zero. The appointment is confirmed. Moving to Item Eight. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, File Item Eight is the confirmation of Caroline Thomas Jacobs as the director of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Before this leadership role, she was serving as the director of California's Office of Energy Infrastructure and Safety. Prior to that, she was the director of Wildlife Safety Division in the Public Utilities Commission and she also previously served as a Cal OES Chief in response to the State Threat Assessment Center, and she was approved by the Rules Committee on June 24th at a unanimous vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Seeing no further discussion, Secretary please call roll.

[Roll call].

Secretary, please call absent members.

[Roll call].

Ayes: 35. Noes: zero. The appointment is confirmed. Moving to Item Number Nine. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, File Item Nine is the confirmation of Jay Bradshaw to the reappointment of California Transportation Commission. He first joined the commission in 2022 and is Executive Secretary Treasurer for the North Coast States Regional Council of Carpenters. Carpenters are having a good day today. He was approved by the Rules Committee on June 24th on a unanimous vote, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Seeing no further discussion, Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call].

Ayes: 36. Noes: zero. The appointment is confirmed. Moving to Item 10. Sec-- Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, File Item 10 is the confirmation of Keely Bosler for the reappointment of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, where she served since 2022. She's a former Department of Finance director, and she was a cabinet secretary for the Office of Governor Brown and she is also the former Senate staff member. She served as a staff director for the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, and she was approved by the Rules Committee on June 24th on a five/0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Seeing no further discussion, Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll call].

Ayes: 36. Noes: zero. The appointment is confirmed. Moving to Item 11. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, we just have two more. File Item 11 is the confirmation of Monique Moyer for reappointment to the Board of Directors of San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority. She was-- she served there since 2020 and is currently the board's vice chair. She also is an executive coach and partner with C2 Communications. She was approved by the Rules Committee on June 24th on a five/0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Seeing no further discussion, Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll call].

Ayes: 36. Noes: zero. The appointment is confirmed. Moving to Item 23. Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. File Item 23 is Andrea Evans for appointment to the California State University Board of Trustees. Ms. Evans is an attorney and independent consultant focusing on housing and homelessness. She most recently was the director of San Francisco-based Tipping Point Community Chronic Homeless Initiative, and she was approved by the Rules Committee on June 20--or excuse me--July 1st on a five/0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Seeing no further discussion, Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll call].

Could Secretary please call absent members?

[Roll call].

Ayes: 36. No: zero. The appointment is confirmed. Members, we do have another special guest with us in the back of the Gallery, Senator Rubio's niece, Kristen Rodriguez, recent graduate of Long Beach State. Let's welcome her to the California Senate. Without objection, members, we are moving to Unfinished Business, Item 25 SCR 89. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you are recognized from your desk-- oh. Secretary, please read.

Senate concurrent Resolution 89 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This is back on concurrence for amendments purposes. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you are recognized.

Thank you. Thank you, Mister President.

One moment. Okay.

Thank you, Mister President, and good morning, colleagues. Senate concurrent Resolution 89 is back on concurrence. The resolution reaffirms California Legislature's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. DEI is foundational to the justice and fairness of every Californian. Amendments taken in the Assemble added 60 additional co-authors. That kind of support reflects how seriously this body takes the moment we're in. Today, we continue to see President Donald Trump and his administration actively dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across this country.

Most recently, with an attack...

Senator Valladares, for what purpose?

Point of Order, Mister president, it's my understanding that the amendments are just referring to adding authors to the bill.

Correct.

Point well taken. Thank you. Senator, if you'll stick with just the amendments.

Well, the amendments, the points speak to the fact that we had an overwhelming number of co-authors added. So, last month one of, in the midst of this resolution moving forward, we have seen additional attacks on DEI, in particularly against the Congressional Black Caucus as represents...

Senator, with all due respect, it's just on the amendments for concurrence purposes.

K. Well, I will, I think the point that we're making here is that SCR 89 has been overwhelmingly supported by this legislature, and that is a declaration that California will not retreat, that we will not be divided, and we will not abandon our values that make us the strongest, most diverse economy in the nation. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Very good. Thank you, Senator. Seeing no mics raised for discussion or debate, secretary, please call roll.

Allen.

Aye. Alvarado-Gil? Archuleta. Aye, Arreguin. Aye, Ashby?

Aye,

Aye, Becker. Aye, Blakespear. Aye, Cabaldon. Aye, Caballero. Aye, Cervantes.

Aye, Choi? Cortese? Aye, Dahle? No, Durazo. Aye, Gonzales?

Aye, Grayson. Aye, Grove? Hurtado? Aye, Jones? No, Laird? Aye, Limon?

McGuire? Aye, McNerney? Aye, Menjivar? Aye, Neilo? No, Ochoa Bogh?

No, Padilla? Aye. Perez? Aye. Reyes? Richardson? Aye. Rubio?

Aye. Seyarto? Smallwood-Cuevas? Aye. Stern?

Aye.

Aye. Strickland? No. Umberg?

Aye, Valladars? No. Wahab? Aye. Weber Pierson? Wiener? Aye.

Limon, aye.

Secretary, please call absent members.

Limon Aye.

Alvarado-Gil? Choi? No. Grove? No.

Reyes? Seyarto? Weber Pearson?

Ayes 28, noes eight, amendments are concurred in. Moving to Senate third reading, item 37, SR 119. Senator Caballero, you are recognized. Secretary, please read.

Senator resolution one nineteen by Senator Caballero relative to paleontology.

Now Senator Caballero, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. I rise today to present SR 119, a resolution to commemorate the unique paleontological heritage of California and the importance of science to the understanding of our planet's history and paleontology. Over the course of its vast history, California has experienced everything from dry valleys in what is now the San Francisco Bay to inland seas filling the Central Valley and beyond. Numerous plants and animals that are now extinct once roamed these ancient lands and seas, including mammoths, saber toothed tigers, and dinosaurs.

Fossils are the physical evidence of prehistoric life.

They can be found across California from San Francisco, Monterey, and Los Angeles to the Central Valley, Inland Empire, and Mount Shasta region. We know about California's ancient life thanks to these fossils and the science of paleontology, which includes a study of fossils and what they tell us about the past, ecology, and evolution. It incorporates knowledge from biology, geology, ecology, and many other sciences.

The science of paleontology has played a critical role in predicting future climate change, understanding the extent to which humans have impacted modern biodiversity, and contextualizing modern environmental challenges. It is also important for engaging students and the public as a gateway to science, serving as an incubator for an interdisciplinary STEM workforce.

This resolution celebrates the science of paleontology by describing California's ancient life across the state to include the large mammals from the Pliocene era, the sharks and salmon from the Miocene, the reptiles from the crustaceans, and the ancient reefs from the Cambrian. I hope you read the resolution and enjoyed learning about a few of the ancient animals that once roamed the lands around us. I wanna close by highlighting why I authored this resolution beyond my personal fascination with the subject.

And I have to tell you that when the mammoth was found in the Central Valley, that was an exciting find. And if you look over California, you can visit all of the museums, and centers that have been set up to really see what used to live here in our in our state.

Science currently is under serious threat. The federal administration has canceled unprecedented billions in science grants, including grants from the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, and this past May, the White House Office of Management and Budget proposed new changes to US federal grant regulations that would politicize the grant making process, giving political appointees the the ability to veto merit based grant awards and reduce funding for early career scientists, all which benefit students in our state and our university system.

Paleontology is one of many important sciences that is under serious threat. This resolution is both a celebration of California's paleontological heritage and a call to action to support critical sciences, exactly like paleontology. And I urge your aye vote on SR 119.

Thank you, Senator. Seeing no mics raised for discussion and debate, secretary, please call roll.

Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Aye, Arreguin. Aye, Ashby.

Aye. Becker. Aye, Blakespear. Aye, Cabaldon. Aye, Caballero.

Aye, Cervantes. Aye, Choi. Aye, Cortese. Aye, Dahle. Aye, Durazo.

Aye, Gonzalez. Aye, Grayson. Aye, Grove. Aye, Hurtado. Aye, Jones.

Aye, Laird. Aye, Limon. McGuire. Aye, McNerney. Aye, Menjivar.

Aye, Niello. Aye, Ochoa Bogh. Aye, Padilla. Aye, Perez. Aye, Reyes.

Richardson. Aye, Rubio. Aye, Seyarto. Smallwood-Cuevas. Stern.

Aye. Strickland? Aye. Umberg, Aye. Valladares.

Aye. Wahab, Aye. Weber Pierson. Wiener, aye.

Secretary, please call absent members.

Allen? Aye. Alvarado-Gil, Limon. Aye. Reyes, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas.

Aye. Weber Pierson.

Aye. 36, no zero. The resolution passes. Members, we are moving to Assembly third reading directly to item two sixty eight. Item two sixty eight AB 1923.

Soria. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1923 by Assembly Member Soria, in equating two elections and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Senator Caballero, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mister President. Good morning good morning Members. Today, I rise to present AB 1923 on behalf of Assembly member Soria and myself. Fresno County's long standing local transportation sales tax is called measure c, which currently raises millions of dollars. For decades, these locally generated dollars have repaired roads, improved public transit, enhanced safety, and helped Fresno County compete for billions of dollars in state and federal transportation funds.

Measure c funds are set to expire next year. In response, thousands of of Fresno County residents came together to qualify a citizen led initiative to place a successor message before the voters this November. The Measure Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act is the product of over two years of public engagement involving thousands of Fresno County residents, local government, business leader, labor organization, and community groups, and those are the individuals that showed up yesterday in support of the bill, over a 100, and which included students and unions.

It was an impressive show of excitement and interest in this new Transportation Improvement Act. The measure reflects the priorities identified by the residents and is projected to generate 7,400,000,000 in local transportation dollars, support approximately 68,000 job jobs, and produce more than 13,000,000,000 in economic activity.

More than 32,000 people signed the petition in support of the measure from all over the county and the required number of signatures was certified by the County registrar of voters. I wanna emphasize that, it was certified. The voters behind this measure complied with all necessary deadlines and complied with every legal requirement to make sure the initiative was placed on the upcoming November 2026 ballot.

Instead of moving the measure to the November ballot, the Board of Supervisors exercised the option to order a report, a decision that caused the measure to miss the statutory deadline for placement this November. In other words, they issued, they asked for a report and that the report take thirty days in order to prepare, which may means it goes past.

The election code states that if a county initiative qualifies with sufficient votes as certified by the county registrar voters, that it must be placed on the next election ballot unless the governing body of the county, would like for it to be placed sooner in a special election. That didn't happen in this case. That brings us to the question before us today.

When the people do everything the law requires to qualify a citizen led initiative for the ballot, should a ministerial process delay them from voting on it? The ministerial process is taking the registrar voters' information and saying, hey, it passed.

It it it, it's been, qualified for the ballot. That's that's the only thing the board's supposed to do. They can ask for a report, and that report can be very important, but that should not delay the process. They can still receive the report. Let me first say that I have always been a big supporter of local control, and I chaired local government for many, many years and was honored to defend local government.

As a former mayor, I fought to protect the authority of cities and counties to make decisions for their own communities. And in fact, that's what led me to run for higher office was to make sure that that the state was respecting local control. But local control is more than the authority of the elected officials. It is also about respecting the voices of the people that they serve.

California's initiative process exists to get to give citizens a path to get things done when they want to place an issue directly before the vote.

When people follow the law, gather the required signatures, and qualify the measure for the ballot, they deserve the opportunity to have their voice heard. That's they deserve the opportunity to have their voice heard. That's all this bill does. It does not affect the report the board asked for. It does not rule on the merits of the ballot measure, and it does not decide whether the transportation measure passes or not.

That goes before the voters. And tax. It simply preserves the opportunity for the people of Fresno to vote on the citizen led initiative. And the stakes couldn't be higher. If the measure does not reach the November ballot, Measure C will expire without its successor in place, creating a significant grant gap in local transportation funding.

That means fewer dollars for road maintenance, public transit, safety improvement, and transportation infrastructures throughout the county. Without a local funding commitment, Fresno County becomes less competitive for state and federal transportation grants and risks losing access to funding program. And it's not just Fresno County, it's all 15 cities that are in the county. The impact of this decision will not be felt equally. Our rural communities stand to lose the most.

The city of Fresno is already pursuing its own local sales tax measure to protect transportation funding within the city limits. And while that may provide a path forward for the city of of Fresno, our rural cities and unincorporated communities do not have the same option. Those communities simply do not have the tax base or financial capacity to replace these dollars on their own. Most of the cities are 20,000 people or less. For rural communities, transportation funding is much more than the roads.

It keeps agricultural products moving. It supports local businesses and good paying jobs. It provides safe routes to school, strengthens emergency response during floods and wildfire, and connects residents to healthcare, employment, and essential services. This is a short sighted decision with long term consequences, and that's why so many people showed up yesterday to testify. Report because they don't like the ballot measure.

And that once the report was prepared, a special meeting would not be called to put the measure on the November 26 ballot. So it's purposeful. It's purposely evading the purpose of the statute, and it's trying to subvert the will of the public that works so hard to put this ballot measure together. The election laws were never intended to allow a County Board of Supervisors to circumvent the will of the people.

Delaying this vote jeopardizes jobs, weakens Fresno County's ability to compete for state and federal investments, and leaves our smallest communities with fewer resources to meet growing transportation, needs.

The bill will not override local control, rather it will protect one of the most fundamental expressions of local control we have, the right of voters to decide the future of their own community. At the end of the day, this bill acts to protect the integrity of California's initiative process, ensure that the people of Fresno County, and not a procedural delay will have the final say. I respectfully ask for your Aye vote and for immediate transmittal to the Assembly.

Senator Grove, you are recognized.

Thank you. Mister president, Aye, I appreciate my colleagues' comments. I know that we have worked well on on Central Valley issues, but this is an issue that where we see this issue from different sides. So the people who gathered those signatures, I deeply respect, and they put the ballot measure forward. They submitted the information.

It was certified. It would be certified one day late, which is not within the process. I would like to gracefully, correct my colleague on the election code, section nine one one eight.

It says the initiative petition is signed if the initiative petition is signed by voters, the board of sup it has another paragraph there, but what's important in this is the board of supervisors shall do one of the following, adopt the ordinance without without alteration and regular meet at a regular meeting at a certified position presented within ten days after it's presented, or b, submit an ordinance with an alteration to the voters pursuant to section code 14 o five, or c, order a report to section nine one one one in the regular meeting at a regular meeting at which the certification or petition is, presented, which the report will be presented to the board of supervisors, and the board shall either adopt the ordinance within ten days, or order an election pursuant to the Subdivision B.

So they do have the right to order a study.

The reason why some of the supervisors are very concerned about this is because this tax will be continually collected from the citizens of the district that I represent. It will be sent to Sacramento, and then if this if Fresno County's road and infrastructure projects meet the requirements

that are in the language of this, ballot measure that's on there, meaning that you widen the road, you have a bike path, you have a bus path, you have bus access, you have electrical infrastructure, It to me, I don't think Fresno will ever get any of this money back. It will always stay in current or in Sacramento.

And my concern is, is that the dollars that are collected by this tax will not benefit this community because of all the restrictions and the requirements based on the ballot language. And I get it. Planting trees and bike lanes and bus pass, all those things, free bus passes, all of those things are included in this language to get people to sign up for these ballot measures for increased taxes.

The other thing that I would like to share is I don't think this this bill, before us today is about roads or transit or even the voters. It's about Sacramento deciding what they know better and the people that are elect our county supervisors. Some of those 30,000 people that signed this petition, probably not all of them, but they supported the county supervisors and put them in elective office to make decisions over them on a local level.

On July 8, the Fresno County registrar certified the Better Roads and Safe Streets initiative through the valid signatures. But just a few months ago, actually less than two months ago, this body passed ACA 22, which put Prop 43 on the ballot, which would require a two thirds signature.

It was a negotiation that was with outside parties, and this legislator, only one person voted no on this body floor, and that's my colleague from San Francisco. Everyone else supported that initiative that we put on the ballot, and it's Prop 43, that which require a two thirds vote, which is a taxpayer protection measure, that is better than 50 plus one. And now we're going back just less than two months later to unwind it for this particular city.

Under a long standing election code, nine one one eight, which I just read to you, the board of supervisors had clear and a lawful option to be able to request a report, wait for its results, and then decide if they were gonna put it on the ballot within ten days. This process, I talked to supervisors this morning.

This process is going through the local process according to the election codes that this body establishes, and they are putting it on the ballot. My understanding is this is in 2028, but we're circumventing that process and circumventing local control. The legal certification process would have been placed this initiative on a 2028 ballot, and I do believe that people are concerned about 20 about prop, excuse me, prop 43, the lower the local taxpayer protection act.

AB 1923 now comes after the fact and that the legislature already approved prop 43, and now we're ignoring that fact. We're simply rewriting the rules for one county, and I think other counties will properly follow.

There is a process to put something on the ballot. There were signatures gathered. I applaud them for going to the work and and making sure that they had the process in place and the signatures. But again, my concern is the funding piece that will never come back to Fresno County because of all the requirements that are in the ballot measure language. If you haven't if you haven't read it, you should.

They can't access the resources without doing all these extra things, and I just don't think that Fresno County's gonna be able to have the ability to do that. Do we need roads and infrastructure repair in this district and our Central Valley? 1000%. You drive on 395, you go down to Los Angeles, you have great roads. We have more roads, miles per capita for our communities in the Central Valley where we get almost hardly any infrastructure dollars for that.

It'll all go to high speed rail, but they won't give it for roads and infrastructure. And then our counties are supposed to increase taxes on our constituents in order to pay for roads and infrastructure on a local level when the supervisors said they would consider it, but they'll consider it through the process, and they the supervisors exhausted their their lawful right under the elections code in order to do the study and put it on the 2028 ballot.

So I it's a tough one for me because I know that the citizens worked hard and made sure that they got the signatures to be able to put it on the ballot, but I really don't think that the people of this of Fresno County, not all of them, not all of them, some of them have, but not all of them have read the requirements, and I'm pretty sure that a majority of this money will never come back to that county after my constituents pay for this tax increase.

And I respectfully ask for a no vote and let the process for the local authority and our local supervisors address this issue.

Senator Arreguin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister President. I rise in support of AB 1923, and I certainly respect, the perspective of the Senator from Bakersfield, but I have a different perspective I'd like to share. I don't represent Fresno County. I was born in Fresno. I have family that live in Fresno County, so this impacts them.

But I see this issue as a matter of statewide concern because I think this sets a precedent for this to happen in other counties, and it's already happened in my county, in Alameda County, just this past Tuesday. And this is germane to the matter before us, because I'm making a point.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors, using the same provision, elections code Section nine ninety two twelve, requested a report on the fiscal impacts of a proposed minimum wage measure with the express intent to delay putting that measure on the ballot. The supervisors were very transparent that their interest was to make sure that that did not appear on the ballot.

So now that has to wait to 2028, even though over a 150,000 signatures were collected in Alameda County by people who thought this is gonna appear on the November 2026 ballot.

That's wrong. It's certainly appropriate for Board Members of the board of supervisors to get more information about a ballot measure before that measures in the ballot. I'll note that in the case of Alameda County's measure, that was in circulation for many, many months. So the supervisors could have requested that report just like here in Fresno County, months in advance so that that information was before the board of supervisors when the matter needed to be, put on the ballot.

Rather than using that elections code section to deliberately delay this issue going to the voters.

I think it's absurd that a report could subvert the will of the voters. I think it's critical that we let the voters aside, the hundreds of thousands of voters that signed, these petitions to put these things before the voters. I wish that I had the ability to introduce a bill like the Senator from Merced to put that measure before the voters in Alameda County, but I was not able to do so. In this case, the voters of Fresno County circulated an initiative.

I'll just also clarify the record that prop 43 is prospective.

Not retrospective. It doesn't have retrospective applicability. So measures that are on the ballot this year are subject to the current rules. And if that measure were to pass, then would be subject to the higher threshold. But that's a separate matter.

I think that if people have objections to a ballot measure, make your case to the voters. Talk about why you oppose it, but don't prevent the voters from having an opportunity to even consider the measure. I think that's anti democratic. Yes. We need to amend the elections code to prevent this from happening in the future.

And maybe we need to have a a deadline for when that report has to be issued, but it doesn't delay a measure from actually being able to be put on the ballot. But that's a separate matter for a separate discussion, and I hope we can clarify the laws that this isn't being used to deliberately prevent a qualified voter initiative from being considered by the voters. But we can do the right thing today by passing AB 1923, and I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Senator Niello, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister President. There are good arguments being made on both sides of this as we can tell by the debate and, one more, speaker, to speak to it, presumably and and support. But I'd like to point out that this is fundamentally a local dispute. And in passing this legislation, effectively what we're doing is we're not legislating. We're acting as a quasi judicial body, deciding a local dispute on behalf of one side of the dispute.

I think that's a wholly inappropriate role for this body to play. And for that reason, I urge a no vote and allow the local people to figure out how to settle this dispute, which is the way things should happen.

Senator Allen, you are recognized.

Yeah. No. I I appreciate those comments. I I think in in some respects, we are letting the local people figure out the dispute. We've got the Assembly member and the Senator who represent the bulk of the county.

We've got 11 out of 15 mayors who are asking for this. The reason why the delay happened such that it created this this window of time that allowed for the board to call for this study, which would then, kick the measure to 2028, was because they had been negotiating intensely and, with the board and ultimately weren't able to come to a resolution. And so they had to choose this path.

We asked them in committee yesterday about whether the board had ever used this you know, had ever called for a study over the many years where they've had a zoo tax measure, parks tax measure, transportation tax measures, and that had never been done before. The other thing I'll say is that it's it's certainly my understanding that all of this money stays in the county, every single dollar.

And I love I I don't I don't understand the argument that was just made. This is this is money that stays there for transportation projects there. Finally, one of the 11 mayors is actually the mayor of Fresno who represents certainly the largest city in the county and that was meaningful to me as I heard this in discussion yesterday because I know that there was some dispute over the way that the allocation of the dollars was was being framed for around the county.

And, and and look, in the end of the day, this is just putting something on the ballot. The voters will have the opportunity to choose.

There was a measure on the ballot in 2022. It failed. There was a real, you know, internal, you know, dispute in the county. And this is just giving the people of the county the opportunity to decide one way or another as to whether they want to extend this important tax which has been providing resources for essential transportation services for the county over many, many years.

And this was now going, instead of it expiring and that important source of revenue just ending without a conversation, it's going to give the people of the county the opportunity to decide.

And it will ultimately be up to them if we pass this today and it's signed. It will be up to the people of the county of Fresno to decide as to whether they want to move forward with this or not. And for that, I I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Caballero, would you like to close?

Thank you very much, Mister President. I appreciate the debate. It's, unfortunate to be in in this, position. The reality of the situation is there was a ballot measure in '22 that was put on to extend the tax despite the fact it wasn't expiring at that point.

The ballot measure was put on by local government and did not pass because, frankly, the distribution of how the money would be spent within the different communities, many of the smaller communities felt that it wasn't fair and there wasn't enough revenue that would go towards transit, which is a big need in this area, and we had testimony from students and HHS workers and other individuals that take public transportation and desperately need it and are in support of of of the the measure.

As was articulated, this is not putting a thumb on the scale, this is just allowing it to go to the vote of the public. And then people can debate over whether it's the right allocation of money, but it is all local money. What was said is absolutely true. We have one of the highest percentage of highways that go through the area, ninety nine and five principally, but then all across highways that take you from one little community to the next.

And these small communities desperately need resources.

And so we're putting, we're doing the right thing, which is to insist that it go on the November ballot. The board can look at the report and make their comments on it and oppose it if they want. But politics should not be allowed to delay what a voter initiative has done according to all the rules, and so I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call absent Members.

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Ayes 27, Noes 8 on the urgency. Ayes 27, Noes 8 on the bill, and it passes. Members, we are moving back and filed to item 46, ACR 149, Hart. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 149 by Assembly Member Hart, relative to the California Coastal Act of 1976.

Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister president. I'm presenting Assembly Concurrent Resolution one forty nine on behalf of Assembly member Greg Hart, which commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the California Coastal Act and the creation of the State Coastal Conservancy. This resolution will look very familiar because we passed the Senate one that they've concurred in. They are passed this resolution. We are asking to concur in it.

This recognizes fifty years of coastal protection. I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Yeah. Ayes 27, Noes 1. The resolution passes. Members, we are deferring on specials, consent calendar. We are deferring regular consent calendar and taking up the special consent calendar.

Any Members wish to remove any item from the consent calendar? Senator Blakespear, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister President. I rise to request file item number 325 is pulled from the consent calendar.

The desk will note. Seeing no other members to be recognized, secretary, please read the consent calendar.

Senate resolution 109, Senate Concurrent Resolution 182, Senate resolution 118, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 214, 219, 220, 223, 157, 187, 194, 222, and Assembly Concurrent Resolution 224.

Thank you, secretary. Please call Roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 35. No 0 on item 331. Ayes 35, No 0 on the remaining items of special consent calendar and it passes.

Members, we are moving now to or returning to motions and resolutions for the purpose of adjournments in memory. And we are going to recognize Senator Wahab and Senator McNerney for the first adjournment and memory. Senator Wahab, you are recognized. Or Senator McNerney, let's start with you. You are recognized.

Mister President and distinguished colleagues, I rise today to ask that we adjourn in the memory of Scott Hagerty, a former, long time member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and resident of Livermore, California, which is in my district. Scott Haggerty was a leader in the Bay Area politics who represented the Tri Valley and the City Of Fremont as an Alameda County supervisor for a good twenty four years. That's twice as long as we're allowed here.

Scott led on a range of Bay Area issues including transportation, clean energy, public safety, supportive housing, the arts, and agriculture. He died on July 5 at the age of 68 years.

Scott and I had at least one thing in common. He was also a political novice when he was first elected to high public office. In 1996, he burst into the East Bay political scene when he won a seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors at the age of 38, despite having no prior elected public experience. He was subsequently elected to five more terms as a supervisor.

Over the years, Scott earned a reputation as being a candid, no nonsense public official and champion of transportation who took the lead on several major projects and initiatives.

And despite the political environment, he was a nonpartisan politician. He just wanted to get things done. He successfully advocated for two country wide transportation measures during his in during his tenure that had a significant impact on the Bay Area. He was also a long time leader in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Key roadway and transit projects in the Tri Valley that he had worked on included Highway 84 extension between, Highway 580 and Livermore.

Scott was also an early champion of a project close to my heart, the planned Valley Link rail line connecting San Joaquin Valley to the Bay Area. Scott also served on the governing board of the Livermore Harabedian Livermore Al Amador Valley Transit Authority, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, the Bay Area Air District, Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Authority, and the Association of Bay Area Governments. He didn't ignore issues that nourish and sustain us by promoting agriculture, land conservation, and clean energy.

Scott was also a strong supporter of the Marissa Hunt Agricultural Education Center and youth barn that opened in 2019 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. He was also instrumental in developing, the Bankhead Livermore Theater, the premier performing arts venue in the Tri Valley.

One of Scott's final project in office was helping to provide the funding needed to launch Goodness Village, a supportive housing project for unsheltered people in Livermore. Scott understood that addressing homelessness required creativity, opportunities for people to build their lives with dignity. Scott is deeply missed.

Senator Wahab, you are recognized..

Thank you. Colleagues, I rise to honor the life of Scott Haggerty, a leader whose impact transformed Alameda County, specifically as a board of supervisor. Scott harnessed the power

of local government and addressed problems and turning ideas into results. As was mentioned, he primarily focused a lot on Bay Area transit and specifically in our district as it was expanding and growing. He worked very hard to ensure that our district received its funds, received its support, and much more. Scott was never shy about his beliefs and very direct and blunt about his opinions.

I will say that Scott actually is very much the embodiment of what human beings are, flawed and struggling and have problems and have opinions and have hopes and have dreams and and so much more.

And yet he was always authentically himself. And I will highlight the fact that, you know, Scott and I disagreed on a wide variety of things, but he was deeply committed to his ideas and his principles, and he would at least explain why he had his opinions. And I I will say that anybody that dedicates their life to public service gives a lot to the community, whether we see it or don't, whether we agree with it or don't.

Scott was the individual that served for literally well over a decade plus and tried to do his best when it came to expanding public transit into the East Bay and much more. Scott is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and siblings, and I respectfully ask we adjourn in his memory.

Senator Cortese, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister President and colleagues. I first met supervisor Scott Hagerty in 2001. I was I'd just been elected to San Jose City Council and appointed by the mayor to our COG, the Association of Area Governments along with other appointments and commissions. And, of course, supervisor Hagerty, who already was a member of that commission and and other regional government bodies made himself known almost immediately upon my arrival on the scene.

I would not have become president of that organization were it not for supervisor Haggerty, which when I look back on the my own history of regional government, really had had a waterfall effect, a cascading effect on my entire career thereafter because he came up to me, he was a doer, he understood regional politics.

I've found out over the years how much he understood county politics on his own Board of Supervisors. He literally came up to me one day at one of the Association of Bay Area government meetings with a clipboard and says you need to go around and get signatures because you're gonna be the next vice president of of the organization. And I said, who do I talk to? I'm new here. I don't even know most of the people.

And he said, just wait right here. And he came back about maybe ten minutes later with the entire clipboard signed, nominating me on a white ballot. Of course, then I became by succession, the president of that organization. It was critical to us in San Jose because at that time, San Jose did not have a seat on what we call the Metropolitan Transportation Commission or MPO. Even though San Jose was the largest city and still is in the Bay Area, it had major projects going on.

And and Scott knew it was very important for me to be able to to at least open the door to legislation and the recomposition of of our transportation commission so that San Jose could be represented there. And he supported me in that, not only supported me in that, supported me in becoming a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission through means that I won't get into right now and then subsequently support supported the recomposition of of that body. So

these are the

kind of impacts as as we all know as elected officials, especially if you've worked in regional level or any other level that don't show up real clearly on somebody's resume and have this massive impact.

What I didn't know as we were working on the so called BART extension into Silicon Valley, What I didn't know from Scott was that he had committed to our mayor, Ron Gonzalez, at the time who had who had launched that project, that by all means and by any means, he was gonna support the project on every vote in the future.

He never shared that with me being the savvy politician that he was, so I can't tell you how many times I had to go to him pleading for votes, to continue, the funding or the things that we needed including some Alameda County money from time to time to keep that project going. And, you know, of course have have Scott basically flip the negotiating table and say, if you want that vote, you're gonna have to support, what I'm doing and what I want in Alameda County.

It wasn't until we did the groundbreaking on on on the Berry Estes station in San Jose for the BART extension that I heard mayor Gonzalez and supervisor supervisor Hagerty celebrating their first conversation where Scott had already committed to every single one of those votes.

So it was a little bit of you have to have a sense of humor, of course, at that point and say, smart guy, good guy, good friend, good supporter. I'll let him, you know, get away with that one. Scott became a close friend because we both, I have four children now, adult children, and he had several children as well. And the bumps and bruises of dealing with our own children as elected officials, you know, came came home to roost a few times.

And what a lot of people didn't know about this guy who was actually pretty gruff and and and almost overly direct at times as an elected official was his caring and compassion and concern about others.

And I will tell you some of the best advice I've ever received from anybody, including people in the medical profession, about how to to deal with some of the issues I was dealing with in my own family, you know, came on long walks, through the streets of San Francisco and in other places with Scott Haggerty where he just said, hey. Tell me what's going on. I wanna help. I just wanna be of help.

And that's the real human being, I think, that that we're celebrating, not just somebody who started projects like Valley Link and helped Bart get to Silicon Valley and did all these other things.

But he did all that. But but someone who was very caring and concerned about others. One of the last things he said to me, he came to visit me in Sacramento a few times since I've been here. But on our last trip to Washington, D. C.

Together as transportation commissioners, He pleaded with me not to run for state Senate. He said, you've done enough. You've had a long career. Said I'm gonna retire. And he looked at me and he said, life is too short.

And I just couldn't get that out of my head during his memorial last week. An individual who who really had more years ahead of him to enjoy his life, to enjoy his family, to enjoy his his grandchildren. I know they they miss him desperately. I'm gonna miss him, and I appreciate joining in on this adjournment today. Thank you to my colleagues from Stockton and and Hayward for that opportunity.

Senator Arreguin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister President. Colleagues, just with profound sadness that I rise today to honor Scott Haggerty, and I'll try not to get emotional, who as was mentioned, he was a dedicated public servant whose leadership helped modernize transportation and land use throughout the Bay Area. But on a on a personal level, he was a mentor to me and a dear friend. And like Senator Cortese and Senator Weiner and others who had the opportunity to serve with him, I had the privilege of serving with him in regional government. And like Senator Cortesi, I was drafted by supervisor Hagerty to serve as the vice president of the Association of Bear Governments.

Then I had the honor of later serving as the president, working with him in that capacity.

And I was surprised that this guy was, you know, he was very intimidating. I guess I'll say that when I first met him. He had a very gruff personality, and was very direct. And we had very different perspectives on issues. You know, I I was the liberal mayor of Berkeley, and he was this former Republican conservative supervisor from the Tri Valley.

But beyond his gruff personality was somebody who had a heart of gold and who cared deeply about public service and cared deeply about people. And that was his North Star in his many decades of public service. And that formed a partnership over many, many years. One of the first opportunities I had to work with supervisor Haggerty was when he championed the creation of our community choice aggregation public power agency in Alameda County, now now called AVA Community Energy.

He was the father of public power in Alameda County.

He saw it as an opportunity to invest in local development, create jobs, and help advance our region's efforts for energy independence. And like supervisor Hagerty, I was a founding board member of AVA Community Energy, and it was befitting because of his work. And this is something we had worked for decades to try to do in Alameda County for many, many years. And it it took Scott Hagerty to get it done. And like was said, he was a person who got things done.

And it was befitting that when he retired that we named, I think, one of the first wind farms that was built in the Altamont Pass area after Scott Haggerty. I think a fitting tribute to not just the impact he had in creating the agency and creating energy independence in Alameda County, but his commitment towards addressing climate change. He true regionalist and recognized that the issues that impact Alameda County impact every community in the Bay Area, at the regional level.

In his six terms on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, he earned a reputation as a collaborative leader who brought people together to tackle some of our region's most pressing challenges such as transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental stewardship. And I had the honor of working with him on so many regional issues, not only on the, Association of Berry Governments, but when he served as the Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

We worked very closely together on the creation of our regional transportation plan and the creation of the Berry Housing Finance Authority. Scott's legacy can be defined not just in the relationships he had with people, but so many significant transportation projects and regional initiatives that he helped lead in his many years, as well as efforts to help provide sustainable funding for transportation, such as the passage of measure b b, the regional sales tax to fund transit in Alameda County.

In addition, extending BART to Santa Clara County, the Oakland San Francisco Airport connection, the expansion of the Caldecott Tunnel, the Salesforce Transbay Transit Center, and soon ValleyLink are testaments to his incredible leadership. Selected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and was kind of a maverick. And he really committed his time in office to mentor young people and mentor the next generation of leaders.

And I think there's so many people who serve in elected office in the Bay Area who were mentored and supported and shaped by the leadership of Scott Hagerty. Area and state that is more connected, more equitable, and more collaborative. I wanna extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends and colleagues and also ask that we adjourn the Senate in his honor today.

Senator Wiener, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister President. I too had the honor of serving with Scott Haggerty for six years on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. I joined the MTC just a few months after I was sworn in as a new member of the board of supervisors. So I was very green, very new, and I knew that there were certain members of that commission who had truly, been around the block and knew what they were doing. The Senator from San Jose was one of them, and, Scott Haggerty was another.

And he was someone, if you look at just the facts on paper, he and I should have had really nothing in common. He was this, you know, former Republican, middle of the road to maybe a little bit conservative guy from a very suburban to rural, part of Alameda County. I was this, lefty guy, from San Francisco, who wanted to just fund, fund the heck out of, transit and bikes and and and and pedestrian spaces and so forth. We're just very, very different.

But Scott and I actually became quite close, and he pulled me in and helped to elevate me, as a new commissioner on the commission.

He he was a true regionalist. He understood that when San Francisco, succeeded, the East Bay succeeded and vice versa. And he wanted to make sure, that all parts of the region were getting what we needed in terms of investment and support. And so I worked very, very well with him over those six years. After coming to the Senate, I always looked forward when he would be up, lobbying around transportation issues, in the in the legislature and it's just really just so depressing that he is gone.

I

know he had a a lot ahead of him and was looking forward to it. And it's a real tragedy, and I just wanna express my deepest condolences, to his family and his community. Thank you.

Thank you so very much. Senator McNerney, if you'll bring your the name of your adjournment memory to the desk to be properly memorialized. We appreciate that. Our condolences to you. Senator Ashby, you are recognized for your adjournment memory.

Thank you very much, Mister presiding officer. I rise today to adjourn in the memory of a beloved and incredible Sacramento hero named Jonathan Burgess. He passed away on May 11 at the age of 52 after a four year battle with ALS. Jonathan is a South Sacramento native and he served for more than thirty years, well over half of his life with the Sacramento Fire Department, ended his career at the rank of battalion chief.

In addition to his service with the fire department, Jonathan co founded the restaurant Burgess Brothers Barbecue and Burgers with his equally dynamic twin brother Matthew, who by the way, this twin, is a member of the Sacramento Police Department.

These two brothers are beloved across the city of Sacramento. In addition to being a firefighter and a business owner, Jonathan was a powerful advocate for reparations for the black community. He testified before the California Reparations Task Force in 2021 and worked to have his family's legacy restored after the state took his ancestors land in Coloma by way of eminent domain. He also published a children's book that documented his family's history as one of the earliest black settlers in the Coloma region.

Jonathan will be remembered as a fierce protector of justice for his acts of service, his humor, and his radiant smile.

Several of Jonathan's friends and family join us in the gallery today, including his wife Lauren, his daughters Justice and Jordan, his twin brother Matthew, his sister Tonya, many of his friends and colleagues from the Sacramento Fire Service, including local five two two president Trevor Jamieson. Members, please join me in adjourning in the memory of a true Sacramento hero.

Senator Nilo, you are recognized on this adjournment memory.

Thank you, Mister president. I rise to join my Sacramento colleague in recognizing, Jonathan Burgess. I did not know Jonathan well, but I know Jonathan's reputation well. One cannot avoid that. And, at age 52, that is way, way too early.

And, my deepest sympathies go to his family members who are here today.

Thank you. Senator, if you'll bring your name of your adjournment memory to the desk for proper to be properly memorialized. Senator McGuire, you are recognized for your adjournment memory.

Thank you so much, Mister president and members. Colleagues, I rise today in honor of the life and legacy of a remarkable public servant, Marin County's chief probation officer, chief Marlon Washington. Chief Washington began his nearly three decade long career in law enforcement, helping young people in juvenile justice system, first in Napa County and then in Contra Costa. And then in 2020, the chief made history.

He became Marin County's first African American chief of probation, serving as only just three American African American chief probation officers in California at the time.

This is an achievement that he was so incredibly proud of. For six years, he led more than a 120 employees working hard every day, Mister president, to build a department grounded in rehabilitation, accountability, and the belief that anyone and everyone deserves a chance at a better future. During that time, chief Washington championed the clean slate program, helping those who completed probation to be able to get a new start on life.

He took immense pride in the career explorers program, which introduced people from challenging backgrounds to careers in public service. He also worked to make the justice system more equitable and improve outcomes for young people, but in particular, young people of color.

Because that was one of his core beliefs, that we can make our community safer while also helping transform lives. The chief understood that public safety wasn't just responding to a 911 call or go into a crime. It was about upstream investing investment in preventing it, giving young people hope and hoping families will be able to find a path forward. And he also knew that leadership meant lifting up his community.

He showed up every day fighting for his department, fighting for the people and the families that he served, and fighting for the communities that he proudly represented.

His colleagues knew him for his quiet strength, genuine spirit, and visionary leadership. He believed in people. He instilled confidence in those around him, and he changed lives every day he showed up in the office. And that's the public servant that we should all want, and that's what the chief dedicated his life to. And that is the legacy that he leaves behind and the people he mentored, the lives he touched, and the communities that he served so faithfully.

On behalf of the California State Senate, I would ask that we keep the Washington family and the Marin County probation department in our prayers, and I appreciate the opportunity to be able to adjourn in the chief's memory.

Senator, we extend our condolences. Please bring the name of your adjournment memory to the desk to be properly memorialized. Senator Hurtado, you are recognized for your adjournment memory.

Thank you, Mister President. Today I rise to honor the life and legacy of a remarkable man, doctor Coinas l n x junior, a gifted cardiac surgeon, a vision visionary leader, and a dear partner in our shared mission to make health care more equitable for every Californian. I had the privilege of working closely with doctor Enoch on one of the initiatives he cared about most, the California medicine scholars program.

Together, we secured its initial funding in the 2021 state budget, creating new pathways for community college students to pursue careers in medicine. It was a two year fight.

Doctor Enoch believed that a student's background should never determine their future and he dedicated his life to making that belief a reality. His vision reached far beyond California. Working alongside congresswoman Barbara Lee, he helped inspire the National Medical Corps Act driven by a simple but powerful belief that every community deserves doctors who understand the people they serve. The commitment to service defined his life. As a cardiac surgeon, Doctor.

Enix cared for patients across the Bay Area bringing compassion and excellence to every operating room. Inspired by his father, civil rights attorney Coenas Al Ennis senior, he carried forward a lifelong commitment to justice, not in the courtroom, but through medicine, education, and opportunity. One of the defining moments of his life came in 1973 when he responded to the tragic assassination of Oakland superintendent doctor Marcus Foster. Although he was forced to pronounce doctor Foster's passing, he saved the life of deputy superintendent, doctor Bob Blackburn.

That experience inspired more than two decades of service with the Marcus Foster Education Institute, Helping create educational opportunities for future generations.

Above all, Doctor. Enix was a devoted father, grandfather, mentor, and friend. His legacy is measured not only by the lives he saved as a surgeon, but by the doors he opened for countless others who now have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. I'm grateful to have known him, to have worked alongside him, and to have witnessed firsthand his unwavering commitment to building a more just and compassionate healthcare system.

May we honor his memory by carrying forward the work he cared so deeply about and by continuing to create opportunities for those who will follow in his footsteps.

Members, please join me today in a journey in the member in the memory of doctor Coinus LNX Junior.

Senator, our cons our sincerest condolences and you are also recognized for your additional adjournment memory.

Thank you. Today, I rise to honor the life and memory of Yolanda Yoli Rojo, a remarkable woman from Ma Bakersfield whose love for her family and her community will never be forgotten. Yolanda's story began on 10/06/1995 in Bakersfield where she was born and raised. From a young age, those around her saw someone who led with both determination and heart. Her years in catholic school helped shaped her deep sense of faith and compassion.

While her while on her time on the volleyball court and the track field taught her the value of perseverance, discipline, and how to lift those around her. But if you ask those who knew Yolanda what defined her most, they wouldn't begin with her accomplishments. They would tell you about the way she made people feel. They would tell you that family was her greatest purpose. As the oldest sister, Yolanda naturally stepped into the role of protector, confidant, and steady source of strength.

She was a person everyone could count on. The one who brought people together, who filled every room with laughter and who made her home a place where everyone felt welcomed, supported and loved. Her greatest pride however was being a mother. Everything she did revolved around her two beautiful daughters. Whether she was cheering them on at a dance competition, traveling for cheer events, or celebrating them on the golf course, or simply encouraging them to chase every dream they had.

Yolanda was always their biggest fan. She didn't just tell her daughters they could accomplish anything. She showed them every day what unconditional love, sacrifice, and devotion looked like. Although Yolanda's life was tagically cut short on 03/25/2026, The measure of your life is not found in its length, but in the love it leaves behind. By that measure Yolanda lived an extraordinary life.

Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering love continue to live on through her daughters, her family, and the countless friends and neighbors whose lives are better because they knew her. Today we remember not only the life that was lost, but the love that remains. We honor a devoted mother, a cherished daughter and sister, a loyal friend, and a woman whose legacy will continue to inspire all who carry her memory forward. Yolanda Rojo is survived by her two beloved daughters and her loving family.

Mister President and Members, please join me in adjourning today in the memory of Yolanda Yoli Rojo.

Thank you, Senator. Our condolences. Please bring the names of your adjournments and memory to the desk to be properly memorialized. Thank you. Senator Niello, you are recognized for your adjournment memory.

Thank you, Mister President. I I rise to pay tribute to the life and memory of John M Mike Holmes who died on June 27 at the age of 86. He was a distinguished Californian and devoted Auburn City Council member and mayor and a long time very good friend of mine.

Mike served in the United States Navy with distinction, retiring as a captain after a career that included deployments to Vietnam and Taiwan and earning numerous honors including the Legion of Merit Award, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal. As a civilian, he was a dedicated advocate for protecting Auburn's history, character, and future.

He cOntinued a life Of service fOllOwing his military career thrOugh his prOfessiOnal wOrk and extensive civic invOlvement, including thrOugh his wOrk On the Auburn City COuncil tO which he was elected in 2002, 2006, 2010, and again, 2022, in additiOn tO serving as mayOr in O five and O eight. And I wOuld, pOint Out that, between 2010 and when he was reelected in '22, cOincided with my, absence frOm the legislature.

And, when he was first, reelected and I was elected to the Senate, he made a point to come and visit with me in my district office. He was a very thoughtful guy. Mike's commitment to Auburn extended well beyond city hall through his involvement in numerous community organizations and service initiatives.

He leaves to mourn his passing and celebrate his legacy to a host of devoted family members and friends, including Jim Holmes, Carol Henig, and Harry Holmes. So please join me in closing today's session in the memory of a dedicated friend of Auburn and our region, Mike Holmes.

Senator, please bring the name of your adjournment memory to the desk to be properly memorialized. Our sincere condolences. If there is no other business, majority leader Ashby, the desk is clear.

Thank you, Mister President. And thank you to my Senate colleagues for getting through the first week back. We have much work ahead of us in the month of August. We will adjourn today's session and the next floor session will be scheduled for Monday, August 10 at 2PM.

The Senate will be in recess until 03:30pm, at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Monday, 08/10/2026 at 2PM. Have a good weekend, senators.