Senate Floor

Secretary, please 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 afternoon by our guest chaplain, chaplain Sharondalyn n Dupree, after which please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

I invite you to join me each in your own way as we enter a moment of prayer or mindful presence. Creator, source, hope. We pause in gratitude for the communities of California who entrust their hopes and challenges to this chamber. In this shared work, may we remember the quiet truth that none of us stands alone. The music artist Hezekiah Walker offers a simple and powerful reminder, I pray for you.

You pray for me. He continues to. I need you to survive. May that spirit of mutual care guide our conversations today. May our work reflect steadiness, respect, and a commitment to the well-being of our neighbors.

Shalom. May it be so, and amen.

Members and guests, please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to Senators, please welcome for the first time on the floor, Senator Grayson's grandson, Maverick, along with his daughter, Cassie, who are at his desk. In addition, his son-in-law, John Mack, is in the back of the gallery. Please give them a warm welcome to the Senate floor. Eight weeks old.

Senators, let's also welcome to the floor Senator Dahle's son, Reagan, who is in the back. Good to see you. Under privileges of the floor, PT, Limon, you are recognized. But before you begin, senators, can you please take your seats or take your discussions to the back of the gallery? Thank you.

PT Limon, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Senators, today I have the pleasure of introducing on our Senate floor, the 2026 California Founders of the Year. This ceremony and recognition are all put together by the California Women's Wealth Advisory Council and the F5 Collective to highlight women in California who are known for their contributions to their industries and the positive impact that they have on communities that they work with.

The women recognized today have demonstrated and dedicated and care for collaborative solutions in a diverse range of sectors and have we have chosen to bring them to here, the legislature, to recognize the impact they've had on Californian.

They are women who have founded their business here in the state, who invest in our state, and who lead in an incredible way for the policy that impacts many across this country and the globe. I am going to introduce some of them who are in this room, And then we will do a group photo, I think collectively. But I'm going to start by welcoming Andrea Lynette Brimmer, founder and CEO of Revita, an agricultural technology company. So we'll have her come here with her rezo.

And we will, one second, grab you a rezo.

Next, we have Anna Chen, CEO and cofounder of Apizar, a company that provides advanced work of three d printing, full scale build buildings and robotics. Next, we have Beatrice Acevedo, CEO and cofounder of Suma Wealth, a fintech app that focuses on financial inclusion and literacy for the Latino community. Next, we have Iman Abuzad, CEO and cofounder of Incredible Health, the largest AI company powering health care hiring.

Next, we have Jade Marcus, CEO and cofounder of MATHIX, a fertilizer that aims to enhance crop yields and replenish soil health while removing c o two from our atmosphere. Next, we have Joanna Straubber, CEO and co founder of MidiHealth, the virtual healthcare platform for women.

Next, we have Lisa Curtis, CEO and cofounder of Kwik Kui, a food brand that aims to create sustainable income for farming communities while providing organically grown foods. Next, we have Lisa Dyson, CEO and cofounder of Air Protein, a company utilizing NASA tested technology to feed astronauts while in space by transforming elements in the air into protein. Next, we have Michelle Reese, CEO and founder of HiFi, a company that uses refining technology to transform agriculture waste into high value ingredients.

Next, we have Robin Ann McIntosh, CEO and cofounder of Avila Health, a neurodiversity affirming care company building a new paradigm for autism and ADHD care. And our final awardee is Sharon Healy Nicosa, CEO of Sightglass Coffee.

A brand that provides empowerment opportunities for women, BICOP and immigrant food entrepreneurs. Members, I present to you 11 founders, CEOs, business leaders who are here doing incredible work in our state. Congratulations to each of them and thank you on behalf of so many Californians that get to work with you, that use your products, but that also benefit from the incredible investments that you have made to build here, to grow here, and to advance here in the state of California.

Members, please join me in congratulating these incredible 11 women CEO and founder.

If any Members would like to join in the picture, this is your time to join them in the rear of the gallery. With a dynamic group of honorees, congratulations again to the twenty twenty six California women founders honorees. Senator McGuire, you are recognized at the majority leaders desk for your introduction.

Thank you so much, Madam President, and happy Monday, colleagues. Today, rise and honor for the incredible to celebrate the incredible career and impact of Caroline Bateda. For three decades, Ms. Bateda has served as the president and chief executive officer of VISIT California. She has devoted her entire adult life to making the Golden State one of the most visited in The United States Of America.

He has helped lead the largest tourism economy in the nation, an industry that supports 1,200,000 jobs in communities big and small in every corner of our state. Miss Patella has built Visit California into the nation's leading destination marketing organization, uniting tens of thousands of businesses, hundreds of destinations, and millions of visitors in a shared effort, a shared effort to promote the Golden State to the rest of the world. She's done it really damn well.

But what's always stood out about Miss Potetta's leadership is that she understood something fundamental. California's greatest asset isn't a slogan.

It's not a logo. It's our people. And Ms. Beteta made sure that people were at the heart of the California story. She highlighted our diversity makes California extraordinary.

It isn't where we are. It's who we are. And she's been a strong and steady influence during some of our toughest times, not just here in California, but throughout the nation. From the pandemic to multiple devastating wildfires, she has demonstrated resilience, empathy, and precision as the leader of Visit California, always ensuring that we come out the other side stronger. And this kind of leadership matters.

Because madam CEO, she doesn't just promote California. She believes in California because it's her lifelong home as well. Miss Bitteta's success is based on strong relationships, deep trust in the communities in which she serves, and her ability to bring all sides together to solve problems. Madam CEO's mission has been to promote the spirit of the golden state. But But her legacy, ladies and gentlemen, she has shown the world that there's no place like the Golden State.

So on behalf of the State Senate, Madam President, President, I wanna say thank you. We want to say thank you for three decades of extraordinary service, leading Visit California. Best wishes for a well deserved retirement in the California Sierra. Ladies and gentlemen of the California State Senate, can we please give Madam CEO a round of applause and thank her for her incredible commitment to the people of California?

Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Thank you very much. I wanna add my voice, and and the pro tem emeritus said mentioned fires and pandemics, but conveniently left out floods. And when when the highway to Big Sur was closed for three years, Caroline facilitated meetings with the Department of Transportation, the local business people. She recognized that that natural disaster was actually a disaster to our visitor serving industry, and she worked really hard to bridge it.

And I thought of her this weekend because as the fire broke out this weekend in Big Sur, they have just evacuated the Post Ranch, Nepenthe, Ventana Inn.

I half thought I should pick up the phone and call Caroline because I know she would have been in the middle of it with regard to those businesses and the visitor serving industry. So thank you to her for her service. This is actually a huge loss for us, but it's a great thing for her to finally be able to retire. Congratulations to her.

Thank you so much for your service and congratulations on your retirement. We will now recognize from the majority leader's desk, Senator Grove.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm waiting for my guest to come to the floor or to the center of the chamber. Thank you, madam president. On June '20 '26, a dangerous hostage situation unfolded at the Chase Bank building in Downtown Bakersfield. What began as a report of a suspect claiming to possess explosive devices quickly became a dangerous and potentially deadly situation with multiple hostages barricaded inside the building with the perpetrator.

Today, it's a privilege to welcome and recognize the law enforcement officers and public safety partners who responded with extreme courage, professionalism, and work ethic to protect the hostages and bring the crisis to a safe end. Throughout the incident, law enforcement agencies worked together to secure the area, they need to evacuate all nearby buildings, and to communicate with the suspect to resolve the situation.

After hours, long hours going into the next morning of negotiations, the FBI hostage rescue team entered the building and neutralized the suspect successfully securing all 10 hostages who had suffered no physical injuries. Today, we recognize the courage of these law enforcement professionals for their bravery, decisive action, and their commitment to protecting the people of Kern County. It's my great honor to introduce the following leaders who made this happen, and thank each of them for their service, bravery, and dedication to keeping our communities safe.

With us today in the chambers is my sheriff, the longest serving sheriff in Kern County, Donnie Youngblood, Larry McCurtain, the Kern County under sheriff. Brent Stratton, chief of police of Bakersfield, California City PD. Jeremy Blakemore, the assistant police chief. And Brian Tosh with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These truly are heroes that saved lives.

And it was just something that we'd really it was unprecedented in Kern County to have a hostage situation like that. And these leaders had their employee the people that work for them were trained, efficient, effective, and they brought this resolution to an end without one of those hostages being physically harmed. Now, emotionally, I'm sure we're still gonna be dealing with that, but physically harmed, and they truly are heroes, and I would like you to welcome them to the Senate floor.

Senator Hurtado, you are recognized for your remarks.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of this resolution. I really wanna thank, each and every one of you for the work that you do did that day, but also for the work that you do behind the scenes, for the work that we don't know, that we're not aware of, that keeps us all safe and our families and our communities safe as well. I know that the safety of our communities we all represent will require more collaboration between the different agencies and more intelligence sharing.

There should not be these should not be scary words.

They should be something that we embrace, that we collaborate because the safety of our of our communities and of ourselves rely on it. And again, thank you for your work each and every day. The work that we know about and the work that we don't know about as well. Thank you for being here.

Thank you so much for all that you did on that day to keep our community safe and for all that you continue to do every day to keep all of our communities safe. Members, without objection, we will now move to Senate third reading to take up file item 61, SR 125 by Senator Hurtado and file item 57, SR 120 on by Senator Alvarado-Gil. After adoption of each resolution, we will return to privileges of the floor for the author to introduce their guest.

We are now at file item 61. Secretary, please read.

Senate resolution 125 by Senator Hurtado relative to Pakistani American relations.

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

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today to present SR 125, commemorating the Pakistani American relations and recognizing the enduring friendship between Pakistan and The United States. On 08/04/1947, Pakistan achieved its independence, marking an important milestone in its history and beginning a journey rooted in the ideals of freedom, self determination, and democracy. California is home to a vibrant and growing Pakistani American community whose members have made remarkable contributions to our state and nation.

Pakistani Americans have distinguished themselves in medicine, technology, education, business, public service, the arts, the military, and countless other professions, strengthening our communities through their talent, innovation, and leadership.

Their commitment to hard work, family, education, and civic engagement reflects the values that continue to make California stronger and more prosperous. This resolution also recognizes the importance of preserving cultural heritage, while encouraging future generations to continue contributing to the rich diversity that defines our state. Today, we celebrate not only the history of Pakistan's independence, but also the lasting friendship between our two nations, and the invaluable contributions of Pakistani Americans throughout California.

I respectfully ask for an Aye vote and join me in recognizing the Pakistani American relations and celebrating the many achievements of the Pakistani American community.

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

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 40, Noes 0. That resolution passes. Senator Hurtado, you are recognized for your introduction of your guest.

Yeah. And I welcome the Association of Pakistani American Communities here in California to the Senate floor.

Thank you. Welcome to the Senate floor. Senators, we will now move to file item 57, SR 121. Secretary, please read.

Senate resolution 121 by Senator Alvarado-Gil relative to the Killed in Action flag.

Senator Alvarado-Gil, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Today, I rise as the author of Senate Resolution 121, relative to the Killed in Action flag. The freedoms that we enjoy in The United States, and here in California, have been preserved through the courage, sacrifice, and devotion of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. An estimated 340,000 to 345,000 American service members have been killed in action since World War One.

Californians have served in every major conflict in our nation's history, and an estimated 22,000 to 23,000, of our own, have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Our state suffered approximately 1,932 combat related fatalities in World War I, more than 17,000 in World War II, 1,743 confirmed killed in actions in the Korean War, thousands more in Vietnam, and more than 500 in the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 09/11/2001. In 1993, right here in California, a grassroots effort led by combat veterans and veteran motorcycle riders created the Killed in Action flag.

They recognized that while prisoners of war and those missing in action are honored at the national level, recognized by the POW MIA flag, those that are confirmed killed in action have lacked a separate, universally recognized symbol dedicated solely to their sacrifice. The flag bears the words Killed in Action, The Brave and the Free, and America Remembers. It stands as a powerful emblem of our nation's enduring obligation to honor the fallen and preserve their memory for future generations.

It has been embraced by veterans organizations, military families, gold star families, patriotic groups, and local governments across The United States. In 2017, New Jersey became the first state to formally recognize and require its display over the state house and municipal buildings. This resolution simply, yet powerfully, honors the Killed in Action flag as an emblem of sacrifice, remembrance, and respect that every member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in combat deserves recognition.

It encourages the voluntary display of the flag at the State Capitol, on state and local public buildings, at veteran memorial schools, civic institutions, and private residences throughout California. It encourages Californians to fly the flag on appropriate occasions, including Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day, and other military remembrance ceremonies as a visible expression of gratitude for those who gave their lives in service to The United States.

I am grateful to my co-authors who have joined this effort for their strong bipartisan support. This resolution is simple yet important. It is our opportunity to say clearly and publicly that California remembers. It is our chance to honor the thousands of Californians and hundreds of thousands of Americans who gave their last full measure of devotion and to encourage communities across our state to display the killed in action flag with pride, with gratitude, and with remembrance.

I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in voting aye on Senate Resolution 121.

Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Archuleta, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in strong support of SR 121 as the Chair of the Military and Veterans Committee. Here in California, we always honor our veterans. Of course, on Memorial Day, and we honor our veterans on Veterans Day. But here is the message across the nation that California stands with the families that have lost their loved ones in combat.

It is a particular situation that we're looking at because right now, across this nation, people are at the edge of their seats wondering if their sons and daughters and husbands and wives will be killed in action by what's happening in Iran and in other places. And when it's all said and done, the numbers will come through men and women killed in action serving and representing our great nation.

So this opportunity we have here in California to support SR 121, it is our time. This small flag, this like the POW MIA flag that flies over our Capitol. But now, with this recommendation, we can go ahead and encourage schools, hospitals, capitol buildings, state houses, all across this nation, across California, to honor these men and women who've sacrificed so much.

So you can imagine how the families are feeling right now, that their loved ones are remembered. Because here in California, we never forget those who've given their lives for our great Country. And again, I urge an aye vote on SR 121. Thank you, Madam President.

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

I wanna thank, the Senator, Chairman of our Veterans Committee, and, on presentation of guests on the floor, invite our veterans and our Chair to, to greet them and take a photo.

Thank you. Senators, this Resolution is eligible for unanimous roll call. Seeing no objections, ayes 40, no 0. The Resolution passes. Senator Alvarado-Gil, you are recognized for introduction of your guests.

Thank you so much. Senators, today we have the privilege of recognizing a remarkable woman whose personal loss has become a lifelong mission to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Robin Ornsby, the mother of Private First Class J. D. Ornsby Atkins, who was born in Western Australia before moving with his mother to Ione, California, where he grew up.

Driven by a desire to serve his country, he proudly called home. Jay enlisted in the United States Army. He completed basic training on his 21st birthday and embraced military service with courage, dedication, and an unwavering sense of duty. On 04/28/2007, while serving in Iraq, Private First Class JD Ornsby Adkins was killed in action. When an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle, claiming the lives of Jay and two fellow soldiers, he will forever be 21 years of age.

Joining us today with Robin Ordsby is her sister Carrie Miller, her stepdaughter Morgan Inchenski, and vice mayor of the city Ione, Stacy Rhodes. Like every Gold Star family, our community experienced a loss that no parent should ever have to endure. But rather than allowing that tragedy to define her, Robin transformed her grief into purpose and has influenced California cities to take action across our Golden State.

For nearly two decades, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that those who were killed in action received the lasting recognition they deserve. She has become a passionate advocate for the recognition of the killed in action flag, a symbol dedicated specifically to honoring the brave Americans who gave their lives defending our nation.

Today, through Senate Resolution 121, California recognizes the profound significance of that symbol. It serves as a reminder that while freedom comes at a tremendous cost, the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and the families they leave behind must never be forgotten. Robin,

I want to thank you for your courage, your perseverance, and your unwavering commitment to preserving the legacy of our nation's fallen service members. It's been your advocacy that has helped ensure that their sacrifice will continue to be remembered by generations to come. Colleagues, I ask you to welcome Robin Ornsby and her gold star family to the California State Senate as we honor both her son, Private First Class J. D. Orsby Adkins, and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

Thank you.

If anyone else would like to join in the picture, please go to the rear of the chamber. Welcome to the Senate floor. We are so sorry for your loss, but thank you tremendously for your continued advocacy. Senators, continuing with privileges of the floor. Senator Wiener, you are recognized for your introduction at the majority leader's desk.

Thank you very much, madam president. Colleagues have arrived today to introduce Cindy Cohn, who after twenty five years, at the organization, has retired as the executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Through her career, Cindy has worked tirelessly for a free, fair, and open Internet on which users can speak, learn, and thrive without fear of oppression. Her outstanding leadership was largely responsible, for EFS, development into the leading nonprofit, dedicated to defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation worldwide.

Cindy served as a legal director and general counsel for EFF before spending the last decade as executive, director.

Her exemplary work for the foundation has protected Californians, Americans, and people across the globe against security compromises from government and corporate surveillance. Cindy's accomplishments are numerous and profound. In a landmark challenge, she represented a UC student and helped establish foundational case law that recognized software source code, as first amendment protected free speech, and which expanded public access to encryption technologies.

She's represented companies and challenges to the Federal Government's use of, quote, national security letters which demand that private records, without court orders, restricting recipients from informing clients or speaking publicly about the orders. Cindy's tenure experience an indelible impact on the digital environment have positioned her as one of the world's foremost authorities at the intersection of law and technology. As she steps down from her position as executive director, for EFF, I want to extend my best wishes for her continued success, and thank her for her work, which has benefited all of us, and I'm honored to introduce her today.

Please join me in congratulating Cindy on her retirement.

Welcome to the Senate, and congratulations on your retirement. Continuing with privileges of the floor, Senator Reyes, you are recognized for introduction of your guest.

Thank you, madam president, members. It is my pleasure to introduce a few incredible public servants on the floor today in observance of Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. Direct Support Professionals or DSPs help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live safely in their own homes, hold on to jobs that enrich their lives, and participate in their communities. Becoming a DSP requires expertise, integrity, and patience as they perform highly technical and intimate work to support clients and their families.

Together, our state's regional center system of DSPs serves over 500,000 Californians with IDDs every year.

From assisting with daily routines and teaching new skills to providing support during difficult times, our DSPs help people live with dignity, independence, and confidence. They deliver on the promise of the Lanterman Act by providing Californians with the invaluable services and supports they need to pursue lives of their own choosing, and it is my honor to recognize a few of them today. Joining us on the floor on the Senate floor, we have five direct support professionals. Eddie Tucci with Las Trampas.

Katie Baker and Samantha Marcus with Creative Living Options, and Haley Powell and Lucas Tai with Hope Services. In the gallery, we also have the executive director and advocacy team for the California Disability Services Association and leadership and program staff for Hope Services and Creative Living Solutions. Colleagues, let's celebrate the professionals who dedicate their lives to serving others by observing direct support professional recognition week. Please join me in welcoming them to the Senate today.

Welcome to the Senate floor. And thank you for all that you do. Senators, continuing with privileges of the floor, we will now begin our floor ceremony to honor our Senate fellows. Pro Tem Limon, you are recognized for some opening remarks.

Thank you. Members, today we have the pleasure of celebrating the 2026 Senate fellows and congratulating them for their hard work, their contributions and their time with our California state Senate this year. The Senate fellows program was established in 1973 as a hands on learning experience for college graduates to work in the state capital, making it one of the oldest legislative fellowship programs in The United States.

Each year, a diverse cohort of 18 fellows are selected to serve full time as lit legislative staff for eleven months. I know I've had the incredible honor of having a fellow placed in our office while I've been here in the legislature and it has been an incredible experience knowing that the fellows always contribute to the work that we do here in the legislature.

I have personally worked with fellows and have witnessed their curiosity, their dedication and the growth throughout the experience provided in the legislature. The Senate fellowship is an opportunity for us to bring people from all over this state into the legislative process and provide them with the tools to advance their careers in public policy and public service. Today, we recognize the accomplishments of the fellows, what they have learned and what they've contributed over the last eleven months to their work here in the state Senate.

Congratulations to all the Senate fellows and also for engaging and being part of this journey. We are grateful for your participation and your work here.

To the 2026 fellows, we know that your time here may be short, and we also know that some of you may decide to call the California State Senate home for more time. And we're grateful to all of you for the experience that you've allowed for this group, these senators to share with you.

We hope it has been a rewarding experience, one where you've gotten a chance to learn, and also one where you feel and you see the investment that you have made to the state of California. Congratulations and thank you for your service.

We will now begin recognizing our Senate our 2025, 2026 Senate fellows. Secretary, please read the first fellow.

From Senator Grayson's office, Mariana Barzanes.

Senator Grayson, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president. It's been an absolute pleasure and joy to have Mariana with team Grayson this past year. She is smart, adaptable, hardworking, and quick to offer a helping hand or smile. From her first day, Mariana hit the ground running, eagerly taking on a wide range of issues, simple little things like transportation, human services, privacy, elections, and energy. She has quickly become someone our entire team relies on staffing a number of bills resolutions and expertly navigating the complexities of the legislative process.

No matter the issue or assignment, Mariana approaches her work with thoughtfulness and professionalism. Most notable, however, is her willingness to step in and help wherever she is needed, which is a mark we all know of a true public servant. I'm so I'm also happy to say that she is from my district, which she has made me and my community proud and with how she has worked, so diligently on behalf of representing Senate district nine this year, working in the district.

Thank you so very much, Mariana, for your great work.

From Senator Perez's office, Alondra cervantes.

Senator Perez, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president. I've had the pleasure of having Alondra Cervantes serve in my office over the past year. She'S Been such a tremendous asset to the team. She graduated from UCLA last year with a degree in political science, as well as in social work. And she'S Been working on really important bills like SB 1103, 957, and 845.

Alondra jumped right into the team and was not shy about wanting to take on very big issues. And particularly issues impacting immigration and issues impacting our fight against the Federal Government. She has really just been such an asset. So many folks that walk into my office are really surprised to find out she's a fellow because she always holds herself with such professionalism. She's so incredibly talented and we've just been really really grateful to be able to work with her.

She brings so much passion to this work, and really a commitment to wanting to serve the community. She always takes time to make sure that we're connecting with the individuals that are traveling up here from the district to let them know what it means and what it matters to us and to our legislation. So I'm so honored to have her in our office and it's been really tremendous having her as a fellow. Thank you so much, Alondra.

From Senator Reyes' office, Renee Fagan.

Thank you, madam president and members. Today, I rise to celebrate our wonderful Senate fellow, Renee Fagan. Renee is from Chula Vista and is a proud graduate of the University of California in Riverside. I know, she tells me, you have to say go Highlanders. At UCR, she earned her bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in theater.

From the first day in our office, Renee had an eagerness and a dedication that immediately impressed all of us. And of course, her strong spirit that brought a sense of joy and shine through our office all year long. Her attention to critical issues in California, such as access to health care, consumer protection, and socioeconomic justice has truly been commendable. This year, she staffed me on the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protections, and did a magnificent job.

She also staffed several bills in my legislative package, including SB 1271, which will support the midwives profession and build a sustainable workforce to meet our state's maternal health needs.

Another bill that Renee and I bonded over was SB 1178. It didn't make it over to the other house, but it was claiming the official state, a WASP, the yellow jacket. We worked hard on that. And through although it was put to rest, Renee did spend countless hours researching the California yellow jacket known as the Vespula Soferia. Bill with a resourcefulness and tracked down a professor from UC Davis with expertise on this species.

Renee has served the 29th Senate District and the people of California with distinction. She is truly remarkable, and we will miss her authentic and positive energy in our office, but I know she will excel as she begins her career. I thank her for her service, her commitment to reminding us all of the very bright future ahead. Please help me in congratulating our Senate fellow, Renee Fagan.

Senator Grove, you are recognized.

I know madam president. I am out of line, but she neighbors my office, and this beautiful young lady, Renee, is the happiest, joy filled, kind person, always smiling, always wanting to help, even our office, always super polite, and I just wanna congratulate her on a good fellowship because you really have brought a lot of joy to the building.

From Senator Laird's office, Samantha Guerrero.

Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president. I am pleased to recognize my fellow, Samantha or Sammy Guerrero, for being a great addition to our team and the stellar work that she has done this year. She is one of two Senate fellows I've had who grew up here in Sacramento, and she's been immensely grateful to return for her to her hometown for this fellowship year. She graduated from Stanford with a degree in comparative studies in race and ethnicity and a minor in linguistics.

She is also very proud to be a cardinal or a tree, whichever sounds better to her on a given day.

She is particularly passionate about k through 12 education and spent a great deal of her time during school teaching. It's her passion for human rights and social justice that drives her incredible work every day. Since being placed in my office last November as my fifth Senate fellow, she has staffed me on the Senate committee on labor, as well as on education, elections, housing, immigration, and public safety issues.

She has staffed me on four bills, all of which are still moving, and one of which is actually headed to the governor. And despite being our youngest staffer and the furthest from retirement, she has become my foremost expert on the PERS retirement system.

And since she is fluent in Spanish, she has been tasked every day with providing to my office staff a Spanish word of the day. And despite her valiant efforts, they will not understand this next sentence, which is ... And that was written by a former. So a former saying she's the is a significant statement. She has excelled in my office, which requires a certain personality to fit in. Everybody knows my staff is notorious for being nurturing, gentle, and driven.

It's been a joy watching her grow and experiencing her diligence, positivity, and enthusiasm for learning. She is excited to continue bringing her passion for social justice and policy to the legislature, and I'm excited to see her pursue her future goals here in the state capitol. Please join me in congratulating Sammy Guerrero for completing an outstanding fellowship year.

From Senator Durazo's office, Stephany Herrera.

Senator Durazo, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president. I'm so proud to introduce Stephany Herrera. Stephany is from a hardworking family, so she knows who California's policies are supposed to serve. She knows who she's here for, to protect immigrant families from eviction after ICE related detentions, to give stability to all renters, including their beloved pets. The daughter of a domestic worker and a landscaper, Olivia Villalba and Javier Herrera, Stephany's work to create affordable homes for hardworking family comes from the heart.

Home ownership changed her family's life. My Senate resolution 132 honors landscapers like her father whose skilled work sustains our homes and neighborhoods. Those aren't abstractions to Stephany. She approaches her work this work knowing what's at stake for the families behind every bill. It's been a privilege for me and our team to have her this year.

I know as she moves forward, she will serve all Californians with intelligence and heart. Thank you, Stephany. We love you.

From Senator Jones' office, Johanna Hibma.

Senator Jones, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president and members. I am here to recognize Johanna Hidma as our Senate fellow at the Republican caucus, where she did a full analysis of over 90 different bills this year for five different committees, agriculture, education, environmental quality, natural resource and wildlife, and labor, public employment, and retirement. She also assisted our republican rules committee consultants doing several research projects, as well as helping our budget and fiscal consultants. Johanna has a great sense of humor and easily makes friends wherever she goes.

She hails from a Central Valley family farm in Winton, which is Merced County, and her passion for agriculture is rightly a great sense of pride for her.

Johanna already has a great record and growing interest in public service, so it is very possible that her fellowship is just the start of her capital career.

From Senator Wiener's office, Shawntaya Jeanes.

Senator Wiener, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, madam president. I rise to recognize, Shawntaya Jeans, who I've had the pleasure, to have in our office, as our Senate fellow this year. Shawntaya was born and raised in Porterville. Her upbringing instilled in her passion for public service. She first discovered her interest in public policy after her mother was deported when she was a child.

She since worked to understand the systems that separated her from her mother, and she has been eager to improve the lives of California's immigrant communities. Shawntaya is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley as she reminds us every time she says go bears. And her passion for helping others and making a difference was apparent every day in her work in our office.

She staffed several of our priority bills this year, a resolution, and she had the honor, but also the challenge of staffing me on the public safety committee, which is not an easy committee to staff for those who have been a member of that committee. Shawntaya has brought a unique Gen z flare to our office.

She's deeply passionate about public service, and she's really been a tremendous, addition. She's joined here today, by her mother, Florinda, her stepfather, Bonifacio, and her brothers, Devin and Brandon, who are in the gallery. Please help me in thanking Shawntaya, for her service to the Senate and to the 11th Senate District.

From Senator Smallwood-Cuevas' office, Monea Jennings.

Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president and colleagues. I am so proud and honored to present our amazing Senate fellow this year, our very own Monea Jennings, who is joined here by her parents, Maurice and Julie. And I wanna say thank you, Maurice and Julie, for raising such a spectacular young woman who's been a tremendous contribution to our office. Originally from Fresno, Monea came to, UC Riverside where she was a division one track athlete and then went on to earn her master's of law from George.

From day one, Monea has brought that same determination, fierce energy, and persistence.

She will not take no for an answer, and victory is the only word she wants to hear at the end of her assignments. Staffing our women's caucus priority bills, advancing our work on equity, and taking on the responsibility of the health committee, which was my first year serving on health committee, was quite a feat, and she did it in spectacular fashion. But what I appreciate most about Monea is that her impact goes beyond legislation.

She's not a person you have to say, this is what we need you to do. She looks and she says, this needs to be done and I will do it.

And she has truly become an integral part of the fabric of our capital community. As the communications director for the Capital Legislative Black Caucus I'm sorry. Black Staff Association, we want her to be at the Black Caucus. Monea is helping to build that community. She was a tremendous volunteer for the Black Caucus' leadership institute that we do with high school students this summer, and she's always brought her energy and her integrity to her job every single day.

Monea, we are so grateful for you and for everything that you've bought to our office in this capital. We're so proud of you, and we know that this is only the beginning, and we hope to be working with you far more in the future. Please give me a round of applause for Monea Jones.

From Senator Ochoa Bogh's office, Myles Kelly.

Senator Ochoa Bogh, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president. Raised in Hanford, Miles Kelly earned a degree in the history of public policy and law from UC Santa Barbara, my alma mater. Go Gauchos. Every year, I enjoy seeing the Senate through the eyes of our fellows. They are eager and excited to experience every part of our work, and Myles is no exception.

He was thorough and thoughtful in staffing, housing, and budget. He shared that one of his favorite memories was introducing his first bill and then learning how to move it through the legislative process. One of the other bills he staffed was recently signed by the governor. I'm happy he got to experience that feeling of accomplishment. I really appreciate that as a Republican.

And before the his fellow year ends, there are still three moving forward. So we're excited to see how those go. Myles, it's been a pleasure having you in the office this year. Your friendly demeanor is appreciated as is your willingness to help your coworkers, constituents, and everyone who comes into the office. You've worked hard and proven you have a heart of service.

Even after our fellows move on, they're always part of our extended team. In Myles' case, that connection is especially permanent because he adopted one of my kittens. Percy, a sweet little ball of fur, has found a wonderful home and I hope Myles and Percy have many, many years together. And I'll definitely be expecting plenty of updates and pictures. He couldn't have gone home with any other better person.

They're both snugglers. Maybe a little too much to explain here. It's been an honor to be your mentor as you begin your career in the legislature, and I can't wait to see what comes next for you. Thanks for all the laughter you brought to our office. We're going to miss you.

From Senator Cabaldon's office, Leonardo Lopez Hernandez.

Senator Cabaldon, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president. Leonardo, Lopez came to our office from the University of Redlands. Redlands being just just the southern part of the Napa Valley, and he came, ready to change the world. He, like so many other folks, said I wanna work on, to fix immigration. I want to end economic inequality, probably stop Amazon forest deforestation.

And and so, like so many other fellows, we assigned to work on grizzly bears and capping oil wells and proposition 98 formulas and the things the lifeblood of how policy really happens in this, building.

But he did don't cry for him because he did also has been staffing key bills to make sure that the implementation of implementation of HR 1 hits a lot less hard for those who are who've met all the requirements but don't have data for hours worked to make the, Californians who are LGBTQ safe from having their data harvested and taken by the Federal Government. But each day, Leo came to the office excited to serve the people of California.

He quickly got a reputation for just being a nice guy who brought warmth and friendliness to his work as well as the infamous gen z stare. He also then got out in the world and made the most of the geography of where he's at.

He got to see Napa for the first time, but also Tahoe and Yosemite and started to connect them, not just to Redlands, but to the work that he was reviewing as a staffer for the Natural Resources and Water Committee.

So, Leo, thank you for all your work serving the constituents of Senate District 3, and also thank you to his mom, Apollonia Hernandez, who dropped him off at the beginning of the fellowship with no small amount of trepidation, and his brother, Ian, both of whom are with us today, could not be any prouder, just as we cannot either. Congratulations to Leo Lopez.

From Senator Cortese's office, Katherine Manno.

Senator Cortese, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mister miss thank you, madam president. Boy, I'm on a roll. Don't worry. I'll get this right. I'm proud to recognize an exceptional member of my staff, Katie Manno.

Katie was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Wellesley College, but served the 15th Senate District with distinction and dedication as if it were her own hometown. She successfully spearheaded multiple legislative and district priorities and was the first staff member in my office to have their bill signed by the governor this session. No small task as everybody in here knows. Katie's proactive work ethic and intellectual drive, they drive her ambition while her witty and outgoing personality perfectly fit our office's dynamic.

Above all, Katie ensured every meeting, every drop in, every call felt heard and respected.

Exemplifying what government service is all about. We're fortunate to have had her as part of the Cortese crew and wish her the best of luck in her next chapter of public service. We will especially miss her dot cupcakes and homemade cookies. I believe her family is up in the gallery. Thank you for being here today and to thank you for your tireless support.

We are all very proud. We're sure that you're very proud. We're gonna miss her dearly when her service in our office is up. Katie has a bright future ahead of her, and I'm confident she will excel and accomplish all her dreams.

From Senator Padilla's office, Kennedy McIntyre.

Senator Padilla, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, madam president. So, indeed, with great pride and a great pleasure to rise and recognize someone who has become an amazing, energetic, indispensable, critical part of our team, my fellow Kennedy McIntyre. She was born right here in Sacramento and is an accomplished softball player and more than hardworking student. She attended UCLA where she was also a California Freedom Summer intern through the Chicano Studies Research Center on campus.

And through that experience, Kennedy got the opportunity to demonstrate her commitment to her community and to public service.

She was a part of the Sacramento Kids First team that was able to secure the passage of measure L here in 2022, developing a dedicated funding source for youth programs designed to give kids a safe place to meet. After its passage, Kennedy even drafted a report on the experience to help others in their own course and, journey to success in future efforts in community engagement.

Her experience at UCLA as well as her studies helped Kennedy develop the skills she has used most definitely used in her time in fellowship. She has been at the center of a number of complex governmental organization policy discussions and many others, as well as instrumental in creating a policy which will prevent private vendors in ICE detention facilities from profiteering off of detainees. Kennedy has already made a difference in the lives of Californians.

We know her dedication to her community will certainly be at the heart of everything she does going forward. Most especially, I'm eternally grateful for her eternal optimism and energy, really, that she brings every day. She keeps us up to date, very up to date, on all things with Love Island. Never stops. She greets everyone with a smile and positivity.

Her sunny and indomitable optimism brighten up this place. I can tell you, she's a walking example of how positivity and attitude are truly force multipliers. Unfortunately, Kennedy's family was not able to attend the ceremony today, but we know they're watching on the live stream. And I want to express to them who are watching how thankful I am and our team are for her time in our office and the incredible work that she has done.

We have no doubt, Kennedy, that you will continue this journey, continue to give, and brighten up every room.

I am eternally grateful to you. I will always have your back. So it's my great pleasure to recognize Kennedy today.

From Senator Umberg's office, Brook McNeil.

Senator Umberg, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president and colleagues. I am privileged and honored to be able to recognize our fellow, Brook McNeil. Now, Brook, she graduated from San Francisco State, and being familiar with San Francisco politics, she obviously wanted to come to work for an Orange County Democrat. Brook has been an essential component of the Umberg office. She's been a constant, steadfast force in our office, first one in, last one to leave.

She's become an expert in both politics and policy. And she's not just about work, she's also about making sure she's part of the Umburg team and partnership. When it came to work, she staffed four bills, more than anyone else in our office. Wonder what other folks are doing, by the way. And she also staffed me on elections committee, which had some dicey stuff this year, and issues spanning from the LGBTQ plus issues to environmental issues.

Now she's built a reputation around the capital as someone that you could come talk to about all kinds of things, including cute animal videos. I didn't know that till just now, but apparently, that's your thing. So we appreciate that. We also appreciate the fact that she was a leader, already a leader in our office, mentoring our interns, having spirited discussions with our legislative director, demonstrating her both force of will and her facility with the issues.

We got the better end of the deal by having Brook as a fellow in our office. We are privileged as Californians. We're privileged as members of the Senate to have Brook among us because she's gonna be sitting right here someday soon. Thank you very much. Honoring Brook McNeal.

From Senator Jones office, James Murray.

Senator Jones, you are recognized.

Thank you madam president and members. I get the honor of introducing you to James Murray who came to our office last year as a newcomer to the Senate, but already with a wealth of institutional knowledge from his time as an Assembly intern. Over the course of the year, James established himself as a critical member of our team. James has staffed several pieces of legislation for me.

One already passed by the legislature, and another that has already made it to the Assembly floor after months of negotiations with stakeholders handled skillfully by Mister Murray.

He's assisted the entire Republican caucus on the Senate floor during session. Always reliable, James has never once come in late nor left early or even missed a deadline. Getting into this program alone is a huge achievement, but getting the most out of it is the real goal. And James has certainly made the most of his opportunity this year. His work speaks for itself and his time in my office will no doubt lead to another fantastic opportunity for him to advance in his career.

James, while your work here is not yet done, I want to thank you today for your hard work and dedication to my office and to the people of the 40th Senate District. Ladies and gentlemen, James Murray.

From Senator Blakespear's office, Annika Olson.

Senator Blake Spear, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president. Colleagues, I want to add my voice to the many others today who are recognizing how important and valuable the Senate Fellows Program is, both to this institution and to the future of California as we mentor and prepare the leaders of tomorrow. I was incredibly fortunate this year to have the very talented and intelligent Annika Olsen in my office. She is a quick study who has been heavily invested from day one.

And furthermore, I'm delighted that she is from my district, the San Diego area of my district, and I welcome her family who is here today for this recognition as well.

Hello. She came to the Senate Fellows program after interning for Assembly member Chris Ward, an office which prepared her well for full time policy work. She has proved adept at all aspects of legislative work, including working with and managing diverse coalition partners, writing fact sheets and talking points, and she's also been very skilled at briefing me on updates, both verbally and over email.

Annika has staffed my legislation to restrict the sale of large canisters of nitrous oxide only to legitimate uses in order to help reduce the use of it as a recreational drug, and she's done a masterful job. She planned a highly successful press conference with the San Diego District Attorney in San Diego that resulted in a viral social media video on the topic, which I was very grateful for.

She's a gem in the office, warm to every soul she interacts with, incredibly professional, and has a wit that will leave you in stitches. She brought a thoughtful and joyful disposition to the office. Thank you for all of your great work, Annika. We are so lucky to have had you on our team.

From Senator Choi's office, Trey Quinn.

Senator Choi, you are recognized.

Thank you. I'm pleased to introduce my fellow, Trey Quinn, q u I N N. Trey was raised right up the road in Roseville and attended William Carey University, a professional dancer for many years. Yes. Professional dancer.

Trey shifted to legislature and joined my office. It was a great joy to welcome him. This last ten months, Trey has staffed me on the education committee and has focused on banking and financial institutions, labor, public employment, and the retirement and the human services.

The highlight of his time in my office has Been on two bills, SB 971 on older adult education and the SB 1021 on hunting and fishing opportunities for youth with life threatening illnesses, which are all moving along. Our office is better, for having had, Trey as a part of the team.

And, as his time comes to the end, we will all miss him dearly. When I first time met him, he claimed that he knew how to speak Korean. And when I tested him, he didn't go very far. So I gave him a Korean textbook, and now I need to give him the final test if he can graduate from my office. Please join me in thanking him for his service and wishing him all the best in his future endeavors.

From Senator Rubio's office, Carlos Santana.

Senator Rubio, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. It's with great honor that I stand here to recognize an extraordinary young man who's been extremely important to me, to my office, and to the success of my office. He was raised in Lodi, California, Carlos Manuel Santana. Carlos is a first-generation college graduate of the University of California Berkeley, where he majored in political science.

As a student, he was a member of the National Political Science Honor Society, the Latinx Pre-Law Society, and co-president of UC Berkeley's chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

And that's just a testament of already exhibiting leadership qualities as young as he is. Carlos has stated that his passion comes, for helping others, comes from his family, and he is very rooted in family. His paternal grandparents came over as guest workers for the Bracero program and first came to The United States in 1952. His maternal grandparents also immigrated from Mexico in the early 1960s and were field and cannery workers in Lodi and Thornton, California, and participated in local farm workers' rights marches.

And just hearing his story and where his passion comes from, I can see Carlos is really rooted in service to others, and I'm really proud of the work that he's done.

He has already done so much. He also served as an intern for our colleague, Senator Jesse Arreguin, when he served as Mayor of Berkeley. Carlos worked on important issues such as the anti-hate crime initiative known as the United Against Hate Week and supported the office in creating a pro-immigration policy package to create mutual aid to Berkeley's immigrant families.

Building on his passion for advocacy and immigrant justice, he worked as a government affairs intern for the California Immigration Policy Center right here in Sacramento. During his time is where he was introduced to the legislative process, and his love for public service did not end there.

As part of the University of California Washington's Program, Carlos worked as a White House intern for the Biden-Harris administration. During his time at the White House, Carlos was assigned to tribal affairs, and that was also important work that he did. He was able to staff a couple bills in my office. One, SB 1175, where he worked on improving transparency here in our State Capital.

The second one was SB 1412, which would create access to parents that cannot attend parent teacher conference and allowing them remote access.

Joining my office, he really just stepped in, and I was struck by his ability to not only bring his academic experience, his professionalism, but his character, his history, and his depth of knowledge in so many subject matters. And I am just so proud to have had him in my office. Now Carlos plans to attend law school in the near future and eventually run for public office. So all of you have inspired him. And again, I'm just so honored.

I wanna say to his parents and grandparents, Carlos, we wish you much, much success, and I know that you will make our California a brighter state. With that, I ask for an applause for my Carlos. Thank you.

Senator Jones, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President and members. I'm, I have the great honor of doing the closing remarks for this fantastic ceremony. And I wanna do it from the front so that I can look at the gorgeous, beautiful, smart, intelligent faces of all of the fellows that are here. But I also wanna recognize, I noticed that there's family and friends up in the gallery that have been taking photos and paying attention to what's going on.

So if you're a family member or friend of one of the fellows, would you please stand up and let the senators applaud you for the great work that you've done.

Helping the young person get to the Senate floor.

This is a really big deal, and I want the family members and, guests and friends, to know that. That this is a very difficult program to get into, number 1. Number 2, you have to work with all of us senators, which from what I hear from people, we're not always the easiest to work for. I was wondering what Padilla was thinking there. I'm sure he had something to say.

No. I'm just but, number 3 is I think sometimes the public expects this to be a hyperpartisan environment. And I will share with you that I've had the opportunity to speak to the fellows twice this year at their, brown bag luncheons, and it had a great time doing it and have, hopefully, dispelled some of the hyperpartisan relationships, the myth of that out in the public.

Because, really, on the floor here, even though we disagree, oftentimes, on policy, we really do, I think, have each other's back and look out for each other and try to do this. So I think all of us have tried to impart that on the fellows as they go back to their, previously scheduled careers before they came here. But, let me just get to my notes so I don't ramble on all day.

During their time in the legislature, they have learned the ropes of the Capital and function as a full-time staff in vital roles to their member offices. This program has long served as the farm system, farm team for the Senate staff with many of the Capital's top staffers having once served as Senate fellows. And I'm sure many of this year's class will achieve those heights as well, and as has been already shared, even elected office.

We certainly wish these impressive fellows the best in all their future endeavors. There will be a gathering reception in the Eureka Room that's in the downstairs immediately after this ceremony until 5PM to acknowledge their achievements.

Senators and staff are encouraged to attend. Please join me in one more round of applause in congratulating the 0225-2026 fellows for completing this prestigious program. Thank you all very much.

Well, congratulations to the 25-26 Senate fellows. Thank you so much for all that you have done. And as Senator Umberg was stating on the floor, your work is not done yet because we're still in session. But thank you for all that you have done. We will now take a group photo.

So if any senators would like to be in the group photo, please go to the rear of the Chamber. Senators, before he sneaks out the back door, you probably noticed some pictures here and in this swing space celebrating a very special individual. So please, can we wish Senator Jones a happy belated birthday? Continuing on, 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. We are now under motions, resolutions, and notices. Without objection, the Senate journals for 08/03/2026 through 08/06/2026 will be approved as corrected by the ... Clerk. And pursuant to Senate rule 29.10 D, the following bills are referred to the committee on rules. File Item 43, SB 607.

Senator Ochoa Bogh, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. We ask that the File Item 324, AB 2795 be removed from the consent calendar. Desk will note. Senator Strickland?

Thank you, Madam President. Under motions and resolutions at the request of the author, please remove AB 2061 File Item 304, from the consent calendar for purposes of double joining amendments. Thank you.

Desk will note. Senator Grove?

Desk will note. Senator Laird.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to remove File Item number 306, AB 2086 from the consent calendar at the request of the author.

Thank you, Madam President. At the request of the author, please remove the following bill from the inactive file and return it to second reading. File Item A21, Assembly Bill 540 by Assembly member Connolly.

Thank you. Senator Durazo?

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to pull AB 1615 from consent at the request of the author.

Thank you. Senator Wahab?

Thank you. At the request of the author, please pull File Item 295, AB 1767 from the consent calendar, please.

Thank you. Senator Gonzales?

Thank you, Madam President. At the request of the author, I'd like to remove File Item 319, AB 2577 from the consent calendar for amendments.

Members, I request the action whereby AB 1447 was passed to the Assembly be rescinded and the measure be returned to the third reading file.

Senator Seyarto, you are recognized.

Thank you. Desk will note. Senator Richardson?

Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Unfortunately, Republicans request a no vote on this, and we'll have to take a roll call. Thank you.

Understood. Secretary, please call the roll. Senator Seyarto is asking for a no vote. Senator Richardson is asking for an aye. Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen, Alvarado, Gil, Archuleta, aye, Arreguin, aye, Ashby, aye, Becker, Blakespear, Aye, Cabaldon, Aye, Caballero, Aye, Cervantes, Aye, Choi, Aye, Cortesi, Aye, Dali, Aye, Durazo, Aye, Gonzales, Aye, Grayson, Aye, Grove, no Hurtado, Aye, Jones. No, Laird. Aye, Limon. McGuire. Aye, McNerney.

Aye, Menjivar. Aye, Nielo. No, Ochoa Bogh. No, Padilla. Aye, Perez.

Aye, Reyes. Aye Richardson. Aye Rubio. Aye Seyarto. No Smallwood-Cuevas.

Aye Stern. Aye Strickland. No Umberg. Aye Valladares. No Wahab.

Aye. Weber Pearson? Aye. Weiner? Aye.

Secretary, please call the absent members.

Allen? Aye. Alvarado-Gil Becker. Aye. Aye.

Limon.

Ayes 29, noes 9. The motion carries. Are there any other motions that anyone would like to make? Seeing none, we will now move on to the consideration of the daily file, beginning with the second reading file. Secretary, please read.

AB 2233, AB 2764, AB 2780, AB 2562, AGR 9, AB 1684, and AB 1999.

Second reading file will be deemed read. We are now at governor appointments. Starting with file item number 12, Senator Reyes, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President, members. File item number 12 is the confirmation of Christian Acevedo for appointment to the Civil Rights Council. He is a deputy city attorney in the civil division at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and also a staff judge advocate for the United States Air Force National Guard. He was approved by the Rules Committee on July 1, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

Ayes 29, noes 9. The appointment is confirmed. We'll now move to file item 13. Senator Reyes, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President and members. File item 13 is the confirmation of Candace Cho for appointment to the Civil Rights Council, where she is serving as Chair. She previously served as managing director of policy and counsel at the AAPI Equity Alliance and is a former vice president of the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission. She was approved by the Rules Committee on July 1, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Ayes 29, noes 9. That appointment is confirmed. We are now at file item 14. Senator Reyes, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President and members. File item 14 is the confirmation of Yvette Pena for appointment to the Civil Rights Council. Prior to her retirement in 2025, she served as a chief deputy for legal services and court counsel for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. She was approved by the Rules Committee on July 1, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Seeing no further. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of these confirmations today, but I want to speak briefly about representation. As I look at the role of the Civil Rights Department, and not just the role of that department here in the state, but in our counties and in our cities, one of the things that strikes me is how impacted and disproportionate certain communities are by civil rights violations, whether it be employment discrimination or housing discrimination.

And it is important that when we discuss diversity, we're not merely checking a box, but we are ensuring that the people making decisions understand these communities that these decisions most impact, particularly those that are disproportionately impacted. Lived experience matters. It brings a perspective that you cannot always get from a resume or from a title.

A council member who has navigated the challenges facing working families, immigrant families, small business renters, and communities that have historically been left out of the halls of power brings that experience with them to the table. And that matters, because government works best when the people sitting at the table reflect the people they are here to serve and deeply understand the concerns, the implications, and the impacts facing those populations that are disproportionately impacted by discrimination and hate.

I'm proud to support these confirmations today. I hope that we continue to build a government where every community sees itself represented, every voice has an appropriate and adequate seat at the table, and lived experience is recognized as a form of expertise. We want and support a multiracial democracy, but we also have to ensure that those most disproportionately impacted are at the table. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion or debate, secretary, please call the roll. Oh, Senator Reyes, would you like to close?

I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 29, noes 9. That appointment is confirmed. We will now move to file item 15. Senator Reyes, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, file item 15 is the confirmation of Vasudha Tala for appointment to the Civil Rights Council. She is a law firm partner whose civil rights practice includes constitutional litigation and employment and housing discrimination. She previously served as director of the immigration rights team at the ACLU of Northern California. She was approved by the Rules Committee on July 1, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Ayes 29, noes 9. That appointment is confirmed. Senators, we will now move to unfinished business, starting with file item 42, SB 575. Secretary, please read.

SB 575 by Senator Laird enacting to taxation and making an appropriation therefore.

Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Thank you very much. This is about the C Honor voluntary contribution fund. This is back on concurrence. Assembly amendments incorporate an annual minimum contribution requirement and technical assistance from the franchise tax board. The Bill has no opposition, has received unanimous bipartisan support.

I respectfully ask for an aye vote on concurrence.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion or debate, senators, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Seeing no objection, ayes 38, no's zero. The amendments are concurred in. We will now move to file item 45, SB 922.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 922 by Senator Laird in Accolinted Vehicles.

Senator Laird, you are recognized.

Thank you very much. This deals with public services road maintenance. The Senate bills back on concurrence. Assembly amendments incorporate feedback from stakeholder discussions with the trucking association and the building industry association to address their concerns. These two organizations have moved to neutral as a result.

The bill received 33 Aye votes in the Senate. I respectfully ask for an Aye vote on concurrence.

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

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 30, Noes 1. The amendments are concurred in. We are now at file item 47, SB 992. Secretary, please read.

SB 992 by Senator Niello, enacting it to local government.

Senator Niello, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I am presenting SB 992, which is, back on concurrence. Amendments taken in the Assembly authorizes a special district with annual revenues of less than $50,000 to replace the annual audit with a financial review or agreed upon procedures procedures engagement and extends the existing sunset to 01/01/2037. The measure has not received any no votes. I respectfully ask an aye vote.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion or debate, senators, this item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Seeing no objection, ayes 38, no zero. The amendments are concurred in. We will move back to motions, resolutions, and notices, and pursuant to Senate rule 2910 B the following Bills are referred to the committee on rules, file item a dash 91, AB 1447.

Senator Stern, you are recognized.

Yeah. Thank you, Madam President. I rise today with respect to the open ocean lifeguards who have protected not.

Just 1 moment we were.

Oh, sorry.

Yeah. We were still under motions, resolutions, and notices. Should I wait? Are there no other motions? We will now move to Senate third reading, file item 56, SCR192.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 192 by Senator Stern relative to open waters lifeguards.

Senator Stern, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. According to US Life Saving Association and California Surf Life Saving Association, California's open water lifeguards have protected more than 4,500,000,000 patrons over the last 25 years. When you go to the beach and it's crowded and you see people playing in the water right now and the surface big, you think maybe there's hundreds of people, thousands of people. It's not even millions of people, it's billions of people. And yet our open water lifeguards right now are not recognized as first responders.

As a Chair of emergency management and also as somebody who grew up near the ocean, understanding what a beauty it is, but also what a huge risk and danger it is, I'm proud to present this resolution to you today. It's not just for the things you see on television couple weeks ago, those of you watched in Santa Cruz as a California State Parks lifeguard sprinted in 10 foot waves to save life of a 10 year old boy.

It's not just about that young lifeguard rider Williams or or the countless others who save lives in the water. It's about my friends who pull people off PCH, in the middle of car wrecks and see the worst things you can possibly imagine. It's for all the people who've shown that bravery that you haven't seen on these viral videos.

It's every time you're at the beach having a good time and things can turn very quickly, even in a few inches of water get swept away. These men and women are are the backbone of our first responder coastal workforce, and they ought to be recognized as such. I appreciate that the recognition is actually being acknowledged at even the federal level as of late, and so it's time California does the same. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Gonzalez. You are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I wanna say thank you to my, colleague from Los Angeles and the Chair of emergency management for bringing this forward. I am really, thrilled by this because I had no idea that we did not recognize them as the emergency personnel and the unsung heroes that they currently are. In Long Beach, we have 27 full time lifeguards and 140 seasonal lifeguards. In fact, 2 of the lifeguards back home just last year received the medal of valor through the, United Lifesaving Association.

The first ever in Long Beach to receive that, validation. They did that. This was captain Aaron Fletcher as well as Devon Beebe who's the president of our life Long Beach Lifeguards Association for rescuing people that were on a 50 foot boat that hit a jetty in Alamitos Bay. They went into the water, were able to you know get as many folks as possible.

1 person unfortunately lost their life, but 10 other people even seriously injured on that were able to continue on with their life, thanks to their heroic efforts.

It's instances like this is why we need to be able to lift up their lives and ensure that, we thank them, for everything that they're they're doing, but for the work that they've embodied through their career. And lastly, I'll say in Los Angeles, we've got the Olympics coming. Long Beach has 11 games. This is even more important. So with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Strickland. You are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President, members. I rise in support of SCR192. I wanna thank the author for bringing this important measure forward. This recognition of ocean lifeguards as first responders is long overdue. I have many friends that are lifeguards over in Huntington Beach, and really there's not a day that goes by where they don't perform either themselves or our colleague and not helping folks getting their lives saved.

And I already thought that these were on that list. So, again, I wanna thank the author for bringing this important measure forward, and these are real heroes in our community. And for those reasons, I support SCR 192. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator BlakeSpear, you are recognized.

Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I rise in proud support as a coauthor of this, and I wanna thank the good Senator for bringing this forward this resolution forward. Recognizing ocean open water lifeguards as first responders is it's literally in the name that they're first responders on scene.

Our 18 year old daughter is a California state ocean lifeguard, and I've spent much time with her at her workplace observing her because there's no better place to visit your kid at work than at the beach.

And the reality is that they are doing lifesaving work and they are doing it in the ocean where there's not a police officer or a firefighter who is swimming out to rescue someone who needs help and also helping with all sorts of other smaller but first response medical, emergencies. And there's a a hierarchy to law enforcement and being recognized as, a first responder would, make it clear that what they are doing is on par with police and fire in terms of the response.

And it's important that we recognize this good work that's being done on our beaches and the interface between our ocean and our coastline. And so I appreciate this resolution and am a grateful co author today. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Laird. You are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. If any of you wanna see an argument for this resolution, I suggest you Google the name Ryder Williams, who was the 16 year old lifeguard off the coast of Santa Cruz that just a couple of weeks ago, rescued a 10 year old who was dead white, who was nonresponsive. He had to talk good Samaritans out of going into the water. He had to put fins on each arm and go out. Once he grabbed them, he was swamped twice.

The video shows him completely underwater, swamped with this 10 year old, and he pulled him out and he said, that is what this is about. And so and he's got national recognition. He's going to the Capitol. He's going to the White House, and he has made his singular point that lifeguards need to be designated first responders. So in his name, I support this resolution.

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

I will, the good Senator from Santa Cruz said it best for Ryder, but also those who've we've lost through these rescues. People like Ben Carlson, who've lost their lives, saving people. It might, the heroism of jumping into a burning building or dealing with a car chase at 120 miles an hour.

These are the type of of harrowing feats that our first responders have to go to, but jumping into 10 foot waves and trying to save a life of another person deserves to be on par with all that. And with that respectfully, ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Senators, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Seeing no objection, ayes 38, no's zero. The resolution is adopted. We will now move to file item 58, SR 122.

Secretary, please read.

Senate resolution 122 by Senator Valadares relative to pancreatic cancer awareness month.

Senator Valadares, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, today I rise to present Senate Resolution 122, recognizing November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. For me, this is not simply a resolution. This is my family's story. In 2012, my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, almost by fluke.

We were extraordinarily fortunate that it was caught early enough for her to undergo the Whipple procedure, a very painful and complex procedure. She went on to receive chemotherapy and then we received the gift every family facing cancer prays for, remission. We got nearly six more years with my mom, six more years of birthdays, holidays, and ordinary days you don't realize are extraordinary until someone tells you they may be coming to an end. In 2018, the cancer came back.

I will never forget sitting in her oncologist office with my brother, with my dad, with my one year old daughter when we heard the words, stage four, six to 18.

From that point forward, I became my mom's full time caregiver and her advocate. I fought for treatment options and pain management. I was responsible for her advance directive, And eventually, I found myself fighting with hospital bureaucrats on my mother's death bed because after everything she had endured, she deserved dignity in her final days. That experience taught me something I have never forgotten. Cancer may not discriminate, but access to care still can.

Families without resources or someone to advocate for them can face enormous barriers to specialist clinical trials, palliative care, hospice, and pain management. And with pancreatic cancer, time matters enormously. This year, nearly seventy thousand Americans will be diagnosed and more than fifty two thousand will die from this disease. The five year survival rate remains only about thirteen percent, But there is reason for hope. When I first introduced this resolution back in 2022, there had been no major breakthrough in pancreatic cancer research.

But researchers now are making progress toward blood tests that could help detect pancreatic cancer early. New treatments are targeting mutations commonly found in pancreatic tumors, and researchers are exploring personalized vaccines that could that could teach a patient's own immune system how to attack their cancer. These are not cures yet, but they are hope.

And they remind us why research and early detection matter because I cannot help but wonder what my mother's journey might have looked like if the science we are developing today had existed when she was diagnosed. So while this resolution is about awareness, our commitment must go further.

We must continue supporting early detection and better treatments. Connect more patients to specialists in clinical trials and make sure every family has access to compassionate, compa palliative and end of life care. My mom fought pancreatic cancer for nearly six years after her original diagnosis and I thank God for every one of those years. But I want the next daughter sitting in an oncologist's office with her mother to hear something different than what my family heard. I want her to hear we caught it early.

We have options. There is hope. Because awareness leads to advocacy, advocacy leads to action and action can give families something pancreatic cancer has taken from far too many time. Another birthday, another Christmas, another ordinary Tuesday around the dinner table. More time with the people that they love.

Colleagues, in memory of my mom and for every family fighting this disease today, I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.

Thank you, Senator, for sharing, those deep personal experiences. I see no mic up. This item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Seeing none.

Ayes 38, Noes 0. The resolution is adopted. Moving on to file item 60, SR 124. Secretary, please read.

Senate resolution 124 by Senator Weber Pierson relative to ovarian cancer awareness month of 202.

Senator. Thank you, Madam President. Members, today, I rise to present SR 124, a legislative women's caucus resolution recognizing September as ovarian cancer awareness month. As an OB GYN, I know firsthand the devastation this disease brings. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer.

This year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly twenty one thousand women in The United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than twelve thousand will lose their lives to this disease. Early detection can make all the difference. When ovarian cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages, approximately ninety three percent of women survive at least five years. That survival rate falls to about seventy five percent when diagnosed at an intermediate stage.

But once the disease has advanced, the five year survival rate drops dramatically to just thirty one percent.

And yet despite the importance of early detection, only one in five cases is found early. By the time many women seek medical care, 70 to 80% have already reached stage three or beyond. This is when treatment becomes far more difficult as the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and outside of the pelvis. One of the greatest challenges is that there is no simple or reliable screening test for ovarian cancer.

And symptoms such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating, or urinary urgency are often subtle, easily mistaken for less serious conditions, and often dismissed.

And the human cost cannot be measured. Ovarian cancer steals mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends far too soon, leaving families and communities to carry the profound weight of loss and grief. This September, we must recommit ourselves to remembering those we have lost, honoring those still fighting, supporting survivors, caregivers, families, and recognizing the researchers, physicians, advocates, and organizations working tireless to raise awareness and improve early detection and advance research.

We must also empower women to know the signs, trust their instincts, and seek medical care when something doesn't feel right. Awareness saves lives and education remains one of our most powerful tools.

Ovarian cancer is more than a medical crisis. It is an emotional, physical, and financial burden on women's families and communities across California. In September, we honor those who are impacted by ovarian cancer and renew our commitment to advancing awareness, improving outcomes, and working towards a future free from this devastating disease. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for your Aye vote on SR 124.

Thank you, Senator. I see no mics up for discussion. Item is also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? I see none.

Ayes 38. Noes 0. The resolution is adopted. We have one final item on Senate third reading. We're gonna be going on to file item 53, SCA 5.

Secretary, please read.

Senate constitutional amendment five by Senator Cortese, inaccurate to education finance.

Senator Cortese.

Thank you, Madam President, colleagues. I rise to present SCA 5, the Education Equalization Act. SCA5 builds on the policy originally developed through SB 743 last year with refinements based on feedback from stakeholders and many of you over the last year and a half. I'm committed to ensuring that equalization funding works for community college districts and public schools. To provide that certainty, I will amend SCA 5 to specify that the legislature shall allocate that funding.

S b SCA 5 addresses a funding disparity that has persisted and grown for, for more than forty years, and that funding disparity in aggregate is in the billions of dollars growing year over year. Today students attending schools only minutes apart can benefit from dramatically different levels of per people funding. In some cases, differences of tens of thousands of dollars per student in each year.

SCA 5 establishes the equalization reserve account, an endowment style interest bearing account designed to provide additional funding over time to the lowest funded school districts in the state, Non basic aid school districts. The account would be funded with one time non prop 98 general fund dollars in strong budget years, never in deficit years.

And that is modeled after the current education stabilization account. The formula is mimicked in this bill and would be in the constitution. SCA 5 does not reduce or redirect existing Prop 98 funding, it does not change the local control funding formula. Instead it creates a separate long term mechanism to narrow disparities in per pupil funding while preserving California's existing education funding guarantees. Your I vote today gives California voters the opportunity to decide whether to establish this equalization framework.

SCA 5 is intended for the twenty twenty eight general election ballot. Again, I wanna emphasize this started off as a twenty twenty six general election item. It is a twenty twenty eight general election ballot item that we are proposing. I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.

Thank you. Senator Ashby, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president. I rise to thank the author for his diligence and hard work on SCA 5, and given the proposed amendments, which I believe the author indicated he would be taking in the next house, I would also like to congratulate him on the now broad education group support that SCA 5 currently enjoys. I will be voting Aye.

Thank you. Senator Jones, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to get a quick question of the author for some clarification if I could, please.

Will the author accept a question?

Yes. And I'm sorry if I missed it in your opening. Is the bill today amended or you plan to amend it after it leaves the floor?

We we intend to amend it immediately as soon as possible when we get into the Assembly. We've had discussions with Assembly rules as to doing it that early. And the RN is complete. I understand general concern about that, but the RN is complete. And any opposition, significant opposition from folks including charter schools has been removed.

In fact, I know that they sent a floor alert out earlier.

Okay.

I didn't get a chance to see the floor alert. So today, I'm gonna vote no, but obviously, it'll come back for concurrence and hopefully have an opportunity to reconsider.

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

Yes. Thank you again, Madam President. I do wanna emphasize that this this bill is is supported now by the California School Employees Association, the CFA, the CCSA, and numerous education community members in different parts of the state.

As as a good minority leader just indicated, and it should be reassurance to every one of you, would be to me as as a voting member of of the Senate, were I not the author, that, obviously, these amendments that we have put in print will be crossed, but will also force a concurrence vote back here in the Senate. It's possible that there could be additional changes in the Assembly.

All of that will come back to a final vote here in this House. And, again, with that, I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Senator Cortese moves the call. We will now move to the consent calendar. Would any Member like to remove an item from the consent calendar? Saying none, secretary, please read all items on the consent calendar.

Assembly Bill 1689, 1912, 2596, 2125, 2728. A Senate Concurrent Resolution 180.

Assembly Bill 1622, 2341, 2512, 230, 1145, 1199, 1278, 1569, 1636, 1652, 1756, 1760, 1873, 1913, 1928, 1950, 1956, 1982, 2028, 2044, 2071, 2110, 2120, 2272, 2307, 2372, 2375, 2390, 2413, 2425, 2437, 2453, 2685, 2778, 2786, and Assembly Assembly Bill 2794.

Secretary, please call the roll on file item 276 AB1689.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39, Noes 0 on AB 1689 file item 276. Ayes 39, Noes 0 on the remaining items on the consent calendar. Senators at this time, At this time, we will lift the call. We will lift the call on file item 53 SCA 5.

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 27, Noes 9. It passes. Senators, we are now returning to motions and resolutions. This is our time for our adjourned memory. Senator Ashby, you are recognized for your adjourn in memory.

Thank you so much, Madam presiding officer. I am rising today to adjourn in memory of Joaquin Razzo, who passed away on May 19 at the age of just 39. Joaquin was a proud Sacramento native. He embodied what it meant to live a life of service, doing more in his thirty nine years than most do with twice as much.

He served more than a decade at the United Way Capital Region, most recently as Chair of the board of directors where he worked to reduce poverty through direct services and engagement with community organizations across the Greater Sacramento region.

Joaquin offered his time and his talents to volunteer at various organizations and non profits all around the greater Sacramento area including Saint Ignatius, Loyola Church, USF Pride Alumni Board, Sacramento Metro Edge and many, many more. In 2024, Joaquin was recognized as the Sacramento Metro Chamber's Young Professional of the Year for his work and his dedication to the broader community. Beyond his work, Joaquin was such a good friend to a great many people, devoting himself to uplifting everyone around him.

Sharp and witty, Joaquin could light up a room with his smile, his laughter, and just his presence. Several of his family members and friends and colleagues join us here today in the gallery of the State Senate, including his parents, Lydia and Rufio, and many people from the United Way Capital Region team.

You might recognize some faces up there. Members, please join me in adjourning in the memory of a very bright light.

Thank you, Senator. Please be sure to bring his name forward so that he can be properly memorialized. Our condolences go out to his family and his entire community. Thank you so much for sharing him with all of us. Senator Umberg, you are recognized for your adjourned memory.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. Today, I rise with sadness to honor the life and legacy of doctor Douglas Whitmer Hershey, long standing member of the Sacramento community. Doug was born on 04/16/1942 and raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Yale in 1964 with a bachelor of science in philosophy.

Doug would graduate from Cornell Medical School and complete his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southern California, and then would start his medical practice in Aspen, Colorado as a practicing gynecologist from 1971 to 1980.

While he lived in Colorado, he learned to love the outdoors, the Rocky Mountains, and become an experienced climber, biker, and skier. Hobbies and interests that he would pass down to his children. This would lead to many great climbing adventures, summoning mountains in the Pacific Northwest on Mount Rainier, Nepal, even Denali, sometimes called Mount McKinley in Alaska.

After almost a decade of practice in Colorado, Douglas decided to undertake a fellowship and two years of advanced training studying genetics at UCLA just as major developments were being, developed in prenatal diagnosis, fetal ultrasounds, those were all occurring. He participated in the introduction of molecular testing of fetal cells, new diagnostic techniques, and ever improving ultrasound resolution of the unborn baby.

He became a triple board certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology, in both clinical genetics and cytogenetics, an uncommon accomplishment. It was at UCLA where he met his wife, physician and faculty member, Bronwyn Bateman, and they would marry in 1991. Doug would then finally settle down in Sacramento in 1987 and would start his own clinical medical practice and genetics lab practicing prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. Over the course of thirty years in five separate office locations, Doug helped thousands of pregnant patients in the Sacramento area.

Doug Hershey passed away on 07/18/2026 in the home in his home watching the American River and surrounded by family after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

He'll remember for his gentle spirit, his keen sense of humor, his insatiable love of chocolate, and his fanatical devotion to the Sacramento Kings. He was a loving father and caring husband. And on a personal note, I I did not know doctor Hershey, but I knew his son, and I know his son, and I know he must be a great man because I do know his son.

Doug is survived by his wife Jane Bronwyn Bateman, his twin sons Reese and Walker, his grandchildren Emery and Everett Hershey, his sister Suzanne Hershey, his niece Courtney Bress, and his nephew Harley Bress. And today, we're joined in the chamber by family members including, Walker Hershey, a member of my staff, and also, doctor Jane Bronwyn Bateman.

Thank you, Members, for honoring doctor Hershey. We'd ask that you adjourn. We all adjourn in his memory.

Thank you, Senator Umberg. What a very accomplished fellow OB GYN. Our condolences go out to your entire family, and please be sure to bring his name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. Senator Reyes, you are recognized for your adjourn in memory.

Thank you, Madam President, members. I rise today to adjourn in memory of Daniel Danny Murataya, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, a veteran, and respected member of the Colton community. Danny passed away on 05/16/2026, leaving behind a legacy defined by his love for his family and service to others. He was a dedicated husband to Sue Murataya, a loving father to Danielle and Brent Murataya, and a proud grandfather and great grandfather whose greatest joy was seeing his family grow across generations.

Danny was deeply rooted in the South Colton community where many remember him as a young man driving his Mustang, and also working alongside his family at the Murataya and Sons Furniture, a business that had that served many local families.

In fact, when my parents, as young immigrants, came to Colton and began to reside there, as young parents, they went to Muratayas where for the first time they were extended credit to buy furniture by the Murataya family, and that kindness was remembered and recalled on many, many occasions. Danny fought for our country during the Vietnam era, serving in the United States Army as an instructor in the chemical corps at Aberdeen Proving Ground, contributing to the training and preparedness of fellow service members.

Throughout his life, Danny exemplified loyalty, hard work, and unwavering commitment to his family and community. Those who knew him remember his kindness, his strength of character, his wittiness, and generous spirit. His legacy lives on through his wife, his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and those who live whose lives he touched over the course course of his lifetime.

While his passing leaves a profound void, the values he embodied, his love of family, his generosity, and his commitment to serving others will continue to inspire all who knew him. It is my honor to remember him today with his grandson, Daniel, and his wife, Jade, and who are here with us in the gallery, especially today as we approach what would have been his 70 70 birthday on August 13.

On behalf of the Senate, we extend our deepest condolences to the Murataya family and all who mourn his loss, and I ask that we adjourn in his memory.

Thank you, Senator Reyes. Our condolences to your entire family. Senator, please make sure that you bring his name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. Senator Ochoa, you are recognized for your adjourned memory.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, it is with great sadness that I rise to adjourn in memory of Richard De Criddell, the former mayor and long time city council member in my hometown of Yucaipa, who passed away on July 13 at age 101. Dick was a hardworking and smart and had an amazing memory.

When I attended his one hundredth birthday party last year, I told him what a role model he had been and an example of teaching people what they should expect from their government and from their elected representatives. Dick lived a life of service and dedication to his family, community, and church.

His experience and knowledge were and will continue to be a tremendous gift to us all. For me, his civic example and mentorship had a huge impact on how I approach my job as a Senator and how I interact with my constituents. He never wavered in his principles. His votes and actions were a reflection of his integrity. But Dick was not always an elected official.

He was born in San Bernardino in 1925, the third of seven children. In 1942, at age 17, he enlisted in the Navy. Dick served on more than 15 ships and covered more than 200,000 miles throughout his military career. After his service in 1946, he attended San Bernardino Valley College where he met Sheree, his future wife. Dick took a job with Southern California Gas Company, where he spent four decades retiring in 1988.

During that time, he earned both a bachelor's and a Master's in management from the University of Redlands. His career in public service began in 1994, when he was appointed to the UQIPA Planning Commission. In 1995, he was elected to the UQIPA City Council and was reelected six times, serving more than twenty six consecutive years, fifteen of those as mayor. It would be difficult to list all the policies and projects that Dick championed and advanced during his long tenure.

He was instrumental in getting many public facilities built, including the Yucaipa Transit Center, Fire Station 3, and the Police Station.

He was also a passionate conservationist who wanted to preserve the region's natural resources, and he played a key role in the creation of Wildwood Canyon State Park, El Dorado Park, and the Oak Tree Preservation Ordinance. In 2021, he received the prestigious life time conservation award from the Wild Lions Conservancy. Dick cared deeply about his family and was married to Sherry for fifty nine years before her death in 2007. He's survived by his children, son Mike, daughters Kevin, Kellgren, and Kathleen, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Dick was a visionary whose leadership, integrity, and commitment to fiscal responsibility helped transform Yucaipa into a thriving city while protecting its quality of life and rural charm.

They can ensure that the preservation of land, so future generations can enjoy the scenic beauty and be proud to call Yucaipa their home. Thank you, Dick, for your years of service to the people of Yucaipa. You will be missed. I wish Dick's family and friends comfort during this time of deep sorrow, and I would be honored if this body would adjourn in memory of Dick Riddell.

Thank you, Senator. Our condolences to his entire family and the entire Yucaipa community. Please bring his name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. Senator Durazo, you are recognized for your adjourned memory.

Thank you, Madam President. Joaquin Ross died on July 20. He was 54 years old. Joaquin was a creative mind and a very generous man. Like when the Twin Towers were brought down on nine eleven, he immediately flew to his birth city.

The Red Cross, while there, the Red Cross asked him to deliver truckloads of boots to the first responders working on the piles of hot rubber, and who needed new boots every two hours. Joaquin never took a dime for any of his work for farm workers. Joaquin helped hotel workers. He helped car wash workers. He helped bedpan hospital attendants.

The invisible people were always visible to Joaquin in his camera lens and in his heart. When I learned that Joaquin was a skilled glider pilot, soaring along the ridges of the Sierra, I was surprised, but not really surprised. Joaquin lived a life that soared, and now he is with the God he loved. May you rest in peace. I extend my condolences to my dear friend, Richie, and to the Ross family, and I ask my colleagues to adjourn in his memory.

Thank you. Senator Becker, you are recognized.

Thank you. I just wanted to add a few words to the ultimate words of my colleague. I met Joaquin sixteen years ago when I ran for the State Assembly, And I remember very much, at that moment, his enthusiasm, his strategic thinking, his smarts, his energy, but most of all, his sense of humor. He had a terrific sense of humor and I will never forget that.

And I remember one night we had a dinner with him and with Richie, and we just laughed and laughed and laughed the whole night.

And I I won't forget that. I wanted to recreate that for many years and didn't, and I I regret it. But I I remember one story from that race, and I I don't know if I'm getting fully correctly because it was 16 ago, but we're having a problem with the mail going out in my race. And Joaquin literally slept on the shipping dock of the printer, post saw, whatever, to make sure that it got out.

And that's just the kind of person that he was, his dedication, commitment, and he will be missed.

Join my colleague in adjourning the Senate as memory.

Thank you. Senator Umberg, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. And I join my colleagues, particularly my colleague Los Angeles in honoring the life and legacy of Joaquin Ross. I just I was just stunned and saddened to see his name on the list just just a few moments ago. Joaquin, I've known for thirty years plus. He was wise beyond his years.

He was tough, but he was kind. He was also blunt. He was blunt to the point of being humorous. He was blunt with me. He was blunt with his father.

He was very focused on his work. He was very passionate about his work, and he was especially passionate, as my colleague from Los Angeles pointed out, with respect to the plight of those that didn't have the kind of voice that we all have here on the floor of the California State Senate. And I I am, as I said, stunned and saddened. The world has borne a great loss, and I I join my colleagues in adjourning in his memory.

Thank you. Senator Ashby, you are recognized.

Thank you so much, Madam presiding officer. Joaquin Ross was extraordinarily talented. It's tough in Sacramento to shine as bright as a political titan as his dad, Richie Ross. But truth be told, Joaquin made that look pretty easy. I was fortunate to be the beneficiary of his talents early in my political life, and I will forever be grateful.

Joaquin was brilliant, kind, funny, dedicated not only to his work and his craft, but really to this state and to this region. He loved his family deeply like he loved his community. I join my colleague from Los Angeles, my colleague from Menlo Park, and my colleague from Orange County in honoring his memory today, and I thank you very much for allowing us to do so on the Senate floor.

Thank you. I wanna thank all of the senators who spoke in the memory of Joaquin Ross. Please be sure to bring his name forward so that he may be properly memorialized, and our gratitude and condolences go out to his family as well. And if there is no other business, Pro Tem Limon, the desk is clear.

Thank you, Members. The next floor session is scheduled for Thursday, 08/13/2026 at 9AM.

The Senate is adjourned. We will reconvene Thursday, 08/13/2026 at 9AM.