Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguin, Ashby, Becker, Blaisepeer, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortesi, Dali, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limon, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Nilo, Ochoa Bog, Padilla, Perez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Sciarto, Smallwood Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Humbert, Baladares, Wahab, Weber Pearson, Weiner.

A quorum is present. Would our members would our members and guests be on the rail and in the gallery please rise? This morning will be led in prayer by reverend our guest trampling, reverend Jason Benzie, after which, please remain remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.

Let us pray. God of all nations and peoples, as a mother holds her children close, spread over us a shelter of peace. Hold before us the wisdom where we are drawn to you not by might or power, but in boundless love and forgiveness. Teach us to treasure people more than money, relationships more than things, and you above all, that our lives and decisions reflect integrity and hope. Namaste.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance Without objection, Senate rule 55 is suspended to allow a videographer and photographer on the floor today. Additionally, without objection, we will briefly move to Assembly messages for the secretary to read a message. Please note that there is a supplemental file today. Secretary, please read.

Madam president, I am directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly amended and on this day passed as amended. Senate bill 50579988194197199411151169118711931196, and Senate bill 137, and respectfully request your honorable body to concur and set amendments. Sue Parker, chief clerk of the Assembly.

Thank you, secretary. We'd like to welcome back, Senator Susan Eggman, who is joining us on the floor today as well again, and, Senator Anthony Portentino, who is also here on the Senate floor in the back of chambers. As we did yesterday, we will begin today's session with our tribute for the remaining members who are unfortunately leaving us this year. If we can kindly return to our desk and take all conversations off the floor. We will first be honoring Senator Shannon Grove.

Senator Laird, you have the first word.

Thank you very much, Madam President. It is an honor to appreciate our friend and colleague, Senator Shannon Grove. We've developed a friendship that goes past our differing political views, which frequently baffles others. Because of our banter in the rules committee, someone posted that she and I should have our own podcast. One reader incredulously asked why.

The response that it's because of the good natured banter, the real exchanges, and the false deference that we show to each other. Senator Grove suggested that false deference should be the name of the podcast. In the last few years, we have recognized each other's birthdays. On mine last year, she surprised me with a balloon for each year of my milestone birthday, which I admit was a significant number of balloons.

Some of the balloons popped in my office and set off a security system that caught the attention of the sergeants.

And this year, in addition to her Dolly Parton cutout, I was pleased to present her a birthday cake in the rules committee with a big oil rig on top, which was from someone who has never accepted oil campaign money, and that was very significant. And when each of us has had a path passing health challenge, one of the first people each of us heard from was the other. That is just who she is.

And, once in the rules committee, Shannon asked a bewildered prison official about oil production. When it got to me next, I pointed out that if Kern County were a state, it would be the fourth largest oil producing state in The United States.

By then, Shannon was walking behind me and lightly punched me in the arm. She did not realize we were on camera when that happened. My staff texted and asked, did Senator Grove just hit you? I responded, yes, but it was deserved. When her young granddaughter was here on the floor, I walked over and said, your grandmother and I agree on almost everything.

Her granddaughter immediately replied, that's not true. She did that on her own, uncoached, just because she's a chip off the old block. When I was one vote short on a bill in an Assembly committee a few years ago, the Chair said he would hold the roll open if I could go find Assembly member Reggie Jones Sawyer. His staff said he was in a 5th Floor conference room.

I walked in, and as I grabbed the Assembly member to vote, I saw Shannon Grove and another woman in front of a speaker phone.

Assembly member Joan Sawyer seemed so happy to leave and be able to vote on my bill. That's because it wasn't until the next day that I picked up the newspaper and saw on the front page that there was a Grove bill that would protect minors from sex trafficking that was being held up by the, this Assembly member.

It turns out that my successful effort to get a bill out of committee had busted up a long awaited meeting with the Assembly member, a district attorney, Shannon, and others. She plaintively said to me the next day, you didn't even knock. But I did get the bill out and actually so did she.

But the best way to present Senator Grove is in her own words, which I have carefully been noting during our time together. Senator Grove is particularly passionate about the impact of state government actions on her home county and her district. She has said, and I quote, I represent the largest oil producing county in the state, which produces 70% of oil produced in California. My district is the energy capital of the world, wind, oil, and solar. Kern County has had to do an EIR on oil extraction.

It's taken nine years. It's a 110 binders. Each binder is four inches thick. Kern County is getting devastated by not getting permits. Projects should not be delayed, but they are being delayed by a salt marsh mouse or a squirrel.

If unleashed, we could do 70% of the state's oil and gas. She has also said that Kern County provides 53% of the solar and wind generated in California, and that the Kern County planning director corrected her. So that she now says it's 50% of the whole state's wind and commercial, scale production, and 80% of the battery storage for the grid. She pointed out that that battery storage covers 6,000 acres, and she would be glad to shift those 6,000 acres to Santa Monica Boulevard.

Talking about energy can lead to another of her favorite subjects.

We have our farmers convert to solar because we don't give them water. Food grows where water flows. I grew up in Arvin. We used to go down and check the river. Now, it's dry.

Kern County is one of the top three food producing counties in the country. In fact, my district has the three highest California counties in agricultural production. The former secretary of natural resources didn't even know where his counties fit in the ranking in agricultural production. And I had to tell him that his counties were seventh, eighth, and ninth. In Kern County, we have a 103, 53 different crops.

Everything all you guys eat. She also pointed out that my district produces 9,200,000 tons of the 11,000,000 tons of cement. And that, I note, is pronounced cement that is produced in California. That is threatened by regulatory actions on the Joshua tree. You will all find out what this is like when you don't get cement in your district.

And in case you don't know, that is all to protect a succulent. The Joshua tree is a succulent. It is not a tree. It is a succulent. Why do we hold up cement production for a succulent?

She is also beloved in her district. When a former Arvin City Council member who is of sick ancestry appeared in front of the rules committee, she said that Senator Grove was a Pataca. We discovered that Pataca translates to firecracker, which is a very apt term. In advocating for remote distressed hospital in the High Desert in her district, She pointed out that it's up a windy two lane highway with rocks hanging over it for miles. It's miles from the nearest city.

It's not off of the exit of one of the straight interstates that's in all your districts. And she has talked about running her business. In the real world, I am an employer. I had a business for thirty years in spite of the state. And in over thirty years, I've had to run a business to meet payroll every week, workers' comp every week, pay benefits every week.

I even have an eight member safety team. It's like fixing things in midair, but that's what we do. So there you have it. Strong advocacy for her district, an understanding of what her rank and file constituents face, a businesswoman who brings that experience to this job, and a legislator who has given strong voice to those who might not be able to have a voice.

But she is also a Senator who sets off security systems with gifts, has sneaked her dog into the swing space, is seen on a scooter around town, sometimes with her dog frequently not wearing a helmet, and she makes sure we all know the correct biological origins of the Joshua tree.

She has made her mark in the Senate, and she will be missed on the floor by her constituents, by her staff, by those of us who appreciate her strong advocacy, and by Californians who love a good speech. I thank her family for loaning her to us the last sixteen years. Please join me in thanking Senator Shannon Grove for her Senate years and wishing her well in her future endeavors.

You might see this presiding officer cry today, so I apologize. It's emotional. Senator Jones, you're next.

Thank you, madam president and members. It's an honor to stand up today and give a little tribute to my very good friend, Shannon Grove, and she kinda spoke a little bit yesterday about our relationship and how special that is. But what I really wanna do today is present Shannon Grove, this is your life. And I'm gonna bring some voices from the past, to share with us this morning about Shannon Grove.

But the first thing I need to do is give a disclosure to the senators that are sitting here with us today.

All you know is the Shannon Grove from the Senate. But I know the Shannon Grove from the Assembly. Oh, and there's a couple others, yeah, that that remember the Shannon Grove from the Assembly. So please walk back with me a decade and a half to the year 2010. And, Republicans in the, in the Senate and the Assembly were greater than the super minority.

In 2010, when Shannon Grove and I got elected to the Assembly along with Tim Donnelly and Mike Morell and Don Wagner, Kristen Olson, Linda Halderman, Jeff Gurell. I'm leaving some out, and I apologize to those that I'm leaving out because I didn't make a list. But you all think that this year's freshman class in the Assembly are a little wild and crazy. Or you may be a part of the 2,014 freshman class. Some of you here today that thought you were wild and crazy.

Or even the 2012 class that really were kind of a pain. But there's no pain in the neck greater than the 2,010 Republican class coming into the Assembly. So just remember back that that was the year of the Tea Party across the country. Every single state, 49 states picked up Republican representation in their state houses. Some state houses actually flipped majorities that year from Democrat to Republican for the first time in a hundred years.

Other states got a lot closer. One state lost Republican representation that year by one seat. So Senator Grove Assembly member Grove and Assembly member Jones came up here with a little bit of a chip on our shoulder about being the one state that didn't pick up Republican representation, both being Tea Party candidates. So here's the part of the voices from the past. You had some good quotes.

I think I have some good quotes as well. Former Assembly member former Assembly and Senate Republican leader, see if you can guess who the who these voices are, and CRP Chair. I will never forget the first time I met Shannon Grove. I thought she was going to be one of the typical right wing bomb throwers, Senator Jim Brilty. Former repress Republican Bay Area assemblywoman and lobbyist.

This one's pretty mild. Shannon came to the capital as a naive, scrappy, and earnest young woman who had a strong worth work ethic, Bev Hanson. Former Assembly leader and current lobbyist, I turned out in 2,010, but was still closely watching the election cycle. And I remember that Shannon was part of the tea party wave that came to Sacramento. She even coined herself Tea Party Darling in the LA Times.

Mike Vellines. Former speaker and Pro Tem. As I watched her continuously run to the back of the chamber to strategize with Tim Donnelly, And former speaker. When Shannon arrived in Sacramento in 2010, she was someone I thought might be limited by a rigid ideology.

Not only did she fight with some of her colleagues in ways I couldn't begin to imagine, One day, she actually brought a group of ministers into what I understood to be an exorcism of the Assembly chambers of its inherent evil, speaker John Perez.

Those of you that may remember when she stood up to speak in the Assembly that first and second term, people literally rolled their eyes. And there would be a bunch of clatter in the gallery or in the back. Today, when she stands to speak, people hush and pay attention and stop what they're doing. After those notable days in 2010 and fighting against everything that she fought against, she found a way and gradually learned how to be effective around here operating from the super minority.

Probably the best thing that happened to her was being a Republican leader from 2019 to to 2021, where she was able to develop a close relationship with pro Tim Atkins and even the governor.

In fact, I think she's the only Republican he talks to. As a result of her effectiveness, she successfully advocated for veterans, victims of crime, and ever paradoxical as she is, just as fiercely for those who have committed crimes to give them a second chance. She's built a reputation based on good faith and dogged negotiations and passed landmark legislation on human trafficking.

She brought oil back to the valley because Shannon knows when Kern oil flows, so does the money and opportunity for the poor and the working class families in the community she loves and fights for each day for the last sixteen years. She's regarded highly around the halls of the capital, of this building where everyone from the wonderful DGS folks to the sergeants and all of our staffs know how genuine and even the governor and his staff, genuine and gracious and giving she is.

She's been recognized by the Arc for her work supporting the developmentally disabled community, the California Survivor Coalition for her unwavering support of human trafficking victims, the American Pistachio Growers for her relentless support of the valley's other economic driver, agriculture. She's worked with Jay Leno, Paris Hilton, Dolly Parton, Senator Tim Scott, governor Rick Perry, former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, and many, many others that she's had the influence to bring them to bring their influence to the capital.

She's supported by her husband, Rick, who if you've ever heard me introduce him, I call him a saint, just like she calls my wife a saint because they both really are. She loves her family, her kids, her grandkids. And I what I appreciate about her is her proper alignment, God first, family second, country third.

She's come a long way since those early days in the Assembly. She's transformed from rookie rabble rouser to now in her last year as one of the most influential and effective Republican members this house has seen in decades. And as I said, today when she speaks, everybody listens. Now let's hear what those voices from the past have to say about her today. Jim Brilty.

She has turned into a rock star legislator who knows how to play the inside game to get what she wants and the outside game to pressure the legislature into doing the right thing. As she departs, she can proudly proclaim as Paul did, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Bev Hanson.

Today, Shannon is a battle tested, hardworking, and seasoned Senate member who has never forgotten who she is and why she wanted to be a representative in the first place. Mike Vellines. I do not think anyone thought the tea party darling who packed a pink handled gun would turn out as one of the most thoughtful, principled, bipartisan members who took on big issues like sex trafficking and online ex sexual exploitation of young women, all while praising and making everybody love Dolly Parton.

Shannon epitomizes the true public servant model, and she should be proud of her time in the legislature and her accomplishments. I just wish she would wear a helmet when she drives those scooters so fast around town.

So even prior legislators are caring about you. And I should have I should have shared that I reached out to all of these people individually to ask them to participate, and they were all overjoyed to do that and very happy to be able to do it. Senator John speaker John Perez. Over the years, she's evolved, for those who believe in that, into an effective legislator, a successful leader, and as I can personally attest, a true friend.

There will be a genuine sense of loss when Shannon Grove leaves the capital.

And finally, but not last, of course, Toni Atkins, lovingly referred referred to as her bestie. Today, I would quote my dad. She's crazy like a fox. The most effective Republican legislator in years, a person with a darn good heart, and one of my very best friends. Who would have thought the political world needs more relationships like ours?

Shannon, you blew into Sacramento in a whirlwind of Bakersfield dust, oil, and sun scorched heat. Naive enough to believe you could change the world. This year, you leave in a whirlwind of accomplishments, past legislation, difficult legislation. Thousands of constituents helped beyond their imagination, some even lives saved. A multitude of friends and connections, and, yes, you have changed the world and made California a better place to live.

As stated in second Timothy four seven, you have fought the good fight. You have finished the race and you have kept the faith. God bless you. We love you.

Senator Grove you may now have the floor.

Well, I said I wasn't gonna cry. I'm not crying because I'm leaving, but that was very beautiful. I'd like to respond to Senator Laird's comments. All those things that you said, you were really listening, but you never helped me accomplish some of those things that would save my district.

So if you believed it with the depths of your soul, just like you presented on the floor, I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't convince you to vote to give Kern County oil and some other things that I was asking for.

And the Joshua tree is a succulent. It just falls off, the wind blows, and another one sprouts up. So, yeah, I can't let it go. Can't let it go. To my friend Brian, we are more than friends.

You really are my little brother, and that was beautiful. Thank you very much for reaching out to all the people that you did, and I really do appreciate it. And I feel like yesterday, I gave you a disservice. I really tried to stick to the stick to the two minute limit I thought we were on, so my comments were really short. But there's a lot of things that I could say about everybody here.

We are gonna do our podcast. It is gonna be indifference. I think people in the rules committee, and people like appointees by the governor that run agencies and their secretaries, they just crack up and think it's funny when we get our banter going in the rules committee, and I really enjoyed that relationship. So you guys know I operate in faith. Right?

So how do I know God is real? Obviously, the Bible, but only my Jesus could take a juvenile delinquent, raised by a single mom, went to continuation high school, and make her one of 40 in the state of California. There's no other way that is even possible. In my journey to get here, I joined the United States military, and people think, that's valuable. I mean, that's valiant.

That's this. Well, the way it really happened is that Susie and Aye, my best friend, we our boyfriends broke up with us. We're eating barbecue. This commercial comes on and says, be all you can be. Go to Europe on the buddy system.

I'm like, yeah. So we go down the recruiter station. Ladies, they never put an ugly guy in the recruiter station. It's always some fine looking man that walks up and goes, you wanna join the military? And we're like, yeah.

So I'm swearing to defend the constitution of The United States against all enemies, foreign domestic. I come out, Susie's crying. They wouldn't let her go because she has asthma, and I'm on my way to Germany in two weeks. I'm a go home and tell my mom what I did. So I didn't know what was gonna transpire out of that, but God did.

And he made me the first female veteran to ever serve in the California State Legislature, and that is just such a great honor for me, and I'm very proud of that title. My mom was one of the strongest women I've ever met in my life. We lost her in 2017. She was actually here on the floor when we first got sworn in in the Assembly, but she's she was my my go to.

She was a strong woman that was raising five kids that made sure we all knew what yes and no meant, and we kept our word, and we were the handshake of old.

Because when you shake Some1's hand and you say you're gonna do something, you better hold it up. And she had a shoe like a boomerang if you didn't. So I just, you know, if my mom was here, I would give her total credit for making me who I am today for this position. I came here to fight for oil and ag, obviously, top three food producing counties in the world, the number 1 oil producing county.

And I found myself being the champion of women and children for some reason.

I don't know what that all entailed. I can't even really tell you how we got there. I just met somebody that talked to me about human trafficking. When they said that, her trafficker she told me that her trafficker was sentenced to twelve years. He got out in four, and he came and tried to torture her after just four years.

I couldn't believe that was true in California. And so I have the greatest team in the world to help me work on human trafficking to make it a serious felony in the state of California. I didn't think it would have been as hard as it was, but I can tell you that that piece of legislation was really vitally important, and it just shows the way bipartisanship can work. Because we had, the bill got out of the Senate. I wanna say the adult house.

I shouldn't say that because we're in the last session. But it got out of the Senate. We got it out, sent to the Assembly, and it died in the public public safety committee. And that was the meeting that, Reggie Joan Sawyer was in when Senator Laird came in looking for his vote. The governor actually rescued that bill.

Now, I'm on this side. The governor's over here, and you guys know that. After that bill died, I think my staff and I went home, and we were mortified. We just couldn't believe it died. And, I got a call the next morning, and it was him, and he said and he's probably gonna get mad at me for saying this, but he's like, hey, how you doing?

I go, frankly, sir, I'm pretty pissed off. And he said, no, no, no. He goes, permission to engage. I'm like, engage away. And then the next thing I know, I'm getting a phone call meeting with Reggie.

We're in there five minutes. We've got all these people in there trying to navigate language, and John pulls him out of the room. He's gone for forty five minutes, and then he comes back and we solve what happens. The next day, they brought this same bill up before the Senate Public Safety Committee, and it got passed and signed by the governor.

And because of that, children in the state of California that are sold for sex are protected from perpetrators, the most evil people that would, harm them.

And I'm just very proud of that, and I couldn't have done it with all of you without all of you. I had tremendous co authors. I worked, really hard, like I said, on human trafficking. We worked on the oil legislation that was so important.

My district was devastated with policies that came out of this building, and we finally realized that and I don't know what turned it, but somehow or another, we finally realized it was Senator Grayson, Senator Richardson, and others that, we need domestic oil production.

We do. We have California compliant oil, and we provide the cheapest, most reliable, most responsible energy to anybody, and it's better than getting it from foreign countries that are hostile to us. Constituent services, I think my staff has done amazing things. I'm the promise maker, you know that, and our staff is the promise keepers. You go out there and you go, okay, I'll solve that problem.

And the first thing you do is pick up your phone call, call your staff, and your staff executes. I have the greatest staff that has done amazingly to navigate for constituent services, so much so I got called in the Senate Pro Tem office during COVID for solving unemployment insurance problems for other districts. They said I wasn't allowed to do that unless I referred it to the Senator of that district first.

And I can tell you that they've worked it doesn't matter if missus Henderson's calls and there's chickens in her yard and they go toss the chickens over. And I've called staff one day, just little few little stories.

They're breathing hard. I go, what are you doing? She goes, we're moving this veteran. We found them and there was cockroaches everywhere. So we found a place for them to live, but I gotta go because we're loading a table.

I mean, this is my staff. They're absolutely, positively incredible. We've worked on tons and tons of stuff. We've got budget requests. When Tony was here, we fixed the East 58 Corridor, $74,000,000, Dolly Parton Imagination Library to foster a love for reading for our kids.

And I know I'm going over, but even simple things like money for a swimming pool for Taft, California when it's a 110 degrees in the middle of nowhere, and these poorest of our poorest kids have a swimming pool to swim in. And so those are the things that Aye, like, loved working on because there are things you you could get done. And I'm grateful for relationships, for all of you. Susan Egmond is here today. She's she's I love serving with her.

We'd get knocked down, drag outs, and then we go, you know, to Tony's and hold mops and sticks in our hands and sing karaoke. So it's about relationships. And that just proves that even in politics, you can disagree on policy, but you don't have to be disagreeable with the person that you're having that conversation with. And I'd love you for being here today. Thank you.

My bestie, you heard my bestie, Toni Atkins. We're gonna write a book. We can't write a book till we're totally full with politics because we talked about it at one time, and I know she's probably watching, and she's like, don't blow this. Don't blow this. She we talked about it.

Hey, what about this? We can't put that in there. What about this? We can't put that in there. But what about this?

We can't put that in there. So we decided there was more fun stuff that we did that we couldn't put in the book if we wrote it now, instead of after a few years, and then everybody go back and read it and enjoy what really happened behind the scenes and a lot of things that took place. These two incredible ladies that I just brought up, they are they are just amazing. Susan, when she stood up on my human trafficking bill, it went viral.

I think she got like a 165,000 likes.

And she was in it was pattern day. Thank you, Minjeevar. And she was in this ugly outfit, and she went viral all over. I think it went across the pond and back.

So I just and I really and not that I don't respect and love all of you guys here on the floor, but I think if I was leaving two years ago with these two ladies that I had the great relationship building many times at Tony's house, Tony's sister being there, I think I'd really have FOMO.

But I'm not I'm gonna be okay because you guys are already gone. This is really a diverse state, and I just wanna share this with you guys that it's a diverse state. You have metropolitan huge cities. Some of the policies that passed don't work for us in the Central Valley, but you need to know that California doesn't work without the Central Valley. You know, you have to have energy and you have to have food sources.

I wanna take a minute to thank my staff. And, you know, I'm trying to make it short. You met Mark Reeder and Alicia, combined seventy five years in the business, in the building Just the other day on the floor, they're really just incredible people. They brought solid institutional knowledge knowledge to our staff.

Jenna, Kyle, Gavin and Jake, and Shannon Major, some in the district and some here in the the in the capital, they really are just one of the hardest working teams that I've ever had, and they can solve problems like no tomorrow.

Problems that somebody walks up and goes, oh, you know, you you helped the cemetery get me a headstone for my veteran husband. They didn't I'm like, oh, wow. It wasn't me. It was my staff. They do all this they did work that was just incredible.

I have Christina and Paula and and in the district office. I have Brooke, my communications director, and I have Chloe. Chloe is, we call her Chloe of Bakersfield. She has Down syndrome and she just always wanted to work for the real Shannon Grove. And Erica was so gracious enough to be able to get me an internship for this Down syndrome little girl to come in.

She when she got up to present certificates, it just made her day. And I really think that she's just she's, you know, got her own Instagram page right now. We really watch it and monitor it. But she really just made a light in our office. But the two people I wanna talk about are the people that have been with me since 2010, and I'll probably lose it on this one.

Tracy came to me and started working on my campaign, and I brought her in. And these two people, Lindsay Dietz, my chief of staff, was an intern that walked in the office and just needed a job, and I just liked her. You know, I just liked her, so I gave her a job. My then chief of staff was like, you didn't even talk to me. And I'm like, but I liked her.

And she's been by my side, these two ladies, since 2010, and they are your ride or dies. There was a joke that went around that they're gonna be upset that I'm telling a couple of years ago, I went and got my hair done, and my hairdresser goes, you need to know if you got ride or dies. I go, I got ride or dies. And she goes, pick up the phone and call one of them. And I called Tony Atkins with this.

I said, hey, you're gonna get a call from law enforcement. I was with you all day yesterday. Tony goes, absolutely. Lindsay, where were you and what did you do? Like, you know, so it's just a joke that went around and it was really kind of cool.

So I wanted to share that. They're my ride or dies. I couldn't be as successful in this building if it wasn't for my entire staff, and wanna thank them very much. And like I said, I'm the promise maker. They're the promise keepers.

Senator Caballero covered this the other day yesterday when she did her speech, but this building doesn't operate without special services, without the CHP, without the people in the garage, without the CSTs, without the desk staff, without our rules committee. It just doesn't operate in a in a great way. And we're the I'm gonna say the adult house, but there's a big difference from serving in the Assembly to serving in the Senate, and it just ran in a completely different manner.

And so I wanna thank all of them, the Republican caucus staff that goes through tons of legislation for all of us, and I appreciate it. Diane, Griffith, and Erica, working with them on the rules committee is very fun.

You have an attorney, you have the president who's a Democrat that used to work for Ricardo Lara, and then you have me, right, the conservative Republican. And when we get in these rules discussions, it's a three way argument, fun, laughing, and then we fix problems. And I love that. I love that.

And what I really love about the rules committee is that it was mentioned one time just about a month ago that there's never been a breach out of the rules committee in the six years that John and we've served on it, and I think that speaks volumes.

Because there's a lot of stuff you guys do that's just unacceptable. Just saying. What?

What it is.

So, I do wanna say that I really appreciate them. My bestie, like I said, I know she's walking, watching my incredible staff. But now I wanna just go to my family. My husband is a good old North Dakota cowboy. I think he's been up here three times.

It's just not his thing. He'd rather be out on the ranch with the cows and all that kind of stuff. And the first time he came up, he met Jerry Brown. He was the governor when I first came into office. And we I introduced him.

It was at the mansion. And Jerry Brown goes, that's your husband? And I'm like, well, yeah. And he couldn't figure it out. And he goes, well, he seems like this, and you're like this.

And I just don't get it. And my husband just calmly shook his hand and says, yeah, she crosses my line three or four times a day. So he holds down the fort when you know, he holds down the fort. When I'm up here, he shared me with millions of people, that we've been able to help.

He's came second a lot of times because of this job, and I think all of our spouses feel that way, even though as we work really hard to make sure that they're recognized in their all of that.

But a lot of time, our family does come second. I remember, in 2010 when I got elected, when I got elected, I went to the hospital and held my first granddaughter. And then I went to the Ralph Bailey show and campaigned ten minutes after that. So there's a lot of things that that change, and life still goes on while we're up here. So family has always been extraordinarily important to me.

I wanna thank my staff again, never settling for the status quo. I wanna thank every pastor and prayer warrior and friend or family member that's covered me in prayer, gave me words of encouragement, spoke wisdom and blessings over my life. I want to thank my children. Roger said it bad best. I think that grandchildren and grandparents get along better because we have a common enemy.

And I have a sign outside my door, you know, those welcome signs. It says parents by appointment only, but children grandchildren welcome anytime. I think that, you know, as you become a grandparent, you realize that. And and, but I have the most greatest children that are raising my grandchildren right, and I'm just grateful that they're raising them in what I think is the right way to raise a child. Right?

So I think they're doing really just an exceptional job. I'm proud of them for all that they've done to support me. And when you said keep it real and all those people that, you know, we I met with over the years that God placed in my life, like Paris Hilton and Jay Leno, I have a standing lunch or dinner thing with my girls, and Rick Perry says, hey, I'm coming in town. Can I come and talk to you? And I said, sure.

So he flew me home, took me to dinner, the whole bit, and I get there, and it was that Thursday night, and all my girls are looking at me with the evil eye. And I'm like, but I was at dinner with Rick Perry. And they're like, you missed our dinner. So my kids keep it real, just so you know.

All the supporters in my district that have helped me, get here, I know that it was a lot, and I feel like I've I hope you feel like I've represented you well, that I've tried.

We didn't accomplish the things a lot that we wanted to do, but I I feel like, you know, we worked hard, and all of you were very supportive, that voted for me, and that helped me get here. I don't know what the Lord holds for me next, but I do know deep in my heart that he holds my life in his hands.

And it's been an honor to be one of forty and forty million people in the state of California coming from where I came from, basically, on the streets of Arvin. I thought about what Joan says yesterday and having maybe a little bit of regret that I wasn't the best reflection of Christ as a Christ follower to some of you. And I mean, let's be honest, I'm human and some of you make it difficult.

Just kidding. But I do want you to know that in all sincerity in all sincerity, it has been really an honor to get to know all of you and work with you. And I can't thank you enough for your relations. I'm looking at Scott Wiener. He helped save a baby's life that was important to me in San Francisco.

Elena Durazo just met the mother of the girl that was killed on Figueroa Street just this past week, and she helped that mother get that body back. I shared this at the dinner. There's so many of you that have just jumped when I've called, and I just thank you very much for that. One of my favorite scriptures is a scripture I leave for all of you.

And I don't mean to turn my back on my colleagues over here, but I leave this to all of you in sincerity.

I do mean it. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and may he be gracious to you, and may he turn his face towards you and give you peace. And if you think about that for just a second, and you let it sink in, it's the creator of the universe that I'm asking to turn his face towards you. And every time he looks at you, I want him to smile.

And, he's our Jehovah Jireh, and I just love the fact that I've asked him to fuss to just smile down on all of you and what you do. And I know he has great plans for you. It's an unimaginable piece that I don't know what I've got next, but I know he does. I didn't ever think I'd be a state legislator, but he did.

So I have total faith and confidence in that, and I just appreciate all of you, and I'm sorry for my very long remarks, but thank you, Senator Laird.

Every time I said something and he started typing, and I saw the title of the thing that said Shannon Grove, I thought, holy cow, I'm in trouble. And then Jones, of course, has been just a colleague since and a friend since 2010. And I really appreciate you being here, Suze. Thank you.

What a great legacy and hope you'll leave in the Senate. Thank you, Shannon Senator Shannon Grove.

What a great legacy and hope you'll leave in the Senate. Thank you, Shannon Senator Shannon Grove.

Our next tribute is for Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil. Our first remarks are gonna be from Senator Valladares.

Thank you, Madam president. Colleagues, I first heard about Maria Alvarado-Gil when she did something none of this on this, none of us on this side of the aisle were particularly happy about. She won a Senate seat as a Democrat in a district that was Republican and that President Trump had carried pretty significantly. Republicans were disappointed. I was, I was disappointed.

But while campaigning for Senate myself, I started hearing something interesting about Marie, and that was that she loved charter schools. And that got my attention. Education choice is personal for me. My two older brothers dropped out of high school and their experience taught me early on that every child is different and sometimes the kid struggling the most simply needs another path and someone willing to give them hope. So I thought, who is this Democrat that loves charter schools as much as I do?

And then Marie became a Republican. And I remember calling her returning my call when I was driving through one of those terrible reception areas in my district and I welcomed her to the party and in that same conversation she told me she was going to help me work hard to cross the finish line in my Senate race. And that's Marie. She didn't change parties because it offered an easier road. It actually made her road harder.

She did it because she follows her convictions. And when she was removed from her committees, she wasn't happy about it. But in true Marie fashion, she turned it into an opportunity. If Sacramento wasn't going to give her a seat at those tables, she would spend more time at the kitchen tables of the people that she represented. Marie is authentic.

What you see is is what you get, sometimes with a little extra spice. She stands up fiercely when she sees injustice, especially for people who don't always have someone fighting for them. And perhaps what I admire most about Marie is her willingness to be vulnerable at the most important of times. Marie has spoken openly about growing up in foster care and surviving abuse. She didn't know owe any of us that story.

She shared it so that another foster child or survivor could know that the circumstances they were born into do not determine the life they can have. Marie turned pain into purpose. I've gotten to know Marie the Senator, but also Marie the wife, Marie the mom, Marie the grandma, and her greatest pride isn't found in this building. It's Caesar, her husband, her children, Justice, and a niece and Carmen, and her precious grandbabies, Richie, Rosie, and their angel baby, Ralphie.

Marie, or to your family, thank you for sharing her with us.

Marie, I will always cherish working together, rocking the streets of Jaffa and exploring Israel together. Our laughter, your warm smile, and your wonderfully squirrel like attention span sometimes. We have been a better caucus and a better body because of you. I don't know what God has planned for your next chapter but I know this, he isn't finished writing your story.

And yesterday, I promise I'm not stealing this from Shannon but it's an important verse and it's worth repeating. Jeremiah reminds us, for I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future. Marie, thank you for your service, for your courage, for your authenticity, and for trusting us with your story. Most of all, thank you for your friendship. [speaking s[panish] May God bless you and your entire family.

Senator Niello.

Thank you, Madam president. Marie, you and I came in together, And so I made a new friend as I have in this experience so many times. And as someone who once campaigned in a humongous district, Senate District 1 back in 2010. And out of necessity, my campaign office was a motor home. I know that representing that large of a district is not an easy task.

The issues and varying perspectives on those issues, particularly since it is 13 counties, Marie did an outstanding job navigating that and advocating for the needs of your district. Outstanding job. And long before Marie decided to join our party, she was already reaching to the other side of the aisle. When or in 2023, I had a bill that affected charter schools. Do we hear a renewing theme?

Marie jumped in to assist me with that bill for which I was very appreciative of her quick willingness to do that. And then later in that same year, when our districts were facing the potential release of a violent predator, I witnessed a true advocate for her district and for victims. She fervently spoke in opposition to the release of that predator. Her words genuinely reflected her fight for victims. And I know everyone here has witnessed her spirited floor speeches.

You may or may not agree with what she was saying, but you have to be convinced of her commitment. When you decided to join our party, we were of course, thrilled to include you, increase our numbers, and certainly welcomed you to our caucus. We gained a great lady and another champion for education choice, public safety, victims rights, agricultural rights, and we think common sense. Her decision didn't come lightly as Senator Valladares reflected.

She joined the Republican Party after much reflection on her own values and the needs of her district.

She's been an outspoken voice in the valley for the families, farmers, and communities that she serves. I wanna leave you with this. Senate District 4 has been very well served by your representation, and I have immensely enjoyed getting to know you in these four years. Now, here's to your next chapter. As was said before, when one door closes, another door opens or some doors open.

And whatever you choose, whatever that next chapter is, I know it will be meaningful and successful. And I wish you and Cesar and your kids the very best in the long future that is ahead of you.

Senator Alvarado-Gil.

Thank you, Madam President. It's an honor to stand before those who've accepted one of the greatest responsibilities in a Democratic society, the responsibility to govern. We know that public service is not easy. It requires long hours, difficult decisions, and the willingness to stand firm when the path forward is uncertain. Every day, lawmakers across California face competing interests, passionate opinions, and complex challenges that affect millions of lives.

Yet, despite these challenges, we must never lose sight of the why, the why that we serve. Now, my husband challenged me with finding a song by Juan Gabriel that encompassed my experience here in Sacramento. And, I thought about which is traditions. No tengo dinero which we don't have the money for it. [speaking spanish] Please, I'm just asking for this one favor.

But, my favorite is really [speaking spanish] Why do you make me cry? And, it's not always sad tears. Sometimes, those are happy tears. We serve because we believe in people. We serve because we believe that government should be a force for opportunity, accountability, and hope.

And we serve because we believe that freedom, the freedom to pursue a better life, raise a family, build a business, educate our children, and contribute to our communities is worth protecting. Throughout California's history, progress has never been achieved by those who gave up when obstacles appeared.

Progress has always been driven by the men and women who persevered. Leaders who remained focused on principle even when compromise was difficult. Leaders who listened with humility, acted with courage, and placed public good above personal gain.

My gratitude for these past four years really goes to the families that impacted the policies and legislation that came out of our office. The Dylan Duelling family who lost Dylan on the night of his graduation to a senseless gang crime. The Talen Brooks family who lost their young man to a mountain lion attack in our beautiful Senate District 4. The countless survivors of drugging and being raped that came to testify and ultimately changed the law.

The Sirocco family which gave me a front seat in helping adults with disabilities. And the Kano family that introduced me to the Syrian community in Senate District 4 and the many customs and traditions that helped to frame policy for the Central Valley.

Today, I encourage every lawmaker across our state to persevere. Persevere when the work becomes difficult. Persevere when criticism becomes loud. Persevere when solutions are not immediately apparent, and persevere because the people of California deserve leaders who will continue showing up, continue listening, continue working to solve problems.

But perseverance is not enough. We need each other to continue to encourage and to prop ourselves up when we fall on our knees. Our work must be grounded in integrity. Integrity means doing the right thing when no one is watching. It means honoring our word, respecting our institutions, and remembering that public office is a sacred trust.

It's not a personal entitlement. The public has entrusted us with their voices and their concerns and their hopes for their future. It's a trust that must be earned every day through honesty, transparency, accountability, and respect for those that we represent, even those who disagree with us. Integrity is the foundation upon lasting leadership, and it is built on that foundation. Policies may change.

Political wins may shift. Elections may change. But integrity endures. It creates confidence in government and strengthens the bond between citizens and their representatives. Now, I've learned from some of the best pillars of integrity right here in this building.

Secretary Contreras, who from day one has ensured that every step that not only my office makes, but all of us make is in the right direction of integrity and building trust of our people. The rules staff, the Senate floor staff who continues to work day in and day night so that we can do the work of the people. The sergeants who it's like herding cats. I've seen you in those hallways trying to get us in here to do our votes.

Our CHP detail who has kept us safe both here in the capitol and in our district. And our medical staff who works in the background to make sure that even when we're not feeling up to it, that we can come in and be cared for.

As we move forward, let us also remember that freedom is not merely an idea, it's a responsibility. It requires vigilance and courage and a commitment to protecting the rights and opportunities for every Californian. Now, I know we represent our districts, but the decisions that we make are for every Californian.

Freedom flourishes when people have access to quality education. Freedom grows when communities are safe. Freedom expands when businesses can innovate and workers can thrive. Freedom is strengthened when citizens trust in their government that is acting fairly, responsibly, and with integrity. Our responsibility as lawmakers is to not diminish freedom, but to create conditions where it can flourish for future generations.

I want to give thanks to the Women's Caucus. The Women's Caucus who without the history and perseverance of the Women's Caucus, we would not have had one of the greatest leaders that I served under, Senate Pro Tem Atkins. We would not have had the 50th, first the fiftieth Pro Tem and first Latina woman, Pro Tem Limon, representing us here. I'm honored to be able to serve under the leadership of those women.

The women veterans who here on this floor have continued to teach me and to lead to make sure that veterans across our state are represented. Senator Caballero, our Senator from Merced, who I had told her the story as a young woman, I fangirled on her from day one.

Never could imagine that I would serve on the same floor with her. I've seen her work through the Central Valley in Northern California and has just been in awe. I don't know if many of you from Southern California know, but we don't have a lot of Latina leaders in Northern California. We borrow from the Central Valley and we borrow from Southern California.

And as a young Latina growing up in the Bay Area and Northern California, it's women like our Senator from Merced that helped mold and craft me. But it was actually the Senator from Los Angeles, Senator Durazo, who lit the fire in me.

So, when I become spicy and persevere and passionate about my issues, I'm not going to say it's your fault, Senator Durazo but the groundwork that you laid for voices in the labor movement where I was trained and I grew up, the examples that you have laid for women across California, I've followed those, I've read your books, I've read about you, and again to serve on the same floor as you is such an honor.

And Senator Edmund, who is here today as well, I learned so much from her in the first two years and following her as a legislator here from Central California, Northern California. It's women's from it's women from the Women's Caucus that enable people like me to serve Senate District 4, the first elected woman to ever serve this rural community in California.

To the Jewish Caucus and to the LGBTQ Caucus, thank you for introducing me to world politics and helping me to understand the importance of people before politics, and for leading always with the love for fellow man.

I would also like to express my sincerest appreciation to the remarkable staff of Senate District four. My Chief of Staff who probably has had the hardest job on my team of keeping me off the edge and keeping me on the straight and narrow. I know Secretary Contreras can attest to that.

My legislative team who has worked tirelessly on legislation that not always has made it across the finish line, but have worked to the very end to make sure that our we had the best chance to cross it. Our district team, which across 13 counties, 21 cities, more than 12 hours to drive from point a to b has consistently served the constituents of Senate District 4.

And my scheduler, as you know, the scheduler is the most important job. She has done everything for me to make sure that I show up to my appointments and can balance family obligations, personal obligations, and the obligations of public service. My team has led in responding to fire communities that have been devastated by wildfire like Grizzly Flats and China Camp. They've led in protecting Senate District 4 from violent sexual offenders. They've led in promoting prevent, promoting prevention for cervical and thyroid cancer.

And they've led in empowering victims that have been fighting for sexual assault rights for survivors, elevating our veterans, and most of all, making sure I got to every single fair every single year in my district. That's over 10 fairs per year. So thank you. Public service often shines a spotlight on elect officials but behind every successful office stands a dedicated team of professionals who work tirelessly on behalf of the public.

The Senate District 4 staff members answer constituent calls, they solve problems, they navigate complex issues, support community organizations and ensure that the voices of residents are heard.

They do that on behalf of what we represent here in the capitol. I wanna thank you for your dedication, professionalism and commitment to serving others, making a difference every single day because California is stronger because of your efforts, and I thank you for your service. I also wanna extend my deepest gratitude to the communities of Senate District 4.

For our rural agricultural regions, to our growing cities and towns, for families and small business owners, to educators, our first responders, veterans, and community volunteers, thank you for your engagement, your resilience, your unwavering commitment to making our communities better.

I want to thank the leaders and governments of our 16 tribal nations that worked with me throughout these past four years to ensure that sovereignty was at the forefront of the work that we were doing here in California for our tribal nations, for welcoming me into your communities, for teaching me your origin stories, and for ultimately helping me be the best person that I can to my grandbaby who is a member of one of our native tribes.

You all remind me why public service matters. You remind us that government works best when it remains connected to the people and you inspire us to continue striving for a future that reflects the very best that California has to offer. Now, as we end our session in two weeks, I'd like to ask us to recommit ourselves to the principles that define great leadership.

Perseverance in the face of adversity, integrity in every decision, and an unwavering commitment to freedom and opportunity. I ask you to remember the Lord's prayer as we work to heal our hearts from pain, as we forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

The challenges before us are significant, but so is our capacity to meet them. I wanna thank Pastor Frank Erb for his unwavering support. You see him throughout the hallways and he's always there to give a supportive, encouraging word. I wanna thank this chamber for keeping God and faith in our daily givings.

I wanna thank the Republican Caucus for helping me find my voice, for teaching me more than I could have ever learned in the past two years as part of this caucus, for your grace, for your partnership, and for your constant encouragement, and most of all, for your excellence in leadership.

And with that also goes the thanks of our Republican Caucus staff because we know that without you, we could not perform and serve at the high level of excellence that you require of us. So together, let us continue to serve with purpose, let us continue to lead with courage, let us continue to govern with integrity, and let us leave California stronger, freer, and more prosperous than we found it. Thank you for the opportunity to address this this Senate.

God bless Senate District 4, and God bless the great State of California. Thank you.

We wish you well, Senator.

We will next be paying tribute to Senator Umberg. Senator Allen will kick off the remarks.

Well, thank you, members. And I will say the reminder about the schedulers. I wanna thank my wonderful scheduler, Stephanie, for being there and getting me to everything on time, and what an incredible group of people our schedulers are. Yeah. I'm not always on time, but someone who is no stranger to schedulers, our great colleague, Senator Umberg, who of course has served in various capacities here in this legislature since 1990.

And of course, we all talk about the fact that Senator Umberg, as the Dean of the legislature, was the only sitting member of the legislature who served with the famous Senator Ralph Dils, whose name is mentioned right there on the dais in front of Senator Menjivar right now. Senator Dils, who started in the legislature in 1938 and who is famous on Wikipedia for having been part of a cadre that opposed Franklin Delano Roosevelt's reelection in 1940, supporting the California Lieutenant Governor Patterson.

Their big critique, of course, was that Roosevelt was spending too much time on Foreign Affairs and not enough on domestic unemployment. This was in 1940. Things would get much more into foreign affairs afterwards.

So Mister Dils, of course, has so much similarity with Senator Umberg. They both served in both houses. He was famous for they both graduated from UCLA. They were both very excellent lawyers, mastering the legislative process, negotiating difficult issues, working across interests, developing expertise over long careers. He was of course, the legislative patriarch because of his reputation and his institutional knowledge.

Umberg of course, has also developed a similar reputation for his deep command of legal and procedural issues and the deep respect that he enjoys and engenders in our body. Umberg, of course, Chairs our Senate Judiciary Committee. Dil's served as Chair of our government organization committee for nearly three decades.

They're both lawyers, but one of the great things is that Tom, a lot of his work, of course, is sought to interpret and apply the Ralph Dils Act, which is one of the most enduring legislative achievements of Mr. Dils.

Now, the biggest difference, it seems, between the two of them is that Mr. Dils never ever lost an election, I believe. And, whereas Tom Umberg has lost four elections. Four elections. He's won five, so there's a winning record here.

But, you know, it's pretty extraordinary, those of us who have gone through difficult elections that I'm going through one right now. I can't even imagine going through this over and over and over again and somehow wanting to come back for more. But Tom, in addition to being a gentleman and a true scholar, he is also a glutton for punishment who has such a deep love of public service and the work of policy making that he is willing to keep trying.

And several of the elections that he won, by the way, were won with by less than five points. I've gone back and looked at his electoral record, whether they were primaries or general elections, the number of times and of course, he's from Orange County, where it was always hard to run as a Democrat, but even some of his Democratic primaries, he won by a hair.

But we're just lucky that little, little extra group of voters saw the wisdom of putting Tom in office because we've all benefited so much from his incredible leadership. Tom of course, is famous for saying that the voters thought he should return to the practice of law several times throughout his career.

Now, many of you know that Tom is an expert in the art of sarcasm, which he admits has gotten into trouble on numerous occasions, like the time he panicked a whole bunch of constituents saying that he was about to write introduce a law making it illegal to move your grandchildren more than a 100 miles away from their grandparents. That set off shock waves in the parent community and great cheers in the grandparent community.

He not only, of course, he's the highest ranking sarcasm expert in our legislature, but he's also, as a retired US Army colonel, the highest ranking veteran in our legislature.

His service in our military has been very special. He served all over the world, including in the Far East, and you know, he also was a Jack and got to work in the inner workings of the military's legal system and has so many extraordinary stories, including some that we were just recounting this morning along the DMZ in Korea. He was also a former federal criminal prosecutor. He was Deputy Drug czar for President Bill Clinton.

And in spite though, of this extraordinary career that he's built, he's also somebody who is just absolutely lacks arrogance.

He's so full of humility. He's famous for his self deprecation, and he's got deep loyalty from those who know him and love him, both amongst his colleagues and certainly his staff. Very low turnover rate on his staff. I think his Chief of Staff, his Legislative Director, his Deputy District Director have all been in his office since he first started here in the Senate. He's so appreciative.

He takes the time to to show his appreciation to all of the staff and everybody who works so hard on making our place run. And of course, the Judiciary Committee is no stranger to extraordinary workloads.

Any of us who've served on that committee know how wild some of those hearings get and the amount of work that has to go into preparing for those hearings, and yet he always makes a point of personally thanking staffers who worked on the bill by name, even if sometimes there was a conflict associated.

So, speaking of bills, Senator Umberg has, I think, been able to to achieve over a 100 bills getting across the finish line with gubernatorial signatures. And of course, he's had signatures from so many different governors because of his long tenure here in the legislature.

And most of them, quite frankly, are complicated, difficult, non glamorous, but incredibly important bills that have helped to improve our legal system. Civil procedure bills that reduce the complexity of litigation, reform of the bar, which of course has been a big passion of his, improving the arbitration process, increasing attorney accountability. Of course, he created the Care Court with Governor Newsom and Senator Eggman is here as well, who was a part of that effort.

That was such an important policy win expanding access to care for our most vulnerable populations. He was also able to pass landmark reforms to previously untouchable areas of law, helping to broker very difficult negotiations, like the Lemon Law, MICRA, PAGA.

These are things that when I first was elected to this body, I thought would never, we'd never be able to come to an agreement on, and yet Tom helped to usher through those those very important negotiations. Also remote access to courts, which have now eased the civil process for working families, which is such an important, again, unglamorous but incredibly important access to justice question.

Alexandra's Law to protect our young population and address the fentanyl crisis, which I know that the Senator has been so passionate about helping to address. Dozens of good government elections bills, dozens more civil procedural bills that nobody seems to understand. Serving as Judiciary Chair for six years to fix all the messy Assembly Bills that were handed every year.

He's still the only practicing the only still practicing attorney in the legislature, and he's done a number of cases while in court, oftentimes sorry, while in the legislature, oftentimes getting very little grace from these judges who don't seem to care about the complexity of the legislative calendar and process. But it's also allowed him to be such a great Judiciary Chair because he's not basing his decisions on practice decades ago.

He's basing on real practice that he's experiencing right now in the courts, and it's helped to inform his leadership.

He's also of course, owner and partner of the prestigious Umberg Zipser Law Firm down in Orange County, but his passion for justice goes throughout his entire career, both the work that he did as a military lawyer, what actually first inspired him to run for office was was vote suppression work that was going on in 1988 in Orange County as folks were going around and trying to intimidate immigrants who were just trying to author, who were just trying to exercise their right to vote.

And he was so offended by what he was seeing on the streets of his own community as people were being as vote suppression was underway that it inspired him to run for the Assembly in 1990, and the rest is as we say, has been history.

So, though we know that in addition to this extraordinary legislative, set of accomplishments, he's a devoted, devoted family man. I know this because when my two kids were born, he sent personalized notes to each of them, you know, congratulating them on their birth and sending them voter registration forms that corresponded with their 18th birthdays. He cares so much about kids. And whenever I talk to him, he's always telling me, get back to your family.

He's always given great paternal advice, and it's been a wonderful additional bond that we have shared as I've tried to been raising a young family to hear his stories of public life and how he both struggled and succeeded in raising a beautiful family.

So, especially through all the pains and challenges, including you know, literally getting down to the wire financially to continue his political bug, while potentially putting his family at risk, but then somehow pulling out and seeing things through. So he's got an incredible family. His kids, Brett, who's got a wonderful wife, Annamica, Tommy's wife's Kelly, Erin, his husband, Alexandra, their grandkids, Charlie, Robin, Ellie, Cooper, Carson, Collins, Mila, and Nico. I've got a chance to meet some of them over the years.

Of course, the rockin' love of his life, the most supportive wife on the planet, General Robin Umberg, who outranks him in every way, who we also just voted to support for a Commission not too long ago.

But she definitely always helps to ground him and keep him humble, and I think it helps to shape the man that we also know and love. So what what was it when I when I my staff came in and said, just give me a few words. What do you think about when you think about Tom Umberg? And I mentioned humor, integrity, thoughtful deliberation, deep commitment to service, a focus on making good policy, careful decision making, humility, self deprecation.

Never mean spirited in the in the spite in the face of enormous pressure. He's so fair and even keeled. He never holds a personal grudge. It's all about the policy, and he's been a real steady hand on my shoulder, sometimes literally, to keep me grounded in difficult situations. And I just wanna say, Tom, it has been such an honor to serve with you. You've been such an enormous public servant for our state.

We know we hope that you will continue in public service and that the voters will not do as they sometimes do and turf you out unceremoniously, because you have just you bring such, you bring such care and thoughtfulness and heart to this sacred work. And we just appreciate you so deeply, Senator Umberg. Thank you.

Our next speaker is majority leader.

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. In order to receive a bronze star, one must distinguish themselves through heroic action in military combat. And in most instances, just like with our colleague, the specific details of exactly what transpired cannot be shared Senator Umberg is the most decorated veteran in the California State Legislature having served three overseas tours of duty.

Earning his bronze star during the tour that took him into Afghanistan. He retired at the rank of Colonel after 33 years in service. Thomas John Umberg, one of five siblings born to a mom who stayed home and a dad who was a teamster. Raised in small town Illinois. From a very young age, Senator Umberg knew he wanted out. Out of Illinois, out of the small town. He wanted to find a way to California.

The United States Military afforded him that opportunity. He acquired a scholarship where he could choose any school. He chose UCLA, therefore fulfilling his dream of making it here to the Golden State. His academic journey led him up the coast to the former Hastings Law School, now UCSF, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. That education would take him to some of the most exclusive places in the world Tribunals, Guantanamo, and even the White House.

He served as Federal Prosecutor and as a National Drug Czar all before becoming a partner in a firm and a California State Legislator. As a prosecutor, one of his more deft maneuvers was ensuring justice for an African American family victimized by skinhead Nazis who burned a cross in their front yard.

At the time, there were no hate crimes on the books, but a determined young prosecutor charged the defendants with an additional enhancement conspiracy elevating the charges to a felony of which he ascertained a swift conviction.

In fact, it was that same internal disgust towards racism that led him to run for office. After witnessing election site interference targeting Latinos, turning them away from the polls. As a prosecutor, he wanted justice but he learned again, no law applied. So he ran for office to do something about it. Being a State Senator is his favorite job besides of course husband, dad and grandpa. He has successes at every level. Astounding successes.

As President Clinton's Deputy Drug Czar, he helped lead one of the largest takedowns of a drug ring ever in this country. A conviction that ended 30 tons of heroin and cocaine coming to our country monthly. It was a $60,000,000,000 operation, $60,000,000,000 in 1999. Tom Umberg famously told the LA Times, kids will be better off. There are many legacies that Tom Umberg leaves from his time in this chamber.

Two of the most notable are the establishment of care courts and intended to use our legal system to provide true rehabilitation and his landmark legislation, Project Homekey, giving local entities the ability to truly serve folks experiencing homelessness. And as remarkable as those efforts are, they pale in comparison to the time, energy and effort that Tom Umberg spent chairing the prestigious Senate Judiciary Committee.

He made it his mission to help every author wed the strength of law to the desired outcome of justice using the vehicle of legislation. He once told a colleague that he worked harder on the Judiciary Committee than the Appropriations Chair worked. He of course said this to the Appropriations Chair, his roommate Anthony Portentino.

I spoke with a number of people who care deeply about you Senator. One of them was former Pro Tem Tony Atkins. She describes you as a gentleman, smart, loyal and the truest of public servants. She also shared this story calling you several days after your election to tell you that in spite of being down 14 points on election day, your numbers were improving and would you please stop conceding to various opponents? And then there's United States Senator Adam Schiff.

He generously shared several stories about you. The through line on all of them is that he cherishes his friendship with you. He said that you were his only endorsement in his first race. He lost, by the way. Came in eleventh out of 14, so I'm not so sure about that endorsement, but it did forge a lifelong bond.

United States Senator Schiff said that whenever anyone asks him what's the best advice he's ever received in life, he says he got it from Senator Tom Umberg and it is this, never walk past an old friend to greet a new friend. I would like to end my comments with my own story about Tom Umbergh. While he is much younger and in fairness did not serve in the legislature in 1938.

He is much younger but in so many ways, Tom reminds me of my own dad which is the highest praise I could afford any human. At one point in my life, I was a young single mom.

And in that era, I relied deeply on my father to help me learn to be a parent. Tom provided that same love and support to his daughter and as such has a special piece of his heart carved out for that oldest granddaughter, Ellie. I have known that love in my life. I have seen a decorated war hero come home to become the most gentle of men to his daughter.

The same man who just like my dad did carries a tattered old piece of paper in his wallet with the names of friends that he lost overseas. Some of you may have never noticed this, but he pulls that tattered piece of paper out every time we honor veterans on this floor and holds it quietly in his hand just as my dad did.

Senator Umberg quietly remembers everyone that touched his life. I did not need the military to tell me that Tom Umberg is a man of extraordinary valor. We all already know this because he shows up every day not just for Robin and the kids and Ellie and the other grandkids but for us. He shows up for us too. And for all of our constituents and for the Great Golden State.

Heroes never tell their own stories. And Senator, you are no exception to that rule. I am honored to help make sure the history books accurately reflect the incredible life of service that you have given not only to this chamber and to this state but to this country.

Colonel, Sir, the floor is yours.

So thank you. By the way, if I had half a brain, I'd just sit down right now and say thank you. Senator Ashby, that was very, very kind of you. Senator Allen, I wrote on my notes rebuttal after I heard you get up to speak. I changed it a little later on.

So I should be good at this. I should be very good. This is the third time I've given this speech. I should have just been able to pull up the first one on my computer, except we didn't have computers when I did the first one. That was 1994.

This is humbling. This is very, very humbling. Very humbling. I don't wanna leave. I don't wanna give this speech because I don't wanna leave.

When I was told we had to go to transition, we had to go to a transition session that was mandatory. I said, I'm not going. And I was told, well, we're gonna move it so you can go. I thought first thing I said was, can I stay if I don't go the mandatory transition? The answer was no.

You will find me on November 30 probably chained underneath this desk right here. This is just an amazing experience. And what do you think about? All of you are gonna be doing this speech someday. Every single one of you is gonna be doing this speech someday.

What do you think about? What do you think about when you think about your time in the legislature? Thank you for mentioning legislation. I'm proud of some legislation. Thank you so much.

You didn't mention the most important stuff, which was reforming responses to interrogatories and more efficient requests for production of documents, which of course, seminal. He's the legislation. I had bumper sticker when I first ran. Vote Umberg, he will deal with interrogatories. That was, that was my theme, which I'm proud to say accomplished.

So what do you think about? What do you think you you think about legislation, but I'll tell you what I think about. I think about the accomplishments here and the lives that are changed. I'll tell you the thing I think about. I think about being at a sort of a, county fair and leaving and having a woman yelling at me, yelling at me, Senator Umberg, Senator Umberg.

I thought, oh, no. Here comes an anti vaxxer. And which was common. And she had two little girls with her. And I stopped, I thought embraced myself, and she said, I wanna thank you because this was the end of COVID because we could not get basically unemployment insurance.

Our claim could not get paid, and your staff made it happen. And your staff helped get my little girls enrolled and covered California. You changed my life. That's what I think about. You saw the young senators that were here, that were up in the gallery very, very, very short period of time ago.

And what you may not know is that I my district, if you look at them, you they're virtually all either Asian or Latino. All. I represent the most Latino district, represented by a blonde haired, or at least platinum blonde haired guy, in the Senate. And I think about those young Senators, and I think about the pride, the look of pride when we had their graduation on their face, in the sense of self confidence that we helped.

And I think even more about their parents and the look of pride on the parents' face.

Many of them didn't speak English, but they were so proud. And the fact that that my staff and I could help them feel proud, that's what I think about in terms of how we change lives here. Now, I also think about the ghosts. The ghosts. When I look around this chamber, I think about the ghosts of the folks that were here at one point in time.

I do think about Senator Dils, who was up there. He presided. Yes, he was elected in 1938. He of the purple hair, you didn't know him, but Senator Dils was here even after I was here. He served from 1938 to 1998.

Go up there and look at that little plaque. But it must be intimidating for you all to know that you served with a guy who was elected 1938. That makes you all old. Makes you all old. I think about the person who sat where Senator Padilla now sits, Roseanne Butch, the first woman elected to the California State Senate, was right here.

And the fact that I'm still here and that we have a Pro Tem, who's a woman, that we have a majority leader, That we have a caucus leader. That we're at parity. How far we have come in the span of one legislator's career. History is short. It's very short.

I think about the fact when I was first elected, there was a very controversial bill. By today's standards, it would be a nothing bill. It was simply a bill to outlaw discrimination in employment and in housing for gays. That was it. That was the bill.

Now again, by today's standards, a big nothing. Well, it I was the 41st vote, one of my proud moments. But but look at what's happened since then. There's not an open not someone who was a part of the LGBT community who was open. Today, it's the second largest caucus here, I think, in the California State Legislature.

How far we've come and I think about other people, of course, you. But I think about Omar. Do you guys know who Omar is? Omar's the guy who parks our one of the guys who parks our cars. He's got a great attitude.

I love seeing Omar every day because he's always cheerful. He's always happy. I love seeing Miguel. Miguel's the guy that provides our food. Miguel is proud of his job, and it makes me think I need to be worthy of what Miguel is doing for me, how proud he is of his job and what he does to support us, I think of Miguel.

I think of my District Office, my Capital Office. I've just got the most fantastic staff. I know you all got good staffs. I got the best staff. My District Office, led by Anna Gonzales, they put together that young senators program.

I'm the beneficiary. They do so many wonderful things. Our capital office, as pointed out by Senator Allen, they've been around basically since I've been here. Chief of staff, Ari Gaffari, has been here since even before the beginning. Judiciary, led by Margie.

She, you must be obeyed. So Margie and Estrada and that staff is they are some of the best lawyers I've ever encountered, and I've been very fortunate in my legal career. Some of the best folks. The, think about our families, our immediate and extended family. I've been around so long by the way, thanks for calling me old several times, Senator Allen.

But I've been around so long that in my first campaign, my grandmother came from Ohio to help and was here when I was sworn in. My grandmother. Now, I think about my extended family, and they keep us, they keep us grounded. I think Senator Jones mentioned Tuesdays. Nothing ever happens at home when we're there.

But on Tuesdays, the dog gets out, the pipes break, the roof leaks. All those things happen on Tuesdays. And of course, we're not there. It's our family that bears the brunt of that without glory, without often recognition. And they keep us grounded.

Our family keeps us grounded. And I'm reminded of when I was a newly elected member of the Assembly way back in the day, and my then four year one of my kids' four year old was talking to his friends. We lived in a neighborhood that was populated by people who made things. Carpenters and truck drivers and people who did things and made things. And a little kid asked my son, what's your daddy's job?

That was before email and stuff like that. And he said, my daddy doesn't have a job. He said, he just talks on the phone. That's and so the when I was sworn in 2018, as you mentioned, my granddaughter, Ellie, was here. By the way, if great proliferation.

If you come to the Umberg staff or you come to the Umberg family during the time of the Senate, our staff among our staff, we've had five babies and four marriages. So that's the value proposition, if you come work for me. And in the Umberg family, we've had seven babies in the last six years. Seven babies in the last six years. But when I got here in 2018, we just did one, my granddaughter, Ellie.

And she is an observer of women in leadership positions, raised for many years by a single mom. And she looks around and she uses women as role models. And she was here for swearing in day, and she saw then Pro Tem Tony Atkins sort of running the joint. And, she asked me, she said, oh, but she goes, is is that your boss? And I said, no, my boss is I've got a million people that are my boss.

Blah blah blah blah. She goes, like, you know when someone looks at you like you're an idiot? She looked at me like, you don't have a million people that are your boss. She goes, well, what does she do? And I said, well, she's the person that tells us, you know, what committees we're on, who we work with, where we sit, what our offices are, you know, who our staffs are.

That's that person. She goes, oh, but she's your boss. You don't know what a you obviously are too dumb to know what a boss is, because that's what bosses do. She's your boss or they keep you grounded when a couple years ago, political put out a story that called me the gatekeeper for artificial intelligence.

Me, the gatekeeper for artificial intelligence. My wife circulated that. She circulated to the kids, and my kids are in tech, three of them, and their spouses, some are in tech too. Got immediate responses. First response was, I'm terribly scared for California.

The second response was, dad, you don't even text. And the third was, we're totally effed. So that's the confidence. And that's how they keep, that's how they keep us grounded. The my wife, my wife, the long suffering in some sense because of what we do.

Wife, yes. She is the wind beneath my wings. And she's not here because she's in Texas being honored for her service right now. And that's where I should be. But I can't.

I should be there with her recognizing her achievements. Now, she is was noted many times as a a General Officer, outrank me. And that is a consequence of the implicit bias in the military. Senator Eggman, Senator Groves, Senator Menjivar. You're we're all aware of this implicit bias in the military.

It exists. It's not the DEI bias that we talk about now. It is the implicit bias in favor of people that are smarter and better leaders. And that's the only reason she outright me. It's just because she was smarter and a better leader.

So the challenge for a family having us here cannot be, cannot really be evaluated by us. It is only through their eyes that we can really understand service, because their service is often unheralded. So since we're quoting the Bible, I'm gonna quote one of my favorite verses from the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1. And I see Senator Grove shaking her head. For everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.

And so my season is here is coming to an end, and my purpose under heaven is going to be different. It's time for me to go back home to the woman I love, to the family I cherish. Thank you all for this honor. Thank you.

Senator Amber, you left me speechless. I couldn't even say thank you, but you will be greatly missed. Before we move on to the next honoree, I wanna give a special shout out. Senator Allen has some special guests in the back of the chamber. His niece, LA native, is visiting from New York, Paloma Nicolas, along with her boyfriend, Phil Rubianez, and his parents, Jose and Christina Rubianez.

Thank you for joining us.

Our next tribute is for Senator Wahab.

And our first speaker is gonna be our pro tem. Thank you.

I recall my first interaction with Senator Wahab. It was a text exchange shortly after she had made it through a really competitive and high stakes primary in the spring of 2022, perhaps similar to today. I had reached out to her as caucus chair and congratulated her for making it out of the primary and asked to grab some coffee the next time she was in Sacramento. To which she replied, LOL.

Neither giving me a yes or a no reply. And I thought to myself, who is this person and what am I supposed to do with this text exchange? Little did I know that that text exchange pretty much was telling me all I was about to learn about Senator Wahab. She didn't she didn't come here or she didn't care to lollygag, her word, with folks. She was coming to Sacramento to get work done.

And that is exactly what she has done over the last four years. In just four years, Senator Wahab has left her mark here in California, in our communities, and certainly in this chamber. She has worked tremendously hard for the people of California. And as she she has often said on this floor, she does this on behalf of the regular people. The people and the working families who don't at times feel seen or heard through their work.

We all learned that she was here to get things done. She took on issues that were hard, unprecedented, unpopular, but that mattered. Early on, we watched how passionately as tirelessly she worked to protect folks from discrimination. Taking an issue on by herself that would receive global attention. And with that attention also came the cheers of supporters and the wrath of opponents.

But she did not back down in any step. She moved forward. She did this time and time again for housing, foster youth, individuals with disabilities, adoptees, public safety, and so many more issues. She has never been one who fears trying. And she doesn't back down from things because they are hard.

She leans in and well, she also paces this floor many times per hour until she talks to members making her case for the issues that she cares about. I remember this one time and I'm sure she does as well because it was a time she has not let me live down over the last four years. When I happened to not agree with her on a policy she deeply cared about. She didn't take my first or second or third no for an answer.

She just kept coming back to me time and time again because she cared.

Because it mattered to her. And because she was not going to give up because one person said no. A lot of people have said no to her throughout her life, but that has never stopped her. She has broken her own barriers. Senator Wahab is only the one hundred and ninety second woman to ever be elected to serve in the California state legislature in the history of this state.

She is the first Afghan American elected, the first Muslim elected to the California State Senate, and she is part of the 1.8% of adult women in this country who have earned a doctorate degree. May I add, she did that while serving in the Senate. She has made history for herself and for other women because she did not take no for an answer. A history that matters, a history that is driven by hard work, defying the odds and caring deeply. Caring deeply.

If you are lucky, and I mean really lucky, Senator Wahab lets you see just how thoughtful and caring she is. Whether she invites you to her office for the for what I call the fancy tea with rare saffron, or whether she cooks her homemade Afghan food, never to be confused with Mexican albondigas. Or maybe she just brings you Afghan ice cream on a hot day.

Under what some might characterize as a strong Senate profile, there is a compassionate and caring Senator who never gives up and always works for her constituents. We know that she works this way on behalf of her constituents for one reason only, and that is because she deeply cares about the work she does for the people of this state, the regular people, the working class, the everyday folks who rely on her voice and her conviction to get things done.

She does not run bills for the fun of it. She runs bills because of the impact they have for Californians. Nothing has ever been easy for Senator Wahab. Life has not handed her things on silver platters, and she has personally overcome so much to be where she is at today. Yet, she is here.

She delivers for her constituents every day. She speaks up for the voiceless. She demands answers, and she doesn't back down from a cause because it matters. That is who Senator Wahab is. Senator Wahab, thank you for being an effective safeguard of the public trust.

Thank you for working every day for the people of this state. Thank you for not backing down when it was hard. Thank you for leading this state as Chair of housing, public safety, and business and profession policy committees. Thank you for wanting a California that delivers for all, especially working families. Thank you for all the work that you have done for the Senate and for California.

You have left your imprint on this legislature and you will be missed, but I look forward to more LOL text messages in the future.

Our second speaker is our Pro Tem Emeritus.

Thank you so much, madam president. Colleagues, today I'm honored to join with madam Pro Tem to honor the incredible service of our colleague, Senator Ayesha Wahab. You know, unlike anyone that I have ever met before, Senator Wahab fights for those who need a voice. She goes to the mat for those who have been historically overlooked. She's a champion of the most vulnerable.

And for the underserved in this state, she's the unapologetic unapologetic voice for foster youth, low income workers, renters, homeless residents. When I think of Senator Ayesha Wahab, I think of someone who's incredibly smart, tenacious, and I will not swear on the floor on other items that I know that she says. Senator Wahab is in this job to help. She doesn't take no for an answer.

Her guiding light, and I know that we've all heard it, all she wants to do in this place is to do good for working people.

Her dedicated passion, her relentless focus, her tireless work ethic, and yes, her unique ability to piss off every Senator in bipartisan fashion, but then turn right around and do something that makes us all wanna give her a big hug and candidly to join your fight. That is an incredible talent. Time and time again, you have led with heart, and it's infectious. Constantly going to the mat for the people who need it most. People who need a safe, affordable roof over their heads.

Foster kids who need not just a safety net, but access to education and good jobs. Californians face facing discrimination and intimidation at the hands of their own government. Senator Wahab goes to the mat for them. From your time on the Hayward City Council as the first Afghan American woman ever elected to public office in The United States Of America, the first. To your service here in the Senate, you've been a leader for opportunity and equality and a better California for all.

And look, it has not been easy. Thinner Wahab as she says, and I quote, I'm a minority of minorities. In these hyper partisan times, being a strong Afghan woman who doesn't shy away from swinging for the fences to do good for the most vulnerable in her legislation and righteous policy fights, she has now been a target of haters and threats of political violence. And yet, she pushes forward. She pushes forward with moral clarity.

She's a leader on a mission to do good, to uplift those who need help the most, and nothing is gonna stop her as we've seen her worker bills. Senator Wahab has had an incredibly challenging childhood, but what I'll tell you, she has taken that challenge and turned it into good. And that's what gives her her drive, her passion, her mission to change lives. She wants us all to do better.

She wants us also all to fight harder, to never give up and never give in for those who need hope, for those who need help the most, the most vulnerable in our communities.

No matter the opposition, Senator Wahab never backs down holy crap. And we are better off because of it. Senator Wahab, you have put so much fight and work to the highest offices of public service and you have delivered. The California State Senate is gonna be lesser because of you leaving, and we are gonna have big shoes to fill.

What I will also tell you, I'm a better person for having you push me time and time again to do better and do more for those who need help the the most.

I'm thankful because of your push and because you also introduced me to caramel macchiatos. But ladies and gentlemen, it is now my honor to be able to say thank you to Senator Ayesha Wahab.

Senator Wahab, the floor is yours.

Thank you, guys. Genuinely appreciate both pro tems speaking on on, you know, the work that we've done together. And I I just really wanna start by largely thanking my team. And I'm very proud of the team that I've had. You know, some of them have gone on to work for the governor's office.

Some of them have gone to start, you know, a master's program and really advocate for the work that they're doing. But I I really wanna thank my team, Nicole, Ricardo, Yvonne, Natalie, Elizabeth, Alex, Joe, and Nergis for all of their hard work and their patience. And I will say patience because, you know, I I usually wanna do a lot more and a lot bigger things. And, you know, this system is not designed to do massive change overnight, and we chip away.

So I really, appreciate the work that they have all done to kind of steer me in the right direction and say, yes, senator.

That sounds great, but, you know, we're gonna have to deal with this, this, and this. And so, what is the third rail and so forth? So I really do appreciate that. I also tell my staff all the time that this building and this institution and this two block radius is designed where they tell you it's impossible. You can't do that.

These are the things you should worry about. Stakeholders are gonna come after you. Big money is not interested in this. The industry will fight this. And I have told them all that hearing that from anybody, whether it's from the highest office here in this state or all the way down to our constituents, we don't wanna take no for an answer just because they don't have the vision to believe that it can be done.

And I share that because that's largely what, you know, I try to do as much as possible.

I also wanna thank the staff that actually, you know, makes the state senate work, from our Dem Caucus staff that probably gets a lot of text messages from from me to push out emails to our constituents to tell them what's going on, to the sergeants that, you know, from Katrina and every single person that has been assigned to me that has dealt with, you know, the random death threats that we get and answering some of their questions, you know, being there at different events for us, especially when you carry a civil rights bill that largely was unseen in this nation, let alone in this state.

As well as DGS staff, rural staff, even the cleaning crew who usually I see when I'm leaving my office late in the night. And I I really wanna thank, you know, everyone that really does the work there. I also just wanna thank all of you guys.

You know, for four years, you know, I walked into this building very much feeling like, wow, the ceilings are really high. Who are the paintings of all these, you know, old school men, if you will, and really just learning what is possible in this building. You know, the reality is this, is that when we talk about what, you know, serving in the Senate really is, it's pretty much all of us.

And, you know, I shared, you know, a couple of different staff members, and then I wanna thank, again, Katrina and Cara, who leads our legal counsel and, you know, she answers a lot of my questions, as well as the secretary of the senate, Erica, who I did actually a class project on her for executive leadership. So I appreciate you answering all my questions there and helping me pass that class.

But, you know, this district took me in as a kid from the foster care system, taught me the values of perseverance and service and dedication. And when I came to Sacramento with the commitment of being a voice for vulnerable communities, genuinely didn't know what we were allowed to do and not allowed to do, what is possible, what is not possible.

You know, even folks like Bernie who's, you know, not with us, here, but, you know, even she texted me today, as well as Shani and and the entire team there. Every single person had an input in the policies we're we're working on and obviously helped guide us through the right direction. You know, carrying the hopes and dreams of regular people and the desire for a world where everyone lives with dignity was the goal.

To be the first Afghan American slash Muslim woman to serve in the California legislature has a big meaning, that I do carry with pride. And I will also say that, you know, with my colleagues, I I always say that each of our colleagues are like family members. Right? They all have big personalities. They all have, you know, pros and cons.

And, I have debated with you guys on a wide variety of issues. Housing has been always a fun topic to discuss. I will say I absolutely love going toe to toe with our senator from San Francisco. Right? And he has challenged me because, you know, who else carries big bills that I disagree with.

Right? And oftentimes, we also agree on so many things to help our different districts and vulnerable populations, let alone the wittiness of so many of the members here. You know, being able to make a dark joke and for somebody to follow back with an even darker joke is the brightest day of my, you know, brightest time of my day.

And as I say, you know, some of the OGs here that have literally yelled at me because I got under their skin and I love it because you could, you know, never see them. They're so stoic and so respectable and and so, just noble in the work that they've done.

And our Republican colleagues. Right? I think that oftentimes I I do find myself on the Republican side of the floor primarily because I've said so many times you guys can take a joke. Right? You guys like to give it.

You guys always ask me to join the party there, and we always say thank you, but no thank you. And, the work of the the protems. And I I say this because I I don't think people really understand the work that you guys do, even the members.

And how many hours do you guys literally slave away behind the scenes to make sure that all of our bills see the light of day, but then also, you know, serve the California public as a whole, taking the hits for us, understanding what's coming down the pike, budgetary issues, you name it. As well as as I say, you know, you guys are babysitters in a lot of ways because you have 40 members you guys have to take care of.

And, you know, pro tem McGuire, I I will say I'm deeply honored to be serving as your assistant majority leader. You know, having the ability to carry the affordability package that we we did together, and we didn't need an election to tell us that people were hurting. Right? And being able you know, you have such a positive outlook on life in the sense and I always joke with you that that's not me. But the fact that you always say it'll work itself out.

It will work itself out. That's your go to line when I'm frustrated with something. And I I trust that you will work it out and work with me on, you know, moving something forward. And Pro Tem Limon, you know, your kindness and, you know, delicate touch on everything. And you deeply do care about kids and the environment, and I can tease you about what's really the priority for working families versus, you know, some of the work that's done in this building.

And I'm I'm very proud of the work that we've done because as colleagues, you guys have all challenged me. You guys challenged me because you may not agree with what I'm trying to do. You gay you guys may see a different perspective, and it just created more meaningful policy. It created better policy, including my Republican colleagues who every now and then tossed out a vote in support to make bipartisan bills happen. To me, public service is about the people, not about industry.

And I think sometimes that's lost here. And, you know, I'm proud to know that we capped HOA fees, insulin costs, increased the renter's tax credit, put down payment assistance for people trying to buy their first home. We strengthened wage theft laws and prevented captive audience meetings from happening, let alone protected women, children, and seniors from predators across the board. And how can we forget the civil rights bill to end cast discrimination that we took all the way to the governor's office?

And all of you guys took a hit on that.

Right? Knowing that it is the right thing to do, that we must end discrimination of all kinds in this state and let alone in this country, let alone the effort that I will say that we did in our first year of trying to provide some lobbying reforms that became a very hot topic in this building and, you know, got affected for years to come after that. And there's a lot that we did together and even more that needs to still be done.

And the reality is that as a kid in the foster care system and, you know, Senator McGuire was right on this, you know, I I am a minority amongst minorities. I see the the world in a different way.

It's not the same, right, as many of you guys sitting here. It's not from a brighter picture, if you will. But I think that also it allows you to know that things can happen, things can change, things can move forward and be better. And all of you guys have actually heard us have the conversation about different perspectives in life, and we all carry our own, you know, vision of what we wanna do and why we came into the service.

And the honest truth is that when you are a kid in the foster care system, I've said it on this floor a million times, less than three percent obtain a college degree.

That's a government backed system. Right? And that's a failure, 3%. We talk about how kids need more, kids deserve more. And the reality is that when we are talking about some of the work that we're trying to do, you know, we fought and we disagreed, and sometimes very publicly, and I know this will shock absolutely no one in this room, but I didn't always agree with you all.

Most of the time, you guys would know immediately that I don't agree with you all. Right? And even in those fights, I felt respected. I knew that we could disagree about a bill or a vote and still see the humanity in each other. You know, we actually even carried a a human rights resolution here on the Senate floor that is trapped in the Assembly, right, where we all came along and said, this is our shared values, Republican and Democrat, regardless of who we are talking about.

This is what we believe in together. And I think that the community that we've built here is based on respect and dignity, and I'll always be grateful to each of you for that. And being able to be the foster care kid with a seat at the table, being able to influence policy, that is something I can never say how proud I am and how honored and how grateful I am for.

Most importantly, when we talk about fighting for this, you know, we have a real belief that I I will carry for the rest of my life is that serving the California people is an honor of a lifetime. You know, every single one of us can do any other job, and many of us came from different jobs, but this is the honor of a lifetime.

The work that we do, we can create policy that literally harms people or makes people's lives better. And I think all of us strive to make people's lives better. And so whatever happens next, I will always treasure my time in the senate. I, you know, leave here a better person because of each of you and because of what you guys have taught me, your wisdom, and yes, some of our disagreements.

And I thank you all for, you know, largely just giving us a shot, having a conversation, seeing me, seeing the issues that I wanna bring forward.

And again, just trying to work together and understanding that we may not have the same lived experience, but we do defer to each other's lived experience. And we defer to people's need to get something done. And so with that, I will share just genuinely. I wanna thank every single one of you guys. I wanna thank everybody that's in the building that works behind the scenes.

And I wanna thank the people that challenge us to do more because there's so much work to still be done. So again, thank you.

Thank you so much, Senator Wahab. As we enter into our last tribute, wanna welcome some special guests that are no stranger to the Senate floor. We welcome back Erica Maguire, the other better half. Spouses are our better half always to our pro tem emeritus, and the America of a child, Connor Maguire. And I believe we have Chris Nielsen.

Maybe he'll be coming, who will also be joining in this tribute.

Senator Gonzales will be our first speaker.

Okay. Thank you, Madam President.

Well, I told Mike I was gonna roast him, but I thought I'd be a little nice today. Mike, how did the time roll by so fast? And seriously, how did a kid from the North Coast raised by a hardworking single mom with the mouth of a sailor end up leading the California State Senate? Your relentless drive to succeed made it happen. And Mike, you've definitely made it happen.

I've had the great honor of working alongside you through just every iteration of your Senate leadership. And there are a few things that never change. The headphones are always in your ears. The files are always in your hands. And we have absolutely no idea who the heck you're talking to all day or why you need to carry 50 files everywhere you go.

But hot damn Mike McGuire is ready for everything. And when I first arrived in the Senate in 2019, you were the overachieving Assistant Majority Leader who showed up to everything whether you were invited or not. And somehow you led this unlikely group of senators, myself included, and helped us build consensus on some of the toughest housing policy in California. And I remember bringing Wiener in and you yelled at me because you're like, Wiener is not invited to this housing policy debate.

But then as majority leader, you helped lead our caucus through something none of us could have imagined, a global pandemic, more wildfires, a robust climate package, and so much more.

And then Mike, I had the honor of serving as Majority Leader alongside your term as pro tem. And I got to see everything up close.

The 11PM catch up calls, the laps around the Senate floor, the calls on the road to Erica and Connor, the jokes and pit stops to Starbucks or a diner with really greasy food, the safer California plan, energy price transparency and accountability, affordability, a 10 billion dollar climate bond in proposition 4 with 2 AM calls, a Fight for Firefighters Act, and of course, fisheries and aquaculture, always important to you. And somehow while doing all of that, you've still managed to show up in nearly every one of our districts.

I remember for me personally, you came to Southeast Los Angeles, one of the most impoverished districts and areas in not just Los Angeles, but the State of California.

You met with grassroots organizers. You went to Vernon, the egg side plant. You went to Cutter Hay and Maywood, which has some of the least park acreage in all of the county of Los Angeles. I was really grateful. And specifically, I'll never forget the fires in Altadena and the Palisades.

You didn't just call, you showed up. You called me and said let's go. And on Friday, that same week of the fires, we were off. We were sitting in the fire truck listening to calls come in, and it was really tough. You sat with people, you led round tables, you shared what your own community had endured through devastating fires, And most importantly, you consoled our colleagues who are watching their communities suffer.

Senators Allen and Senator Perez. I saw that firsthand. And I think what says more about you than any other title could hold is your determination to show up. You show up. You show up for the North Coast.

You show up for the Golden State. You show up for your family and your colleagues on both sides of the aisle. And you show up when people need you the most. And Mike, underneath the headphones, the files, the endless phone calls, the boundless energy, the Starbucks, and all the swearing, you are one of the most kind yet tenacious legislators. And I am proud to have served alongside you.

I am proud to know Erica and Connor, even though I sent Connor a little book that had a swear word in it. I'm so sorry about that. I am even prouder to call you my friend. And while I have absolutely no idea what you're going to do with yourself without those 50 files in your hand, I know one thing. DC will be very fortunate to have you.

A North Coast kid who is raised by a single mom, swears like a sailor, who knows and shows up for his community like no other, and shows up for your family and your colleagues no matter what. Mike, go get them in DC. We know you'll make it there. We're always here beside you. Thank you.

Senator Caballero.

Mike, this is fun because your face shows how embarrassed you are and how hard this is for you. So let me just say, how, honored I am. It's really with great respect and "cariño", which means affection or love. And trepidation that I rise to recognize, celebrate, and honor our great leader, colleague, and friend, the pro temp Emeritus Mike Maguire, or PTE. Right?

We get it. We do letters here. Trepidation, because how can you say all you wanna say and what really matters in two minutes? You notice nobody's taking two minutes, so I'm not gonna worry about it. Let me start with his political accomplishments.

He started his political activism at the ripe old age of 19 when he was elected to the Healdsburg School Board and was thereafter elected to this Healdsburg City Council and then became the youngest mayor in the city of Healdsburg. And people forget that because, there's all these new milestones here in the legislature, but 19 is pretty young.

The residents were so impressed with his energy, his knowledge, and can do attitude that in a few short years, they elected him to serve on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. He spent 6 years in local government where he learned the critically important role of local government, how to listen carefully to constituents' wishes, dreams, and complaints, and how to negotiate compromises to make government work for everyone. Local government is the place where you see people's face every day. You go to the grocery store, you go to the gas station, you run into people.

And it's where the residents had the opportunity to see him in person, and to do those arm twistings that happened at local government. So these were the skills that he used to protect the beautiful North Coast and the regions of the State that felt forgotten. Resources in rural communities are scarce, and people in rural communities help each other. They may do with what they have, and they expect their leaders to be practical, down to earth.

And when they say something, they wanna know you're gonna do it. They keep their promise. And these are the traits and the character McGuire brought to the 2nd Senate District when he was elected in 2014 to represent all of the residents in this sprawling district that goes from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. A heck of a lot of land, and if he cussed a little bit, maybe that's why. Right?

He won the election with 70% of the vote after convincing voters that a fourth generation North Coast resident with family ties to agriculture and a commitment to local control, that he understood their priorities and needs. In the Senate, Mike hit the ground running, literally. He won the respect of his colleagues and every interest group that come to the capitol as well as the residents that he served.

To become, as we all know, the most magical, charismatic, interesting, and active Senate Majority Leader earning the energizer bunny moniker. We all knew him as the energizer bunny.

Oh, some of you are too little or too young because you don't know the energizer bunny commercial. He never sat down. He was in constant motion making sure that the House ran smoothly and that the business of the day was handled. When his peers, all of us, unanimously elected him to be our leader as the President of the California Senate, it was no surprise. Every disagreement, conflict, or challenge in the House was given to Mikey to solve.

Disagreements like developing housing for all income levels, McGuire was put in charge. And you have to understand that every housing bill that was coming through the Senate died for a period of years. We couldn't get one out of the house. And so the pro tem at the time appointed Senator McGuire to lead a group of us, a working group, to resolve the issues and to come out with a package of bills that we could all support.

And there were five or six of us that hated all the housing bills and voted no every every time, and and five or six of us that loved all the bills and voted no all the time.

And we all lined up with the side that we agreed with. And Mike took us through an exercise that lasted forever, it seemed like. But the process was time consuming, it was frustrating, it was painful, and amazing all at the same time. Because Mike took us through every single disagreement that we had. Policy, why don't you like this language?

And what is it gonna take to to get us to support it? And, miraculously, we got through it, and we all were co-authors on all of the bills that we worked on. And that ended, the conflicts around whether we were gonna make major investments and changes to housing construction. And it was, as I said, an amazing experience to see and I was glad to be part of that learning experience.

And you led it with some incredible talent, and, that always stayed with me.

McGuire has the ability to be laser-focused, making him a great and attentive listener who really likes people even when he disagrees with them. His powerful voice and immense energy allowed him to work on so many of the issues that you've heard, wildfire prevention, emergency response, utility oversight, rural health care, environmental stewardship and coastal protection, cannabis regulatory oversight. I mean, whoever takes cannabis regulatory oversight, and money to support small rural community infrastructure.

And while all of this history is impressive, I'd like to talk about the PTE McGuire that I got to know, to spend time with, and to see in action, whether it was on the floor, in committees, fundraisers, where he conducted a live auction, something you have to see to appreciate. He missed his calling.

He is an excellent auctioneer. Precinct walking in Arizona, Maricopa County, for example. Leading a contentious working group, all of us were grumpy in that housing group, or interacting with his family and long-time friends. And I wanna, thank you for visiting Downtown Fresno and walking the street because to this day, I get compliments about your coming to Fresno and talking about high-speed rail and downtown redevelopment and the importance of us lifting rural regions that don't get a lot of attention.

And your being there really made a huge impact on the people very similar to my good good friend from Long Beach.

Mike McGuire is the boy next door, the kid we all knew in elementary school who was our best friend, the one who always had a smile, was always friendly, and who had boundless energy always on the go. I met friends and teachers of his who support his political work because he was a good student, and they have fond memories of his time in their classrooms, which is amazing. They volunteer their time to work because they believe in him and what he stands for.

His staff love him, and they're loyal, longtime supporters who will follow him to the ends of the Earth. Mike is a dedicated servant.

Whenever there was a meeting or a caucus convening, Mike would do the work himself, passing out snacks, drinks, and mostly candy. You'll remember that. All that candy kinda just appeared. And he valued and invited staff, including my staff, in leadership meetings, pre session conversation, and high stakes negotiations. They will never forget the experience, and they talk about it to this day.

And for me, McGuire has always had my back, for which I will be eternally grateful. Even when events were stressful, he was there standing with me, and he wouldn't back down. He's loyal, smart, tough, focused, and a great friend you can count on. He speaks his mind, and you always know what he thinks. He's passionate, tenacious, and most of all, he has a really good heart.

He loves deeply and backs it up with action. And he's a family man. Even when it was crunch time, during the busiest times of the session, Mike would step out of meetings for ten or fifteen minutes. What did it have to do it? The budget?

GGRF? Bonds? No. It was to say goodnight to his wife Erica and to his son, Connor, and to read a bedtime story so that his son could hear his father's voice and know that he loved him and would be home soon. We'd all be sitting around waiting for him to come back, and he was doing the right thing, which was to show how much he loved his family, and how important reading a story to a young boy is.

PTE, McGuire's family, means everything, and you can see it when they are together. He bought property so that Erica, Connor and he could include a house for his mother and grandmother to share on the same parcel, and he has a small farm to raise animals and produce to honor his agricultural roots. What can I say about this extraordinary man?

To quote the great poetess Maya Angelou, people will forget what you said, and they will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Mike, we love you.

We will miss you and know that you made us all feel very special. Hot damn. Now go win that Congressional seat. Mike McGuire.

It is your turn, Pro Tem Emeritus.

Yeah. First of all, I just wanna take a moment to say thank you. Look, I don't like talking about myself, and it's hard. And I just wanna say how much, I appreciate the incredibly kind words, from both senators, Senator Gonzales, Senator Caballero. Thank you.

And grateful for our work together and grateful for our work with each and every one of you. Thank you so much. And, I rise with a heart full of immense gratitude, a mind full of memories of hard work done by each and every one of you and the knowledge that the Senate that the Senate, despite our differences, works together to make this State, we all call home, stronger.

And I've heard this many times over the last two days, but this truly is an honor of a lifetime. It's an honor of a lifetime in particular to work with each and every one of you.

You take a look around, the talent that is in this room, the tenacity that is in this room, the vision, the innovation. Thank you. To see what can be done when complete strangers from different walks of life and personal and political beliefs can come together, establish relationships, establish trust, and then work together to fight for the Golden State. That's what the State Senate is all about. And I just cannot say thank you enough for the amazing opportunity each of you have provided me and our family.

It has also been an honor to work with the tremendous staff who make this institution run. Am I right? From each and every one of you. I wanna say thank you to each of the staffs in the member offices. We are so grateful that they're dedicating their life to make this State stronger.

Grateful to our amazing committee staff who does such tremendous work each and every day. I wanna say thank you to our legislative council who keep us on the straight and narrow, out of trouble. I wanna say thank you to our sergeants who do tremendous work And the California Highway Patrol Chief, thank you so much. In particular, I wanna say thank you to Sid and Michael for all the work that they have done. To the caucus staff, both, both Democratic and Republican.

Michelina, I wanna say thank you to you for everything that you do every day. To the Pro Tem Policy Unit, they are tremendous. And they're so lucky to have Pro Tem Limon in the lead, but wanna say thank you to the entire Pro Tem Policy Unit. To Erica Contreras in the secretary's office, thank you. Grateful to have worked with you.

To Haishani, you are amazing. Thank you. To Bernie, we are grateful for her. And who can forget Diane Griffiths for all the work that she does on behalf of this tremendous institution, the people of California. We are so lucky to be able to have their talent and dedication.

But most importantly, I also wanna say thank you to the people of the North Coast. It has been an honor of a lifetime to work for the people of the North Coast, who Erica and I and our family owe everything to. The North Coast is truly one of the most beautiful spots on Earth. But what's even more breathtaking than the landscape are the people who call the North Coast home. The people in the North Coast have hearts of gold.

They're hardworking. They're full of grit and generous beyond belief. And I think in this job, we all see what people are made of, good and bad. But we have seen so much good, especially in really tough times. And I've seen what good can be done even in the darkest times of life when entire communities in which I've been honored to work for, leveled by wildfires.

Lives lost and home's gone. The folks who call the North Coast home, they'll pick themselves up, dusting themselves off, and then they ask, how can I help my neighbor in need even when they're rebuilding their own life? And I'm forever grateful to them for this opportunity. In the Senate, we have accomplished so much together. We passed responsible budgets.

I'm a firm believer in public education and investing in our kids in public schools. We've created transitional kindergarten, free lunch for every kid in every public school in every corner of the State. We've gone from dead last in the nation of poor people spending now finally to the top 20 with more work to go.

Thanks to Madam Pro Tem and so many of the women's caucus, hundreds of thousands of new childcare slots, more affordable cal college, where half of all college students in California now go tuition free. Expediting housing build out, doubling the number of State firefighters, billions in wildfire prevention health care for 94%,

94% of the entire population. Thank you. The toughest climate laws in the nation and fighting for reproductive health care in an incredibly challenging time. That's what you've done and continue to do. I gotta say, I'm so proud to be part of this institution.

And I wanna be clear. Nothing that has been achieved though could have happened with the, the amazing humans that we work with each and every day. So if you don't mind, I just, Madam Presiding Officer, Madam President, I'd like to briefly mention the team that I'm honored to work with every day. I wanna say thank you to Rebecca. Chief, We've been working together for, like, fifteen years.

Started at the county. I wanna say thank you to Carrie, District Director who we've been working together for years, over a decade in the role that she is. Jason Lyles, who not sure what I do without over twenty-years. Chris Nielsen, who started out as a fellow even before it got started. And I'm grateful to Nielsen, to Carlene, who is here.

Carlene and I, came together from the County. I'm grateful to Carlene. Barbara Majandro, who's our scheduling manager. I love her deeply. I'm grateful for her.

To Mercedes, who, goes everywhere I'm at, and she even carried my fake tooth when it fell out. So I want to say thank you, and I'm sorry, Mercedes. That's a long story. We won't go there today. I probably shouldn't have mentioned it and Erica just kicked my shin.

To Melinda, to Emily, to Marco, to Mayuly, to Nicole, to Hannah, Jacqueline, Rhett, Rhiannon, Olivia, Nora, and Donna, I am so incredibly grateful. None of this could have been accomplished without you, and I love you very much. I'm gonna end it right here with this. Erica and Connor, best thing, I think at least when we were at the dinner, said this about Erica, but he's literally the best thing that has ever happened to me and to our family. Twenty-one years.

I'm grateful. And I love you. Dear Lord. And I also, the best thing that's ever happened to us is Connor. Didn't think that was ever gonna happen.

And we love him so much. And now we have a turkey named Mr. Peepers that he really likes as well. So, am I right? Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. And Peepers dances for you? Okay. It just got awkward.

But nothing beats standing here today as a parent of an amazing kindergartner and I'm grateful. Last thing I promise will be my last thank you is my mom and my grandma. My mom and dad had a pretty damn bad divorce, and my grandma took us in and was literally our rock. Couldn't have done anything without my mom and my grandma. And they taught me early on that the highest calling in life is to help people.

Right? And no matter if you're a Republican or a Democrat, we gotta help people. And there's more that unites us than divides us. My grandma taught me to work hard, be the hardest working person in the room, to work together because that's the only way to make progress stick and to never give up. And especially when times are tough.

None of you give up. You go to fight, fight for a stronger California. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity. Thank you for having the ability to be able to work with you over the past ten years. Thank you so much.

We are asking everybody that we'd, that will be leaving us to please join in the back for a photo of all legislators who are leaving this year, and then we'll do an entire Senate group photo in the back. Outgoing members first, if all outgoing members can join in the back for a photo. We need to postpone the photo. Oh, never mind. We would just take it.

Every Senator, please go to the back of the Chamber for a group photo. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committee will be deemed read and amendments adopted under motions, resolutions, and notices. Pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 d, the following bills are referred to the committee on rules, SB 1187.

Senate will recess for lunch. Please return at 1PM. 1PM is when the Senate will reconvene. Lunch is available for all senators.

We will start the second half of the session with consideration of the daily file. We have items one through 20 under second reading file. Secretary, please read.

Assembly bill 204722071980256427

Second reading will be deemed read. We will move on to Assembly third reading and begin with file item four seventy five, AB 2624. Secretary, please read.

Senate bill 2624 by Assemblymember Bonta and Accolade to privacy.

Senator. Thank you, madam president, and good afternoon members. I'm proud to present AB 2624, the Safe at Work Act on behalf of Assembly member Mia Bonta. This bill comes forward as a direct response to requests from immigrant support service providers, including legal aid organizations, humanitarian relief providers, case managers and advocates who are facing targeted harassment because of the work that they do.

Unfortunately, due to our current political climate, immigrant support providers across California report the following, doxing of staff and volunteers at immigration legal aid organizations, coordinated death threats against service providers, anti immigrant vigilante activity directed at organizations by name and address.

AB 2624 will expand California's safe at home program to include immigrant service providers, their employees and volunteers, this, opportunity. Since its inception nearly thirty years ago, the safe at home program has protected thousands of victims of stalking and domestic violence victims along with Reproductive Healthcare workers.

The confidentiality protection program provides participants with a substitute address to shield their real address, requires the secretary of state to act as an intermediary for mail and legal service, forwarding documents within a short time frame, keeps individual participants home, work, and school addresses confidential and protected from public disclosure, And it also is essential to ensure the continued delivery of legal, social, and humanitarian services. This bill is a Latino caucus priority, and I respectfully ask an aye vote from my colleagues.

Senator Strickland, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam president, members. I rise in opposition to this bill. This bill actually works there's a lot of provisions in here that actually go against the freedom of speech and our first amendment rights and also accountability on that speech. And part of it is also the investigative reporting end. So some dubbed this bill the Nick Shirley act.

Nick Shirley was an individual who uncovered a lot of fraud that went into the hospice system. And instead of the governor and the controller thanking Nick Shirley for finding waste, fraud, and abuse within California's budget, this is the response to Nick Shirley. And and I would remind members here that when we found waste in or Nick Shirley found waste in the government, the attorney general still hasn't prosecuted those folks who have pretty much stolen from

the tax Senator, I would ask if you speak to the merits of the bill.

The language in the bill does not talk about fraud or waste.

Thank you, madam president. So this is the response that the legislature has. Instead of sending a thank you note to Nick Shirley, which I did on behalf of my district, this is the response is to make it harder for people to do investigative reporting and take away First Amendment rights to be able to uncover and have more transparency and accountability in the California government. For those reasons, I oppose AB 2624.

Senator Arreguin.

Well, thank you, madam president. I rise in support of AB 2624, authored by my Assembly member, Mia Bonta. And I wanna thank the author for bringing this bill forward. And oftentimes, in legislative debates, it's important to cut through the noise that's been generated around a bill and really speak to what the bill does. And unfortunately, there's been a lot of noise and a lot of misinformation has been spread about what this bill is intended to do.

And I really just wanna call out and condemn the threats that the Assembly member has directly, experienced in her staff for having the courage to step up and to defend legal providers and service providers that are serving our our most vulnerable Californians who are under attack by this administration's cruel immigration policy. I support this bill when it came through my public safety committee. This was a triple referred bill, because I know what this bill is really about.

It's about the workers who've been followed during their lunch breaks and are being fearful, are being harassed in their own homes and their families being harassed as well. And, the executive director of Chila, in speaking about this bill, talked about hate calls that she's experienced threats of violence against the organization, people being stalked, that's unacceptable.

Regardless of what you do, nobody should have to endure that level of harassment. It's about ensuring that immigrant support providers in each of our districts are able to do their job to support our most vulnerable Californians, especially now with this administration's relentless attack on immigrants. I urge us all to focus on what this bill does and ignore the noise. It's about ensuring that community providers have the safety and security to do their jobs. It's not about attacking journalists and their ability to investigate and report facts.

The safe at home program only applies when there's proof that somebody is experiencing threats and harassment to be eligible to participate in that program. Does not prohibit general discussion, advocacy, or criticism, policy, or organizations, or individuals. Does not prohibit the publication of information for lawful and journalistic purposes. The fact that this bill only affects behavior and speech, which is harmful, and when there's a reasonable fear of safety or a link to harassment or threats of violence. That's what this bill does.

I hope we all deem it worthy to support and respectfully ask for an ever.

Senator Gonzalez, you may close.

Thank you. And I wanna thank my colleague from, Oakland for, bringing that forward and as well as the Assembly member, Mia Bonta, who has really bear the brunt of a lot of misinformation. And I don't know who Mister Mister Shirley is, never I don't know who he is at all, but what I will say, this is not about this person.