Senate Floor Session

Chaplain Charondelet Dupree,

as we enter a moment of prayer or mindful presence. creator, source, hope. We pause in this moment to give thanks for the privilege and responsibility of service. We recognize that leadership is more than a position. It is a calling. A calling to listen before speaking, to seek understanding. Today we pause to consider the responsibilities carried by those who serve in this chamber. May each leader embrace wisdom and new knowledge or revelations for difficult decisions. May they embrace courage when the way forward is not so clear. As they deliberate, may they remember that every seat in this chamber represents a tapestry of voices woven from different communities' experiences and perspectives. Finally, as we reflect on this month and today's recognition of our LGBTQ plus communities, may their stories and contributions be among the many threads that strengthen our common fabric and the future that we are called to build together Shalom May it be so And amen

All right. Colleagues, I'm excited to introduce the 2026 APICA Fellowship Cohort. APICA stands for the Asian Pacific Islander Capital Association. It's a non-profit 501 organization of legislative staffers, advocates and other professionals based here in Sacramento. APICA's mission is to promote the success of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Southwest Asian and North African members of the capital community through professional development, opportunities and community events. A key part of this effort is the Summer Fellowship Program, a 10-week paid fellowship that places participants in legislative offices and provides weekly seminars and professional development opportunities. Since 2015, the PICA Fellowship has hosted over 50 interns and fellows. Joining us on the floor are members of the 2026 Fellowship Cohort. I'm going to read their names. Alexia Vu, Dashiell Nakahata, Bryce Trevino, Sabrina Avenido, Jake Chang, and Marissa Duterte. Members, please join me in giving them a warm welcome to the California State Senate.

Thank you, Mr. President. Let see here Thank you Today I'm honoring the El Dorado Rose Corporation, which is a historic society of women from El Dorado County. This year marks their 50th anniversary of the El Dorado Rose Program, a cherished tradition that celebrates the women who have dedicated their lives to serving the communities of El Dorado County. This was established in 1976. The program recognizes women ages 60 and older who volunteer, lead, and commit to having helped honor the history of the region for generations. For five decades, the El Dorado Roses have celebrated the value that defines our state, service, civic engagement, and pride in our local history. Through events such as the El Dorado Rose Ball and the El Dorado Rose Pageant, they not only recognize outstanding women, but also preserve the rich heritage of the gold rush and bring residents together in celebration. Now, you'll often see our roses arm in arm with the thorns, which we lovingly name their plus ones. Today, we also recognize this year's remarkable volunteers whose dedication and service embody the spirit of El Dorado Rose program. On the floor with us today, join me in welcoming Claudia Bethke, Gail Butler, Coco DiCarlo, Jane Ferguson, Ellen Fisher, Sandra Hand, Diane Lear, Mary Meter, Sherry Philipson, Kim Richwine, Pan Henderson, and Nancy Elric. Through their volunteer efforts, they have helped strengthen their communities and improve the lives of those around them. These women, recognized through the program, have devoted countless hours to improving the lives of others, and the El Dorado Roses have ensured that their contributions are acknowledged and remembered. As the organization celebrates this important milestone, it continues to foster community spirit and honor those whose selfless service has made El Dorado County and California a better place to live, work, and raise a family. So today I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the El Dorado Roses on their 50th anniversary, recognizing its enduring contributions to people and communities of El Dorado County. Thank you.

Good afternoon and thank you, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. I rise today to recognize Dr. Richard Hart as he retires from Loma Linda University Health after an extraordinary career of service. Dr. Hart has given 54 years of his life to Loma Linda, including 18 years as president, and his impact has been far-fled and wide in our region. Not only has he been a visionary leader of the institution, but he also understands that health care is ultimately about people, families, and communities. Under his leadership, Loma Linda grew in ways that strengthened education, expanded access to care, and furthered investments in the well-being of the Inland Empire and beyond. Dr. Hart has served with compassion, faith, and a genuine commitment to helping others live healthier lives. We thank him for a lifetime of dedication and wish him the very best in a happy, healthy, and a well-deserved retirement. I would also like to welcome Dr. Anthony Hilliard, who will be stepping into this important role. He brings strong leadership and a deep understanding of Loma Linda University's health mission, and we look forward to the future under his guidance. Congratulations to both of you. Colleagues, please join me in giving a warm Senate welcome to Dr. Richard Hart and Dr. Anthony Hilliard.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today as Vice Chair of the LGBTQ Caucus to present SR 116, which recognizes June 2026 as LGBTQ plus Pride Month. The galvanizing force of the Stonewall Inn uprising on June 28, 1969 ignited a liberation movement, a call to action that continues to inspire us to fulfill our nation's promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all. We celebrate Pride in June to honor that uprising and to remind ourselves that the first Pride was an uprising. The LGBTQ plus community, like so many other minority communities, has had to fight for every single inch of progress over the decades. Now we are fighting to hold on to that progress. While there is no doubt that there is still a difficult time for our community, we learned a long time ago how to keep our progress and our movement sustainable. It is done by investing in joy, leaning into love, and surrounding yourself with those who see you for who you are. This critical lesson is embodied in our ballroom theme this year When I talk about ballroom for many members on this floor that may bring to mind classical music or the waltz But for the LGBTQ plus community, it carries with it an entirely different meaning and significance. Ballroom as we know it historically in our community started as drag balls in the 1880s when William Dorsey Swan, the first person known to describe themselves as a drag queen, hosted secret balls in Washington, D.C., known as House Swan. Swan himself and the majority of attendees were formerly enslaved black men. The intersection of their black and LGBTQ plus identities made them frequent targets of the police. But the balls continued and began to grow in popularity in the black LGBTQ plus community. By the early 1900s, Harlem, New York had become the epicenter for drag ball culture. Writer Langston Hughes described his experience at a New York drag ball in the 1920s as the strangest and gaudiest of all Harlem spectacles. But it was a space where primary black and brown people could come together and live their life out loud. In the 1960s these drag balls had become white dominated and exclusive. Black and brown performers faced racism, discrimination, and were rarely awarded the prizes they deserved. This led to the creation of House Ballroom, created by Black LGBTQ plus performers to reclaim part of their culture and assert themselves in a world seeking to erase them. In this ballroom's place, Black and Latino drag performers formed houses led by their mothers. This created a culture of family and support within the houses, giving rise to a space where black and brown performers could achieve glory, find surrogate families, and fill a sense of belonging. Today House Ballroom is internationally known, showcased to mainstream audiences through shows like Pose and Legendary. Today we honor the legacy of legendary members of the ballroom community like Willy Ninja, Hector and Angie Extravaganza, and Crystal LaBea. As our community faces daily assaults from the highest office of the United States government that seeks to roll back our rights and push us back into the closet, today we take pride in the joy we create with one another. Today we take pride in the families we have chosen and built. And today we take pride in our honorees who continue to move our community forward to a better and more equitable world. I strongly urge an aye vote on SR 116.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today as chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus in support of SR-116. Let us start with the truth that we all know to be true. We don't live in single-issue lives. From the very beginning, the fight for civil rights and the fight for LGBTQ plus equality have been shared the exact same heartbeat. You cannot tell the story of modern pride without the architects of color. Pride is a celebration, yes, but it is deeply rooted in a legacy of rebellion led by black and brown bodies. It was the fierce spirit of black trans women like Marsha P. Johnson that helped spark the riots at Stonewall. was the brilliant behind-the-scenes organizing of openly gay black men like Bayard Rustin that built the foundations for the March on Washington. For generations, black members of the LGBTQ plus community have had to navigate the heavy intersections of race and sexuality. Yet even when the mainstream movement tried to keep them in the shadows, black queer people found a way to lead, to love, to organize. Icons like Audre Lorde and James Baldwin, who reminded us that one's identity is not a burden, but an undeniable magic. Today, as we look around at the progress that has been made, we must also recognize the work that remains. True pride demands that we dismantle all systems of oppression, not just the ones that target the ones we love, but also the systemic racism that threatens our very lives. Let us honor them, not just by celebrating our joy for this month, but also showing up for one another year-round. Let us be a community that ensures that every black, brown, and queer voice is valued, protected, and heard. And on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR 116. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus in support of SR 116. Thank the Senator from Inland Empire for introducing this resolution. Pride Month is a celebration of identity and the fundamental right of every person to live openly and authentically. I've been incredibly fortunate to represent a vibrant LGBTQ plus community in Senate District 13. I just was at Mountain View Pride this weekend. We had Palo Alto Pride the weekend before. A lot of fun celebrations. Born out of a resistance against injustice, Pride has become a celebration of the countless LGBTQ plus individuals who have enriched our culture and made our communities more vibrant and inclusive. It has also remained a defiant check against cruelty, discrimination of those most marginalized. The very concept of pride is acknowledging a very simple truth, that every person deserves to be seen, respected, and valued for who they are. These are our neighbors, friends, family members, and colleagues that represent every sector of our society. and Jewish Americans have been part of the LGBTQ plus story all along. We all know the story of Harvey Milk. I would mention a couple other stories today. Edith Windsor, the plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case that paved the way for marriage equality nationwide. Robert Bernardo, the first openly gay Jewish Filipino commissioner in the city of South San Francisco, whose identity framed his alliance building mentality. many more that I could mention, but I will save for future celebrations. Recently, I had the honor of emceeing the annual Drag Purim celebration that we've done here in the Capitol last few years. Super fun, joyful event hosted jointly between the Jewish Caucus and the LGBTQ Caucuses. Not only fun and lively, it's demonstrated that communities coming together makes us stronger. Pride is also a time where we see that our work towards full equality is not finished Recently several transgender young people in my district have tragically taken their own lives after incredible struggles. There are far too many who are still facing rejection, isolation, bullying, discrimination, violence for living their true lives. And that's why pride matters. that's why visibility matters and that's why every young person deserves to know they are valued that they belong and they know that we stand besides them our Jewish tradition teaches us justice, justice, how you pursue and that is what pride represents and that is why California must continue to be a beacon of hope and a place of equality and inclusion so on behalf of the Jewish caucus and the community I'm proud to stand with our allies to celebrate this Pride Month and respectfully urge an aye vote on SR 116.

Thank you, Mr. President. We celebrate June as Pride Month in memory of a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ plus rights. And as vice chair of the Women's Caucus, I rise in support of SCR 116 and to talk a little bit about the queer women in this history. Women have always been incestual in this fight, from the Lavender Scare of the 1950s to the Stonewall Uprising to the fight for marriage equality. In fact, many of the LGBTQ plus first were achieved by women. And some of our colleagues here in the Women's Caucus can be included among them. a summit member and senator shila keogh was california's first openly gay state legislator the first openly lgbtq plus leader of this house was none other than previous pro emeritus pro temp tony atkins and as the senator from santa cruz can recall the three founding members of what was then the lgbt caucus were women including our first chair's then senator christine keogh Lesbians have played a massive role during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and the 1990s. Groups like the Blood Sisters organized blood drives, while the broader lesbian community provided direct medical care, advocacy, and social support to the gay men when societal rejection was high. And when we turn to those who led the fight for equality and equity in sports, we think of lesbians Billie Jean King, who secured equal pay at the U.S. Open and famously won the 1973 Battle of the Sexes to prove female athletic capability to the world. Or Megan Rapinoe, who spearheaded the U.S. Women's National Team's soccer team's historic multi-year legal battle for equal pay against the U.S. Soccer Federation. LGBTQ plus women and women allies have long fought the same battles for control of our own bodies, for workplace rights, for personal privacy, and more. In fact, the reason why we wear pants is because a queer woman, a long time ago, defied societal norms and started wearing jeans. Thank you, because I cannot do skirts. I'm proud to stand with the Legislative Women's Caucus and our LGBT Plus Caucus colleagues in support of this resolution and respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. on behalf of the Latino Legislative Caucus it's my honor to rise today in strong support of SR 116 relative to LGBTQ plus Pride Month during Pride Month we recognize the resilience determination of the many individuals who have fought and continue to fight to simply live their lives freely and authentically LGBTQ plus Latinos have been major contributors to the United States in everything from arts, social justice movements, and even politics, including members of this body. From the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo to Jose Julio Sarria, the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in the United States, he ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961, LGBTQ Latinos have had a significant influence on U.S. culture. This Pride Month, we recognize the many contributions of LGBTQ plus individuals across our nation, and the Latino Caucus reaffirms our commitment to fight against all forms of discrimination and injustice. This means standing with our friends and allies in the face of increasing political and legal attacks by the federal government and other states. Too many hard-fought legal advancements are now threatened, and it's incumbent on all of us to stand united. Of particular note, we must work to stem the tragic spike in violence and hate against our transgender community and LGBTQ youth who are disproportionately at risk of self-harm. So as we celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, we must all be vigilant and steadfast in our commitment to help end violence and discrimination against the LGBT community so that we can ensure a just and equitable America for all. With that, I would like to thank the author, the senator from Riverside, and the legislative LGBTQ caucus for your leadership and work on this important resolution. And colleagues, please join me in support of SR-116.

Thank you. I rise today as the vice chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus in strong support of SR116, which recognizes Pride Month. Pride Month began as a response to injustice and erasure, tracing back to June 1969 at the Stonewall Riots, led by two trans women of color, Marsha Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Today, Pride is a celebration of the progress that has been made in the fight for LGBTQ and civil rights. Pride promotes the need for visibility and representation to demonstrate that there is a place for everyone at the table. In a world that pressures people to conform to unrealistic standards, authenticity is powerful. I do want to highlight that the Asian American community still has a long way to go to ensure that all community members feel accepted and seen. Specifically, I think it was mentioned on the floor earlier, that there are a lot of young individuals that commit suicide because they are so afraid of the social stigma. And that is something that we all have to chip away at and work towards. Every single person deserves to be respected, seen, and heard. And Pride Month is just a reminder for all of us to, again, respect everybody. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. I rise on Senate Resolution 116 by my colleague from the Inland Empire. The theme for the Greater Palm Springs Pride Month this year is Be Included, and I stand by that sentiment. It is my hope that each and every one of you who is passionate about this resolution feels included. your voice is important and your voice is needed regardless of how you identify yourself your ethnicity your religion or any other qualifier I care about each an individual that I have had the opportunity to interact with And most importantly I think your content of your character is of most worthy Notice, although today sexuality or identity is being highlighted, I want to thank all of my local LGBT elected officials, residents, family members, friends, and youth who have come to know in my district, whose kindness, thoughtfulness, creativity, work ethic, and professionalism are all commendable and are qualities in which, in my opinion, stand out even further than the subject of their sexuality. I also want to highlight my local city of Palm Springs, whose city council has been so committed to the safety and well-being of its residents. I'm proud to have a positive and collaborative relationship with all of them. This city experienced the worst this past year when the inexcusable bombing of the reproductive health clinic occurred. Thank you to this legislature for prioritizing financial relief for them and for supporting my constituents. I also want to highlight an organization close to me that I've had the honor of working with extensively over the past six plus years. The Log Cabin Republicans of California is a well-respected and established member of the Republican Party that has an active role in our communities. There are Log Cabin Republicans with members in all 50 states of our great nation and official chapters in over 40 states. They have a full-time staff in Washington DC who actively advocate on issues of the gay community and will continue to enforce legislation that supports personal freedom and equality. The Log Cabin Republicans got its start in California during the late 1970s. They partnered with former Governor Ronald Reagan to defeat a ballot measure that would prohibit gay community members from public schools, from teaching in public schools, and this organization has been a collaborator with the Republican Party ever since. In fact, the name of the organization is a reference to the first Republican president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who was born in a log cabin. President Lincoln billed the Republican Party on the principles of liberty and equality under the law. At the federal level, the president has made it a priority to appoint LGBT individuals to high-ranking members of his administration. Scott Besant serves as a Treasury Secretary, making him the highest-ranking LGBT official in the nation's history. Richard Grenell was nominated as Special Missions Envoy and previously served as the ambassador to Germany during the President's first administration, being the first openly gay Republican member of President Trump's cabinet. Tammy Bruce is a deputy ambassador to the United Nations. Bill White was nominated as the ambassador to Belgium. Art Fisher was nominated as the ambassador to Austria. Charles Moran, associate administrator for external affairs in the Energy Department. Here in California, State Assemblymember Carl DeMaio and the California GOP Budget Committee Chair Gregory Grandad, just to name a few. For our LGBTQ youth, nearly one of every two young people seriously consider attempting suicide. This is more than four times as likely as compared to their peers. to our youth.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I rise proudly today to ask for an aye vote on SR 116 as the representative of the great city of San Francisco, which helped give birth to our modern LGBTQ movement for equality and for civil rights and for basic human dignity, something that we need to remind ourselves of today, basic human dignity, because it's at risk. San Francisco was the home of the Compton's cafeteria riot, which, no disrespect to our brothers and sisters in New York City, but happened in 1966, three years before Stonewall, when trans women in particular rose up against police violence, and said, no more. Now, here we are again in the year 2026, when we thought we had made so much progress, which we did, and LGBTQ people are once again under brutal assault in this country. We have a federal regime that is hell-bent on erasing the existence of big swaths of our LGBTQ community, particularly trans people. We have a president who, as one of his very first actions upon taking the oath of office, with all the huge problems facing our country, one of his very first actions was issuing an executive order proclaiming that transgender people do not exist. He built on that in subsequent weeks with executive order after executive order after executive order dehumanizing trans people and essentially instigating violence against transgender people This administration is gutting scientific research and health care that absolutely saves lives and that has saved so many lives. They're gutting science research at the very institutes that created protease inhibitors that turned HIV from a likely death sentence into a manageable chronic health condition. So many members of our community died during the worst of the HIV disaster when we had another federal government that was rooting for our community to die faster. And now here we are again gutting the very science institutes that created the medicine that allows people living with HIV to not just survive, but thrive. We have a Congress that enables all of this, that enables the fueling of more HIV infections, that enables the demonization of LGBTQ youth. Yes, far too many LGBTQ youth contemplate suicide, and there is a reason for that. when you as a child see messaging every single day from powerful people that your life doesn't matter, that you're not real, that you're a scam artist, dehumanizing you, it is no wonder that so many contemplate suicide. And tragically, we now have an extremist Supreme Court that empowers all of this, that upheld a law banning gender-affirming care for trans young people that is empowering the return of conversion therapy, which is psychological torture of LGBTQ young people. We're seeing book bans, forced outing, and so many other practices that harm our community. But the good news is that we have been here before. this is not the first time that LGBTQ people have been subjected to a government that wants us to just disappear and it won't be the last. We see it not just with this government but in governments around the world in Russia, in Iran in so many other places and despite all of that queer people are still here and we will always be here and there is nothing that they can do to make us go away. And the joy in our community is one of the things that makes me so proud to be a gay man, to be part of this community. When I look at San Francisco in the month of June, it is exhausting, but it is exhausting in an exhilarating and joyous way. The numbers of parties and just celebrations, all of the rainbow light shows, and we're not going to let them take the rainbow away from us like those Giants players tried to do the other night. It is absolute joy, and this is a community that, even with so many attacks, continues to find joy. I am so proud of our community. I am so proud of our allies who stand with us, and I want to thank all of our straight allies in the Senate and in the Assembly and the governor for standing with us not just when it easy but when it hard and when the politics are hard I am so grateful from the bottom of my heart So happy pride everyone And I urge an aye vote

That tees it up very nicely, Mr. President. I rise in support of this resolution, but I thought I would take off a little bit on the senator from San Francisco talking about joy, and it's in the arc of history, because when I marched the first time in Santa Cruz pride in the 1970s, we had more demonstrators than we had marchers. We had to have the sheriff's department march with us for protection. When I was one of the founders of the gay elected officials in the mid-1980s, we had 14 in the entire United States, and now we have that many in the California legislature. And we have that many in my home area of the Monterey Bay area, including the chair of the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors, who we will honor in a moment. And what was interesting about that time is if people took polls, I mean, polls were taken, about what you thought of LGBT civil rights. Overwhelmingly nationally, it was always in opposition. And yet, if you looked at the subtext, the crosstabs, For those that said they knew somebody that was LGBT, they supported civil rights. And what it really meant was, is coming out was a political act. And it was part of that change that has led to where we are today. And if you fast forward the weekend before last, I spoke for the 46th year in a row at the Santa Cruz Pride. It is now the largest political event in the county every year. And we do celebrate it with joy. I mean, I find that I get choked when I see the high school marching band. And this year they had the middle school with them, all marching down the main street as part of the community celebration. and I think I've told the story on the floor but one of my favorite stories about how history has moved is we moved from that point where we needed the sheriffs to march with us and protect us because there were more demonstrators than marchers and then a few years ago as I lined up for the parade the medical marijuana float was about three in front of me it had about a 12 foot joint and it was puffing out smoke in the parade and who did they assign to walk with it but the sheriff and his top deputies so the sheriff came back and said would you mind if we marched with you and I thought there is the arc of history at the beginning we needed them to protect us and now we are the safe port in the storm in the largest political uh demonstration in our county every year and and it is the joy that goes with that that really makes the difference. And yes, we have to fight because it is always two steps forward and one step back and the senator from San Francisco out I was at the Giants game for Pride Night and it was interesting because we didn know that was going on if you were in the stands We saw the disco drag queen having everybody on their feet during batting practice We saw couples renew their vows. We saw the kiss cam only focus on gay couples that night when they went around the stadium at the seventh inning, and we thought it was a joyous celebration. We had no idea there were a few giants that weren't on the same page with us. But I think the overwhelming majority there showed that we were on the right side of history. We are there for the change that has been made. We are there to protect the change. We are there for people that still need it and still struggle. And that's what this resolution supports. I ask for an aye vote.

Thank you so much, Madam President. And I would like to take the privilege just to also acknowledge the meeting of today. I was a staffer in the assembly when Sheila Kuehl was first elected to that body and then to this body as well. I was in the closet and would be for many, many years after that. And this was an institution in a place of fear. The idea that you could be in public service and be who you were was so far from thinking about, other than to worry about what it would mean for the rest of your life if you were to have one. And to be here on this floor today, to have been elected and to be presiding during this ceremony, and then in order to make this presentation to turn the gavel over to my colleague, Senator Medjavar, is such a deeply profound moment. And I want to say thank you. It was, we didn't announce any of this. It's just the normal business of the Senate. Thank you so much to our President Pro Tem for that. And I am also pleased to introduce our first honoree for LGBT Caucus Pride Month, and that is Dr. Amy Carter, the Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Carter was born and raised in Utah in the Mormon faith and earned the early tension between belonging and authenticity, an experience that continues to shape her leadership and her unwavering commitment to inclusive student-centered systems. She began her career as a high school English teacher before serving as a principal, an assistant superintendent in large districts and in county offices. And in 2002, she was elected Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, the first woman ever elected to that role, and the first woman and LGBTQ person to hold this office in the county's 176-year history, and the first LGBT countywide elect official in all of the counties of the North Bay. As an LGBTQ leader, Dr. Carter has worked to ensure that belonging isn't just a value, but built into the infrastructure of schools through policy, professional learning, and student support systems. A proud mother of five daughters and two grandchildren, she lives in Sonoma County with her wife, nurse practitioner Annika Carter, who is with us as well today and remains focused on building durable, equitable systems where every student can learn without fear, feeling a true sense of belonging and to achieve. Please welcome and congratulate Dr. Amy Carter.

Thank you Thank you Senator Laird

Thank you.

Senator Padilla.

Thank you Senator Perez

Thank you.

And Senator Weiner.

Thank you.

Please help me give her a warm welcome.

Unfortunately, this honoree could not be here today. However, I would like to still recognize Assemblymember Corey Jackson's pride honoree, that is Matthew Sanchez, who is the founder and CEO perfumer of Mateo Perfumes, an award-winning fine fragrance company backed by L'Oreal that is redefining the fragrance industry by blending cultures, perspectives and innovation. I'd like to now honor Assemblymember Lee's pride honoree, TJ Bruce. Bruce is the owner and CEO of Splash Bar Inc. and Western Pacific Depot, two popular LGBTQ plus nightlife destinations in the heart of Sacramento. For nearly 30 years, he has dedicated himself to creating welcoming spaces where LGBTQ plus individuals and allies from all backgrounds can feel safe, celebrated, and strongly connected. His deep commitment to cultivating community, fostering belonging, and creating spaces where people can come together with pride and feel empowered is deeply commendable. Please help me welcome T.J. Bruce. Thank you. For our next honoree, I am pleased to introduce Trinidad Garcia and Adam Vasquez-Garcia, honorees

help me welcome them both. It is my pleasure to introduce Assemblymember Solache's honoree, Ariana Bates, who is dedicated high school counselor with 26 years of service at Paramount High School. Beyond her role as a counselor, she serves as co-advisor for the school's Unity Club GSA, a student organization that has provided a welcoming and supportive space for more than 30 years. In 2011, Ariana founded the Unity Day Conference to connect local communities with LGBTQ plus resources, suicide prevention initiatives, and wellness services. She also made history within the Los Angeles Unified School District as a co-writer of the district's first suicide prevention handbook through her work on crisis response efforts. Please help me welcome her and celebrate It is my pleasure to introduce Assemblymember Zerberer's Pride honoree B. Scott, who is a trailblazing media maven and founder of LoveBScott.com, one of the world's largest LGBTQ plus media brands that educates, energizes, and celebrates bold LGBTQ plus narratives while reaching millions of individuals every day. Through their online presence and digital platforms, they have championed LGBTQ plus voices of color by building the foundations of inclusivity and authenticity self-expression. B. Scott is a pivotal figure in helping create the visibility and representation that is celebrated across LGBTQ plus communities today. Please, let's give him a warm welcome. Thank you. To close our pride honorees, it is my pleasure to introduce Insurance Commissioner Laura's honoree, Lazaro Concepcion, better known as Lola Veronica, who is an acclaimed drag performer, host and community icon with more than four decades of impact. Lola began performing at just 14 years old born in Cuba and raised in California She went on to become one of the state most celebrated Latina drag personalities appearing at iconic venues and productions including Circus, Disco and Club Papi. Beyond the stage, she has hosted Pride Celebrations LGBTQ plus community events and shared the spotlight with some of Latin music's biggest artists, leaving a lasting mark on generations of LGBTQ plus Californians. Please, let's give them a warm welcome. All right, thank you, Senator Cervantes. Members, please, once again, join us in congratulating and honoring the Pride Award winners from this year. And now, members that wish to join the honorees and members of the caucus for the group photos, please move to the rear of the chambers. you Thank you. Thank you. Majority Leader Senator Ashby, for what purpose do you rise? Yes, thank you Mr. President. I rise to request reconsideration of file item number 41, SR 116 by Cervantes, which we just heard. Again, requesting reconsideration. All right, the motion is to reconsider. Secretary, please call the roll. Allen. Alvarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Aragon. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. aye blake spear aye kabaldon aye caballero aye cervantes aye choy cortesi aye dally durazo aye gonzalez aye grayson grove hurtado aye jones laird aye limon aye mcguire aye mcnerney Menjabar? Aye. Nilo? Ochoa Bog? Aye. Padilla? Aye. Perez? Aye. Yes, I Richardson. I see our toe. Small with us. Stern. Strickland. Humbert. I've all others. I will have. I will be person. I winner. Aye. Call the absent members. Allen. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Aye. Alvarado Gil, aye. Choi, Dally, Grayson, Grove, Jones. Aye. Aye. McNerney, Nilo, Criarto, Smallwood Cuevas, Strickland. Aye. Ayes 31, noes 0. The motion to reconsider passes. It's granted. We'll now proceed to reconsideration of the bill. This motion, the vote now is on the bill itself. File item 41. Secretary, please read. Secretary, please call the roll. Allen. Alvarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Arreguin. Aye. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blake Spear. Aye. Cobaldon. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cervantes. Aye. Choi. Cortese. Aye. Dali. Durazo. Aye. Gonzalez. Aye. Grayson. Grove. Hurtado? Aye. Jones? Laird? Aye. Aye. Limon? Aye. Aye. McGuire? Aye. Aye. McNerney? Menjabar? Aye. Aye. Nilo? Ochoa Bog Padilla Aye Aye Perez Aye Aye Reyes Aye Aye Richardson Aye Aye Rubio Aye Cioto Smallwood Cuevas Stern Aye Strickland Humber. Aye. Valadares. Wahab. Aye. Weber Pearson. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Call the absent members. Allen, Alvarado Gil, Choi, Daly, Grayson, Grove, Jones, McNerney, Nilo, Ochoa Bug, Cillarto, Smallwood Cuevas, Strickland, Paladariz. Call the absent members. Allen, Alvarado Gil, Choi, Daly, Grayson, Grove, Jones, McNerney, Nilo, Ochoa Bogue, Cillarto, Smallwood Cuevas, Strickland, Baladares. Senator Ashby moves to call. Members, return into consideration the daily file will now proceed to file item 37, SCR 166. Senator Choi is already at his desk. Senator Choi, recognized. Senator Sherwin, pardon me for just a moment. We're going to suspend consideration of file item 37 for just a moment and return to privileges of the floor to complete the introduction of guests by Senator Ochoa-Bogue. Yes, Senator Ochoa-Bogue.

Senator Reyes. Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, rise with my colleague from Yucaipa in recognition of Dr. Hart, president of Loma Linda Health, and a pillar of the Inland Empire community. Dr. Hart not only gave the last 20 years to Loma Linda Health as president, but first joined the institution as a student, making this more than a line of work, but a calling to serve the community in this capacity. Dr. Hart has worked in many capacities. One of those was to help found a community health center, the Inland Empire Community Health Center, of which I was a co-founder in the early 1980s. Dr. Hart, in 2016, opened the organization's San Bernardino campus. Additionally the Loma Linda Community Health Needs Assessment was introduced completed offering a roadmap to building a more vibrant and equitable community These are just some of the things that Dr Hart has done over the years And with that I also ask that you welcome Dr Hart As the outgoing president, he will be leaving us, but not very far. He's still staying locally. He'll be working globally and making sure that we open up more community health centers for the entire community. Thank you for allowing me to say a few words about Dr. Hart as well. Thank you. to file item 37, Senator Choi, at the Majority Leader's desk following this one final photo. Senator Choi, you're recognized. Secretary, please read. Senator Concurrent Resolution 166 by Senator Choi relative to Soju Day. Finally, my correct turn has come. Thank you, Mr. President and fellow members. I'm so pleased to present the Senate concurrent Resolution 166, which designates September 20, 2026, as California's second annual soju day. You may remember we passed it last year for the first time. Soju is not just a traditional Korean beverage. It represents community, hospitality, and sharing of culture across generations and backgrounds. Sojo is part of a taifud wave that Korean food is enjoyed by all people with no boundaries. Cuisines that you may enjoy when you enjoy Korean food with bulgogi, kimchi, and kalbi won't be complete without soju. Soju will open up the dialogues and the friendship even further. SAR 166 celebrates the tremendous contributions of California's Korean American community and the growing appreciation of Korean culture throughout our state. I respectfully ask for your aye vote and I invite all members and staff to join me at the Leland Stanford Mansion for our Soju Day Festival, where we'll be celebrating Korean culture with food, games, refreshments, right after following this session. Most importantly, when you are there, there will be gift goodies waiting for you. And I urge your eyes. Thank you. Senator Jones. Thank you, Mr. President. members I rise in support of SCR 166 and ask for all of our colleagues to also support today. Soju is a traditional Korean distilled beverage that holds significant cultural historical and social importance not only within the Korean community but increasingly across the United States. Soju has become an emblem of unity celebration and tradition for Korean Americans serving as a bridge of cultural exchange and enhancing cross understanding in our diverse society I ask your aye vote Senator Choi you may close I urge your aye vote all right secretary please read I'm sorry secretary please call the roll Allen I'm Raul Gil I archuleta aye, Aragon, aye, Ashby, aye, Becker, aye, Blakespear, aye, Cabaldon, aye, Caballero, aye, Cervantes, aye, Choi, aye, Cortese, aye, Daley, Durazo, aye, Gonzales, aye, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, aye Jones, aye Laird, aye Limon, McGuire, aye McNerney, aye Menjabar, aye Nilo, Ochoa Bo, aye Padilla, aye Perez, aye Reyes, aye Richardson, aye Rubio, aye Aye. Criarto? Smallwood Cuevas? Stern? Aye. Strickland? Aye. Umber? Aye. Valadares? Aye. Wahab? Aye. Weber Pearson? Aye. Aye. Call the absentees. Allen? Daly? Grayson? Grove? Limon? Nilo? Criarto? Smallwood Cuevas? Senator Troy moves a call. Senator Choi moves a call. Returning to privileges of the floor, Senator Choi for introduction of your guests. Thank you, President. I'm so pleased to introduce a special guest this morning or this afternoon, or almost four o'clock. I would like to introduce one by one by name, Honorable Chung-Tek Lim, Council General of Republic of Korea in San Francisco. Min Cheol Song, president representing Haik Jil-lo from Korea. Sojin Han is a famous singer and a composer who will be singing at the ceremony. I hope the ceremony hasn't started yet. And Mr. Dr. Jonathan Kim, President, San Francisco Bay Area Korea Association. Robert Cho is President of U.S.-Korea Alliance Association. And Paul Cho, I don't see him. Shin-Soo Shim is marketing director of Haichi Lo. Finally, you may recognize Mona Lee, who is the president of Sacramento Valley Korean Association who has been leading Korean festival for the second year in the KP Plaza and she has such a character everybody and was entertained by her and please welcome our special guests welcome to the Senate We'll pause briefly for a photo if any members wish to join Senator Choi and his guests. Thank you. All right, please, no more demonstrations. We're going to take the photo and then continue with the Senate's business. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Members, we're now returned to consideration of the daily file. Senator third reading file item 48 SCR 155 by Senator Jones. I would ask our guests to please please exit the chambers or return to the rear of the chambers and take conversations outside. Senator Jones, Secretary please read. Senate can current resolution 155 by Senator Jones relative to the Officer Kirk Leland Johnson Memorial Interchange. Senator Jones you're recognized. Thank you Mr. President and members and thank you for your esteemed attention on this SCR 155. This SCR is 43 years in the making and it's about time that the Senate has properly recognized this police officer. Mr. President, I rise today to present SCR 155, which designates the interchange of State Route 52 and Interstate 805 in San Diego County as the Officer Kirk Leland Johnson Memorial Interchange. Officer Johnson served his country as a sergeant in the United States Army, before joining the San Diego Police Department. In 1980, he joined the San Diego Police Department, graduating third in his academy class and quickly establishing himself as a hardworking and dedicated patrol officer. Officer Johnson was known for routinely volunteering for radio calls right up until the end of his shift and for taking great pride in serving the San Diego community. Officer Johnson lost his life in the line of duty on February 20th, 1983. He was only 26 years old at the time. Although his life was tragically cut short, his service and sacrifice left a lasting impact on his family fellow officers and the San Diego community at large SCR 155 ensures that Officer Johnson legacy will continue to be remembered by Californians for generations to come. The memorial designation serves as a reminder of the courage, dedication and service demonstrated every day by the men and women of law enforcement in all of our communities. I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SCR 155. Seeing no senators wishing to be recognized, secretary please call the roll. Allen. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Aye. Archuleta. Aye. Aragin. Aye. Aye. Jones, Laird, Limon, McGuire, McNerney, Mandelvar, Nilo, Ochoa Vogue, Padilla, Perez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Aye. Ciarto. Smallwood Cuevas. Stern. Aye. Strickland. Aye. Umber. Aye. Valdez. Aye. Wahab. Weber Pearson. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Call the absent members. Daly. Grayson. Grove. Limon. Richardson. Aye. Ciarto. Smallwood Cuevas. We'll have. Hours 33, noes 0. The resolution is adopted. Senator Ashby, under motions and resolutions. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry, Senator Jones, for introduction of guests in the gallery. No problem. Thank you, Mr. President. And I just want to thank all of the members for their vote, and especially my colleagues from San Diego, that we'll have the opportunity to remember this for generations to come. Today with me in the gallery, I have the great honor of introducing John Bailey, who was Officer Leland's partner at the time, Officer Kirk Leland Johnson. Officer Bailey was his partner at the time. This has been a personal project for Officer Bailey for 43 years to have this recognition granted Officer Johnson. And I just want to say to Officer Bailey, thank you very much for your efforts on this, and God bless you. Thank you. Thank you. 24th, without sufficient notice, I ask for an aye vote. Senator Valadares? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Respectfully asking for a no vote. All right. Secretary, please call the roll. Allen Aye Alvarado Gil No Archuleta Aye Aragon Aye Ashby Aye Becker Aye Blakespear Aye Cobaldin Aye Caballero Aye Cervantes Aye Choi No Cortese Aye Daly Durazo. Aye. Gonzalez. Aye. Grayson. Grove. Hurtado. Aye. Jones. No. Laird. Aye. Limon. McGuire. Aye. Aye. McNerney. Aye. Aye. Menjabar. Aye. Nilo. No. Ochoa Bob. No. Padilla. Aye. Aye. Perez. Aye. Aye. Reyes. Aye. Aye. Richardson. Aye. Aye. Rubio. Aye. Aye. Ciarto. Smallwood Cuevas. Stern. Aye. Aye. Strickland. No. Umbert. Aye. Aye. Valadez. No. Wahab. Weber Pearson. Aye. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Call the absent members. Dally, Grayson, Grove, Limon, Cillarto, Smallwood Cuevas, Wahab. Ayes 26, noes 7. Joint rule is suspended. Senator Ashby. Yes, Mr. President, thank you. I would like to move that Joint Rule 62A be suspended to allow the Committee on Judiciary to hold an informational hearing on the substance of SB 623 on Tuesday, June 23rd, without sufficient notice. I ask for an aye vote. Senator Valadares. Thank you, Mr. President. I also rise in opposition and would like to use the previous roll call vote. Is there any objection to the use of the prior roll call? Seeing none, ayes 26, noes 7. Joint Rule 62A is suspended. Senator Ashby. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that joint rule 62A be suspended to allow the committee on local government to hear AB 736 this week. Without sufficient notice, I ask for an aye vote. Senator Valladares. I'd like to ask for the previous roll call vote as well, Mr. President. All right. Is there any objection to use of the prior roll call? Seeing none, ayes 26, noes 7. Joint rule 62A is suspended. Senator Ashby. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Joint Rule 62A be suspended to allow the Committee on Education to hear AB 745 on Wednesday, June 24th, without sufficient notice. I ask for an aye vote. Senator Valladares. Thank you, Mr. President, requesting the previous roll call vote as well. Is there any objection to use of a prior roll call? Seeing none, ayes, 26, no, 7, Joint Rule 62A is suspended. Senator Ashby. Thank you, Mr. President. I move that joint rule 62A be suspended to allow the Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement to hear AB 1564 on Wednesday, June 24th without sufficient notice. I ask for an aye vote. Senator Valladares. Thank you, Mr. President. I object to the motion and requesting the previous roll call vote. Is there any objection to the substitution of the prior roll call? Seeing none, ayes 26, no 7, joint rule 62A is suspended. Senator Umberg, under motions and resolutions. Thank you, Mr. President. Under motions and resolutions, please move AB 2294, file item number 61 to the inactive file at the request of the author. Desk will note. All right, members, we're going to proceed to lift the call on file item 41. I had my mic raised for the previous motion Without objection I request that file item 32 SB 1189 be sent back to the Assembly for further action All right. Is there any objection? That will be the order. Senator Ahnberg. Under motions and resolutions, adjournment of memory. No, no, no. No, I've done my motion. All right. File item 41. We're going to begin lifting the call. Secretary, please call the absent members. Allen. Aye. Aye. Avrata Gil. Choi. Dally. Grayson. Grove. Jones. McClierney. Aye. Nilo. Ochoa Boat. Cierto. Smallwood Cuevas. Strickland. Ayes 28, noes 0. The resolution is adopted. Next file item 37, Senator Choi. Secretary, please call the absent members. Allen. Aye. Daly, Grayson, Grove, Limon, Nilo. Aye. Nilo, aye. Ciarto, Smallwood-Cuevas. Ayes 34, no 0. The resolution is adopted. Continuing to committee announcements, Senator Artur-Letta. Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs will be meeting in room 2200 at the swing state immediately after this meeting, our meeting. All right. In addition, the Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection will be convening in room 1200, one half hour after adjournment of session. Now returning to motions and resolutions. This is the time for the Senate to consider motions to adjourn in the memory of Californians. We'll begin with Senator Umberg.

Senator Umberg, the Senate's condolences are with you and the family. Please bring Ms. Ware's name to the desk for appropriate recognition.

Welcome. As you are with us, our thoughts are with you. Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Senator, for bringing this forward. Please bring the name to the desk for appropriate recognition. And finally, Senator Valladares.

Senator, please bring your grandfather's name to the desk so that he and his life can be properly memorialized. Majority Leader, the desk is clear. There is no further business. Thank you, Mr. President. Blessings to the family of the senator from Santa Clarita. That is not an easy task to do, and you did it beautifully. Colleagues, thank you so much for your incredible patience and partnership today and always. And to the senators from the LGBTQ caucus, thank you for leading a beautiful celebration for pride on the Senate floor today. The Senate will floor session is next scheduled for this Thursday, June 25th at 9 a.m. We will see you then. The Senate is in recess until all legislative business has been received. We will reconvene Tuesday, June 25th, 2026 at 9 o'clock a.m. Thank you.