June 9, 2026 · Governmental Organization · 6,698 words · 7 speakers · 17 segments
Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. The Senate Government Organization Committee will come to order. But before we proceed, I would like to give you a quick update on file item number 6, AB2412, by Assemblymember Tom, who's present here today. He has pulled this item from the consent calendar and will be presenting it as well. We don't have a quorum, and we will proceed as a subcommittee until we have enough members to establish a quorum. I would like to invite Assemblymember Ta, who I see is present here, to come up and present. We are going to have to go out of order. Oh, I'm so sorry. I do see another Assemblymember out there. Okay, all right. So we'll proceed. Why don't we start with Assemblymember Ta, item AB 2294, State Holidays, Sylvia Mendez Day. Welcome. And we also want to invite, if you have any witnesses, to join us in the front.
Thank you, Chair and Members. I'm very proud to be here to present AB 2294, a view that will declare April 14 as Silvia Mendez Day. This day marked the historic decision in the case of Mendez v. Westminster, a landmark moment in California and America's civil rights history. In 1943, Silvia Mendez, a nine-year-old girl, was denied entry to the 17th Street School in Westminster, California, because he was Mexican-American. Silvia and other children were ordered to attend sacred Mexican-only school, even though there was a better school, closer to their home. Silvia's parents, Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendes, along with other Mexican-American families, fought back against this discrimination. Their case, Mendez v. Westminster, was a groundbreaking victory for civil rights. The Ninth Circuit Court ruled in favor of the Mendez family, and two months later Governor Warren signed a bill that made California the first state to outlaw public school segregation This case was the first federal lawsuit to challenge the doctrine of separate but equal in K schools Its success set a russell legal precedent for Supreme Court's Brown v. Wolf Education decision which would desegregate schools around the nation. As a former mayor of Westminster, I understand the profound impact of the case on our community. The legacy of Mendez v. Westminster must be celebrated, especially in the state where it all began. I believe the Latino community has played a key role in our state history, and it is It is important for all Californians to learn about the challenges faced by Mexican Americans in the fight for equality and civil rights. AB 2294 serves as a reminder of importance of education and awareness in fostering a more inclusive society. Through honoring Silvia Mendez, we inspire future generations to continue the fight for equality and justice. I urge my colleagues to support AB 2294 in honor Silvia Mendez and the legacy of Mendez v. Westminster. Let's ensure that California continues to be a beacon of progress and inclusion. Thank you so much, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote, and I have my witnesses.
Thank you. For that presentation, we have two lead witnesses, Yolanda Benson and Naomi Lujan Perez, so whoever wants to proceed first.
Mine's shorter, so I'll go first.
Thank you. Welcome.
Good morning. My name is Yolanda Benson. I'm here today representing the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, in very much strong support of AB 2294. We definitely want to thank Assemblyman Ta for this bill for recognizing the historic significance of Mendez versus Westminster and California's leadership alongside Latino communities in laying the constitutional and moral groundwork for ending school segregation in the United States. California's Latino community has played a significant role in our state's history, and the fact that this bill is also cost-neutral is even better. Happy to celebrate the strides we have made as a state and as a nation, and we respectfully ask for your aye vote.
Thank you. You may proceed.
Good morning, Chair and members. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in front of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee in support of AB 2294. My name is Noemi Lujan-Perez, and I am the Executive Director of State Government Relations of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Western Regional Office, known as HACU. Our association is in strong support of AB 2294. HACU was founded in 1986 and represents more than 600 Hispanic-serving institutions nationwide, including 179 here in California alone. These colleges and universities serve and support students from all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the communities they educate. AB 2294 provides California with an opportunity to recognize one of the most consequential civil rights victories in our nation history and the family whose courage helped expand educational opportunities for generations of Americans In 1943, Silvia Mendes, a nine-year-old Mexican-American girl, was denied access to a public school because of her ethnicity. Rather than accept this injustice, her parents, Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendes, joined other families in challenging school segregation in California. Their efforts resulted in the landmark Mendes v. Westminster decision. On April 14, 1947, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Mendes family. Helping end school segregation in California. This ruling established an important legal foundation that would later influence the United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Together, these cases helped dismantle the doctrine of separate but equal and opened the doors for public education of students of all races, backgrounds across the nation. The significance and victory goes beyond K-12. access to quality public schools created pathways to higher education, workforce participation, and economic mobility for generations of students who would otherwise have been denied those opportunities. Today, there are 645 designated Hispanic-serving institutions nationwide. And while these schools are defined by Latino student enrollment, they serve a broad cross-section of America collectively. HSI has enrolled an estimated 70 to 85 percent of the nation's African American, Asian Pacific Islander, Native American, first generation, and low-income students overall. That reality reflects the very promise and purpose of educational desegregation, expanding opportunity access for students of all backgrounds, races, ethnicities. The growth in Latino participation in higher education and the educational opportunities enjoyed today by students from all communities did not happen by accident. It was made possible in part by pioneers like Silvia Mendez and her family, whose courage helped remove barriers to educational opportunity, creating a more inclusive educational system for future generations. AB 22 appropriately honors the legacy and recognizes the role played by California's bold leadership in advancing those civil rights, educational opportunity, and equal access to education. By establishing Sylvia Mendez Day, California ensures that future generations understand the sacrifices made to create a more inclusive educational system and a stronger democracy for all. Haku respectfully urges your support for AB 2294. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Thank you. Thank you for that presentation. Now I would like to invite anyone wishing to speak in support to come up and state your name. Okay, now I would like to invite anyone wishing to speak in opposition of the bill to come up. Okay, seeing no interest, I will now bring it back to the committee. Vice Chair, Susa Villavarres.
Thank you, Chair. First of all, Assemblyman, thank you for bringing this bill forward. As co of the California Hispanic Legislative Caucus it is a priority piece of legislation for our caucus And I happy to move the bill when it appropriate and we have a quorum Sylvia Mendes legacy is really a story of resilience of grit and of courage And what always strikes me is that she was only nine years old, and to the same age as my own daughter, Charlotte, when her family decided to take on this fight. and it's remarkable to think that a child so young would become part of a case that changed the course of history right here in California. And when Sylvia was denied admission to school, to a local school because of her heritage, her Mexican heritage, her family refused to accept discrimination as normal. And through the Mendez versus Westminster, they helped end school segregation in California and laid really important groundwork for the broader civil rights movement. And we are all proud of the Mendez family, of the legacy, and that it's a part of California's history. And for our Hispanic caucus, her story is especially meaningful because it reflects the determination and the perseverance of so many Hispanic families who fought for opportunity, for fairness, and for a better future for their children, which is why her legacy reminds us that one family, even one young girl, can make a lasting difference for generations to come. And I would love to be a co-author if you would have me. And again, thank you for bringing this forward.
We really appreciate that, Senator. Thank you, Vice Chair. Now I'll turn it over to Senator Lola Smallwood-Cueva.
Thank you, Madam Chair, and good morning. And I want to commend the author for bringing this forward. So important for us to understand our history,
so important for us to understand the significance of ordinary people standing up and doing extraordinary things that changes the course of direction of a country, of our communities, and of our state. And I think now more than ever, we're getting to an age where some of these stories are not known. Our children don't understand their own power and the power of their families and the sacrifices that families have made before them and the sacrifices that our families have to make today to ensure that we have a free democracy where families are respected, where our children get the education that they deserve, but more importantly, that we celebrate who they are. And no matter where they come from, what they look like, the color of their skin, that they have an opportunity to make a difference and to live the life that they deserve here in the state of California. So I want to thank you for bringing this forward, and I'm happy to move the bill when the time is right. Thank you for that. Now, Senator Bob Archuleta. Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. and Assemblyman, thank you for bringing this forward. The Mendez family, I'm sure all of them, are looking to California of what has happened. We are about to have a Mexican-American governor. There will be a race, there will be an election, and the possibility of having a Mexican-American governor has happened because of this history in that family. And to all the veterans who've served here in California and many that I serve with, never forgetting their roots, never forgetting their contribution to California. And we have educators throughout the state, superintendents, teachers, principals. So education that was once segregated. was so integrated that it's amazing what the Mexican-American has contributed over the years and is now being recognized. And this will open up so many doors. We can get this information to our children, our high schools, into our colleges. We've got to understand that segregation is terrible, no doubt. And when we integrate our thoughts and our hopes and our dreams together as one nation, one California, that we succeed. So I thank you. And I, too, would love to be a co-author on that bill. So thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Anybody else wishing to speak? Seeing no interest. Thank you, Assemblymember Ta. It's really saddening to me to know that so many of our great, just iconic members of our community who fought so hard for the civil rights movement, you know, are getting older and we may not get to have them around enough to tell their stories. I had the privilege of sitting around with Sylvia for a little while, and we got to talk. And it's just incredible how I think in today's generation there's still, you know, so many of us that are scared to challenge the system. But yet, you know, there she was, a little girl back in the days where it wasn't popular. In fact, she was one of the first. And so I want to just commend her. I met her sister as well. And what an incredible legacy to leave behind. I just want to say thank you for bringing this forward as well. I would like to also add myself as a co-author. Really appreciate that. Just thank you for bringing it forward. You may close. I really appreciate all the comment from Senator. And I want to thank the committee staff for working with my office for this bill. And I really appreciate that we all want to celebrate a legacy of the Mendez family. I want to thank my witnesses. They're amazing. I really want to tell them they really show all of us their passion about the bill, and that really makes a difference. But thank you so much, and I respectfully ask your aye vote. Thank you. I don't think we have a quorum yet, so we're going to have to put this on call. We want to thank you for presenting, and thank you to your witnesses for coming to present. And we will now move on to item number six, also by Assemblymember Ta, AB 2412. I would like to invite your witnesses to come up to the front. Yes, my witness is on the way, but I have my staff to answer all the technical questions, if I may. They can sit up here. They want to sit up here. Is that okay? I really appreciate that. Okay. Good morning, Chair and members of the committee. I again would like to thank the committee staff for their effort and their support. State agencies increasing use generated artificial intelligence to communicate with Californians. The public reserve deserves to know when they are interacting with AI rather than a human being. Covenant law requires disclosure when AI is used in communication regarding government services and benefits. AB 2412 extends its transparency requirement to general public announcement. This bill does not prohibit agency from using AI. It simply requires disclosure and provides the public with information on how to contact a human employee when needed. government transparency is really important to maintain a public trust and I happy to introduce Mary Hyatt with California Civil Liberty to verify my view. Mary Hyatt Good morning. I forgot to express it earlier today, but there will be some limits on presentations. You'll have three minutes to present. You may proceed. Is it on or off? Oh, there we go. Good morning, Chair and members. Yeah, just running, literally running to the Capitol, looking traffic this morning. So, yeah, my name is Maddie Hyatt, and on behalf of the California Civil Rights Advocacy, we are in strong support of AB 2412. We feel the bill is simple, practical, and important. When the state of California uses generative artificial intelligence to communicate with the public, the public should just simply be told that and should be given a clear way to reach a human employee. Government speech is very different from private speech. When a state agency issues a public announcement, sends guidance, posts information online, or communicates with Californians about programs, rights, rules, benefits, or responsibilities, people rely on that information. They assume that it carries the judgment and accountability of a public agency. AB 2412 doesn't ban AI, and it doesn't punish innovation. It does not tell agencies that they can't use this technology to work more efficiently. It simply says to be transparent and keep a human point of contact available. We feel this matters for civil liberties, due process, and public trust. AI-generated communications can be wrong, they can be incomplete, they can be confusing, and overly generic. And people most likely to be harmed by unclear government communications are often the people that are least able to navigate an automated system. People like seniors, people with disabilities, working families, people with English as a second language, and people that are just simply trying to access public services that are under a lot of stress. Transparency is not anti-technology. Transparency is what makes responsible technology possible. For these reasons, we respectfully support AB 2412 and ask for your aye vote. Thank you. And that was your witness, correct? Yes. Okay. So now I'd like to invite anyone in the audience wishing to speak in support of the bill to come up, state your name and your organization. Seeing none, I would like to invite anyone wishing to speak in opposition to please join us. Anybody from the audience wishing to speak against the bill, welcome to come up. Okay, everyone's very collaborative this morning, so I will now bring it back to our committee members. Anybody wishing to speak on this bill? All righty. So thank you so much for this bill. I know that there was a member that had concerns about state agencies being able to do this. But, you know, for clarification, there was already a bill, SB 869, by Senator Dodd, that already put this in motion and already gives the state the ability to state agencies to do this. So I cannot vote since we don't have a quorum. We're going to have to leave your bill open. We're just going to leave it up for a call. Thank you so much. I'm going to close. Oh, I'm so sorry. You may close. I really thank you for your support. And it might be really, really simple if the government agency employee using AI, any form AI. So I believe that the public, they deserve to know. So that's really, really simple. Other than that I think that the agency I think they have their authority to control their communication And I respectfully ask you for your aye vote Thank you MS Thank you Thank you so much Again as we mentioned we don have a quorum so we going to have to put the bill on call And thank you for your testimony. We're going to go in order. I think I see Mr. Rogers out there. You want to come up here and invite your witnesses to join us? Thank you, gentlemen. We will now move over to item number nine, AB 2663 by Assemblymember Rogers. And when you're ready, you may proceed. Yeah, absolutely. Good morning, everybody. AB 2663 is a simple sunset extension. We will accept the chair's amendments to the bill as well. During the pandemic, we had to get creative on how we supported our restaurants and our community that was really struggling. This legislature passed a law to allow for cocktails to go with control and with parameters built around it as a way to try to bolster a struggling industry. This bill would extend that sunset. It actually is set to expire at the end of this year. So we have an urgency clause that is also in it to allow simply for New Year's Eve to be included as opposed to waiting for the bill to kick in the next day for restaurateurs as well. With me to present on the importance of the bill is Matt Sutton, who's the Senior Vice President for Government Affairs for the California Restaurant Association, and Juan Barajas, who is a restaurant owner of Savory Cafe. You'll have two minutes to present each. You may proceed when you're ready. Thank you, Madam Chair and members. Matt Sutton with the California Restaurant Association. We are here in support of the bill, and I think the best part about this policy proposal is it's been renewed a number of times, that it's had a chance to act as effectively a pilot project. It's been successful by every measure. It's got the public safety safeguards in terms of the limitations on how alcoholic beverages can be transported from a restaurant and how they can be exchanged in terms of the packaging to secure the alcoholic beverages. And again, this is an option for restauranteurs. And many have taken advantage of it, and many more would like to. And without an extension, this goes away. And then the other thing that I would just mention that we continue to notice is hugely changed consumer preferences and expectations from the pandemic. And so in some sense, we're basically continuing to serve those expectations from our guests. So with that, I'll turn it over to Mr. Juan Barajas from Savory Cafe to say a few words about his experience with this law. Thank you. Thank you, Matt. Thank you. Assemblymember Rogers and Madam Chair, members. Just wanted to be here present. My name is Juan Barajas. We've been in business for about 25 years. We operate Savory Cafe. And throughout the last few years, we have seen the effect of both COVID and we still see some of those trends. happening right now, right? So it almost seems like it's the restaurant industry has not been the same. But we're here today just to talk a little briefly about AB 2663 and extending the to-go beverages and also the impact that that has had in our businesses on an operational basis. As we see some increasing rising cost of goods, labor, and so on, having items have smaller margins or larger margins to as a value added when we are consuming for meals has been extremely helpful to our operation We are a very small independent restaurant but it scaling it at a California level that can really benefit where you have an option in the buy-in by continuing AB 2663, and that is why we are in very strong support. As Matt mentioned, also it's an economic stability of some of our restaurants with the smaller margins. We have also seen the consumer habits that have changed throughout, where we have seen different ways in which restaurants are now even remodeling some of their kitchens to offer that to-go business. But having that option to go with the alcoholic beverages, if restaurants prefer, we will highly support for that to happen. That is why we're in strong support of 2663. We urge you to vote yes on that. Thank you. Thank you for that presentation. And now I would like to invite anyone in the audience wishing to speak in support of this bill to please join us, state your name, and your organization. Good morning, Chair and members. Naomi Padron on behalf of the Distilled Spirits Council, we support the bill. Thanks. Thank you. Good morning, Madam Chair and members. Madison Dwelley with Political Solutions on behalf of the California Travel Association and the Family Winemakers of California. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak in support? Seeing none, I would like to invite now any witnesses in opposition to please come up to the front. Anyone in the audience wishing to speak to state your name and your position? Seeing no interest, we're going to bring it back to the members. Any members wishing to speak on this item? Okay. Okay. Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas moves the bill. I just want to thank you for this. I know it's important to support our small businesses. We know that they're struggling, and this came out of the pandemic, which we know our small businesses were really in a difficult situation. So I'm glad that this will take you over all the FIFA and the Olympics and see what happens after that, see if it's necessary to continue this. And with that, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas moves the bill. Madam, do we have enough? Oh, we're still one short of that quorum. So thank you for that presentation. We're just going to hold off and put that on call. And thank you for your presentation, gentlemen. We will now move on to, let's see, any other? I see Assemblymember Addis in the front. We will now move over to item number 10, AB 2731 by Assemblymember Addis. I'd like to invite our witnesses to come to the front. Good morning. And when you're ready, you may proceed. Thank you so much, Madam Chair and members. I'm here to present AB 2731 that would expand the number of type 47 alcohol licenses available just in Santa Cruz County to account for disparities in population across the county. I'm going to let my witness talk about why this is needed, but the gist is that six of the licenses, there would be 12 licenses total. Six would be reserved for the city of Watsonville. The other six would be reserved for cities in southern San Luis Obispo County, such as where I represent, the area of Aptos. Five of the licenses could be issued in a calendar year until the limit of 12 is met. And the licenses could not be resold for more than their original purchase price. So we would be preventing price spikes in the secondary market that have become such a problem for those that are trying to acquire the licenses. Joining me to tell you. Bestify in support is Jean Hurst, representing the County of Santa Cruz, who can tell you a little more about boots on the ground there. Thank you. You'll have also two minutes to present. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair and members. I'm Jean Hurst here today on behalf of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, a proud co-sponsor of AB 2731. We are here today to respectfully request your aye vote on the bill, which would authorize the ABC to issue an additional 12 licenses to entities within the county. As Assemblymember Addis mentioned, six licenses would be issued to entities within the city of Watsonville, while the remaining six would be issued to entities within the communities of Aptos, Capitola, Live Oaks, Ocal, and the other remaining unincorporated communities. The board has supported this effort to assist small businesses seeking to locate in these parts of the county as well as to advance equitable economic development opportunities for these communities. Santa Cruz County, as you can imagine, a tourist destination, has reached its population-based cap on general liquor licenses as of June 30th of 2025. And as a result, no new businesses can apply for or obtain a license locally under current law. Business seeking to preserve spirits must therefore purchase an existing license on the secondary market where inflated costs create significant barriers for small and locally owned establishments. Tourism is the county's leading industry and as a result we are seeking to support local businesses that help sustain our status as a must see California destination. We greatly appreciate Assemblymember Addis' leadership on this important measure and respectfully request your aye vote this morning on behalf of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Cruz. Thank you. Thank you, and I apologize to have to interrupt the presentation. We just, I think we have enough for our quorum, so we're going to establish a quorum. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Rubio? Present. Rubio, present. Valadares? Here. Valadares, here. Alvarado Gil? Archuleta? Here. Archuleta, here. Ashby? Blakespeare? Here. Blakespeare, here. Cervantes? Dali? Here. Dali here. Hurtado? Ochoa Boak? Here. Ochoa Boak here. Padilla? Richardson? Here. Richardson here. Smallwood Cuevas? Here. Smallwood Cuevas here. Wahab? Weber Pearson? Here. Weber Pearson here. Okay. We have established a quorum, so we're going to continue. Thank you for that presentation. I will now invite any member wishing to speak in opposition of the bill to please come up. Any main witnesses in opposition? Anyone wishing to speak in support of the bill? I think I skipped that, so you may proceed. Please just take your name. Good morning, Madam Chair. Senator Lori Johnson, on behalf of the city of Watsonville, we want to thank the author and Santa Cruz County, and we urge your aye vote. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning again. Madison Dwelly on behalf of the family winemakers in support. Thank you. Now, anybody wishing to speak in opposition, please come up. Okay, see no interest. Is anyone, any member of this? I wish to speak on behalf of this bill. Okay, so you know interest. I just want to say thank you. I know that I just want to highlight that this is important because I understand this is meant to boost those areas that are needing this economic boost. So it is for underserved communities that will allow for not only restaurants and activity but also jobs, I suppose, and I hope that this works out well. And with that, would you like to close? Thank you, Madam Chair. I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you. Please call the roll. Is there a motion to move this bill forward? Move the bill Moved by Senator Richardson Item 10 AB 2731 Motion is due passed to Appropriations Committee Rubio Aye Rubio aye Valadares. Aye. Valadares, aye. Alvarado Gill. Archuleta. Aye. Archuleta, aye. Ashby. Blakespeare. Aye. Blakespeare, aye. Cervantes. Daly. Aye. Daly, aye. Hurtado. Ochoa-Bogue. Aye. Ochoa-Bogue, aye. Padilla. Richardson. Aye. Richardson, aye. Smallwood Cuevas. Aye. Smallwood Cuevas, aye. Wahab. Weber Pearson. Aye. Weber, Pearson, aye. Thank you. And we'll leave that open for members that are absent. Thank you for that presentation. And before we move over to another bill presentation, I don't see Mr. Alvarez here. We're going to make sure that we do the consent calendar. Please. Motion. Motion by Senator Archuleta. The following items are on consent. Foul item number one, AB 1245 by Assemblymember Stephanie. Foul item number two, AB 1982 by Assemblymember Lowenthal. File item number 3, AB-2006 by Michelle Rodriguez. File item number 4, AB-2173 by Assemblymember Wallace. File item number 7, AB-2455 by Assemblymember Haney. File item number 8, AB-2539 by Assemblymember Ramos. Please call the roll. Rubio. Aye. Rubio, aye. Valderas. Aye. Valderas, aye. Alvarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Archuleta, aye. Aye. Ashby. Blake Spear? Aye. Blake Spear, aye. Cervantes? Daly? Aye. Daly, aye. Hurtado? Ochoa-Bogue? Aye. Ochoa-Bogue, aye. Padilla? Richardson? Aye. Richardson, aye. Smallwood Cuevas? Aye. Smallwood Cuevas, aye. Wahab? Weber Pearson? Aye. Weber Pearson, aye. We don't see the Assemblymember Alvarez. If someone can reach out, see if we can get him to come. But in the meantime, I'm going to lift the calls on the items placed on call. We will begin with item. We've got a motion on bill. Yeah, we've got motions on bill. Okay, so we have a motion on item number six, AB 2412 by Assemblymember Ta. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Oh, I'm sorry. Item number five, AB 2294 by Assemblymember Ta. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Motion is due passed to the floor. Rubio? Aye. Rubio, aye. Valderas, aye. Valderas, aye. Alvarado Gill, Archuleta, aye. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, Blakespeare, aye. Blakespeare, aye. Cervantes, Daly, aye. Daly, aye. Hurtado, Ochoa-Bogue, aye. Ochoa-Bogue, aye. Padilla, Richardson, aye. Richardson, aye. Smallwood Cuevas, aye. Smallwood Cuevas, aye. Wahab, aye. Weber Pearson, aye. Weber Pearson, aye. We'll continue to leave that item on call. We will now move over to item number 9. 6. 6. 6, sorry, 6. AB 2412 by Assemblymember Ta. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Motion is due passed to Privacy Committee. Rubio. Aye. Rubio, aye. Valadares. Aye. Valadares, aye. Alvarado, Gill. Archuleta. Aye. Archuleta, aye. Ashby. Blakespeare. No. Blakespeare, no. Cervantes. Daly. Aye. Daly, aye. Hurtado Ochoa Bogue Ochoa Bogue Aye Padilla Richardson Aye Richardson Aye Smallwood Cuevas Aye Smallwood Cuevas Aye Wahab Aye Wahab Aye Weber Pearson Aye Weber Pearson Aye We will continue to leave that item open. I believe everyone here has voted on all items except 9 9 We could do 9 We going to lift the call number item 9 for members that just arrived Item number 9, AB 2663, moved by Senator Valladares. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Motion is due pass as amended to Appropriations Committee. Rubio. Aye. Rubio, aye. Valadares. Aye. Valadares, aye. Alvarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Archuleta, aye. Ashby. Blake Spear? Aye. Blake Spear, aye. Cervantes? Daly? Aye. Daly, aye. Hurtado? Ochoa Bogue? Aye. Ochoa Bogue, aye. Padilla? Richardson? Aye. Richardson, aye. Smallwood Cuevas? Aye. Smallwood Cuevas, aye. Wahab? Aye. Wahab, aye. Weber Pearson? Aye. Weber Pearson, aye. That's 10. We'll leave it open. 10-0. We'll leave it open. That bill has 10-0. We'll leave it open for us and members. We're still waiting on Assemblymember Alvarez three minutes. We're going to take a brief pause until he gets here. We're back from break. We are giving Assemblymember Alvarez a few more minutes. If not, we're going to have Senator Aquila Weber present that bill for him. So two more minutes. We'd like to invite Assemblymember Alvarez to join us to present Item 11, AB 2751. We want to invite your witnesses to come up and present. House Nunn. Whenever you're ready, you may proceed. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to the rest of the committee. Appreciate you all for giving me the opportunity to speak on 2751, which establishes parity for travelers entering California from outside the United States by standardizing the personal importation limit of alcoholic beverages to six liters every 31 days. The current limit is for one liter per 31 days for Californians, and up to six cases for non-Californians, as your analysis states. Right now, if you fly home from a trip abroad or if you come through a seaport, state law allows you to bring back a reasonable amount of alcohol for your own consumption to share with family and friends. However, if you drive or walk across into my district at the San Ysidro or the Otay Mesa port of entry, you are actually allowed to bring in only one liter, as I said, much less than what is allowed by those who fly home or who come through a seaport of entry AB 2751 corrects that inconsistency by establishing a clear standard as I said traveling by land you could now cross into the U through our ports of entry bringing in six leaders every 31 days. This change reflects what thousands of border community residents, and we have 175,000 people across the border every single day, a majority of them to work but some to visit our region. This allows them to return from a family weekend trip in Baja with a bottle to share with their family. This is particularly important for strengthening their relationship in exchange with Mexico. The Guadalupe Valley, which is the wine region in Baja California, which is only about an hour and a half away from the border from my district, is Baja California's culinary scene where a major attraction of tourists from California and other parts, but a lot of Californians, particularly Southern Californians, who go there. AB 2751 ensures that a California returning from that weekend wine tasting trip to Baja can reasonably bring back a few bottles without facing confusing, more restrictive rules at the land border, simply because they drove instead of flying across the border. So we don't have any witnesses, but we have to answer any questions. Thank you very much.
Just want to invite anyone wishing to speak in support to state your name, organization. Seeing none, we'll invite opposition to state their name. And opposition. Seeing none, we have the bill that's been moved by Senator Valladares. I'm sorry, anybody else that is wishing to speak on this bill? Okay, with that, would you like to close?
Thank you very much. Appreciate your help in closing this loophole to be able to create some parity for our border crossers down in South California. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Item 11, motion is due passed to Appropriations Committee. Rubio. Aye. Rubio, aye. Valideris? Aye. Valideris, aye. Alvarado Gill. Archuleta? Aye. Archuleta, aye. Ashby? Blakespeare? Aye. Blakespeare, aye. Cervantes? Dally? Aye. Dally, aye. Hurtado? Ochoa-Bogue? Aye. Ochoa-Bogue, aye. Padilla? Richardson? Aye. Richardson, aye. Smallwood Cuevas? Wahab? Aye. Wahab, aye. Weber Pearson? Aye. Weber Pearson, aye. I'll hold it open. We will hold that open for absent members. We're just making an announcement. We're going to be lifting calls for those absent members. We have several members don't adhere. Senator Ashby, Senator Cervantes, Senator Padilla, and Senator Smallwood Cueva. I think she voted on most of them, but we will be lifting calls. We're going to do one round for those that are already here. One second. We will be lifting calls on the consent calendar. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Absent members. Ashby, Cervantes, Padilla, Wahab. Aye. Wahab, aye. Smallwood, aye. She's already in line. Okay, we'll leave that open. We will now move over to item number... You want to do 10? Item number 10, AB 2731 by Assemblymember Addis. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Absent members Ashby, Cervantes, Padilla, Wahab. Aye. Wahab, aye. 10-0. We'll still hold it open. 10-0. That will remain on call. I believe we have voted on most items. We're going to move now to item number 11, AB 2751 by Assemblymember Alvarez. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Thank you. Absent members, Ashby, Cervantes, Padilla, Smallwood Cuevas, Aye. Smallwood Cuevas, Aye. 10-0, still open. Padilla, Padilla, Aye. That's 11-0 on that, still holding. That will remain open on call for absent members. I want to invite all the absent members to join us. We are done. We have concluded the item. So we will take a brief pause to allow members to join us. So this scene is, we're looking for Ashby and Cervantes. Padilla just walked in. Thank you. Hello everyone, we are back. We're going to lift calls for the members that just joined us. We're going to start with consent calendar. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Absent members. Ashby, Cervantes. Consent. Padilla. Aye. Padilla, aye. Cervantes. Aye. Cervantes, aye. Okay. We'll keep that open on call. We're going to move over to a file item number 5, AB 2294 by Assemblymember Taal. Madam Secretary. Absent members. Ashby. Cervantes. Aye. Cervantes, aye. Padilla. Padilla, aye. Leaving that open for absent members, file item number 6, AB 2412 by Assemblymember Taal. Absent members. Ashby. Cervantes. Aye. Cervantes, aye. Padilla. Aye. Padilla, aye. Leaving that open on call, file item number 9, AB 2663 by Assemblymember Rogers. Madam Secretary? Absent members Ashby? Cervantes? Aye. Cervantes, aye. Padilla? Aye. Padilla, aye. We'll leave that open. File item number 10, AB 2731 by Assemblymember Addis. Absent members Ashby? Cervantes? Aye. Cervantes, aye. Padilla? Aye. Padilla, aye. Moving over to file item number 11, AB 2751 by Assemblymember Alvarez. Absent members Cervantes? Aye. Cervantes, aye. Ashby? We are going to leave that open for absent members We pause for a brief moment to ensure that we give her enough time to arrive Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. member who has joined us. We're going to start with the consent calendar. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Ashby? Ashby, aye. 13-0, that's out. 13-0, that bill is out. We will be moving over to item number 5, AB 2294, by Assemblymember Ta. Ashby? Aye. Ashby, aye. 13-0, that's out. That bill has 13-0, it is out. Moving over to item number 6, AB 2412, by Assemblymember Ta. Ashby. Aye. Ashby, aye. That's 12 to 1. That bill is 12 to 1. We will be moving over to item number 9, AB 2663 by Assemblymember Rogers. Ashby. Aye. Ashby, aye. 13-0. It's out. That bill is 13-0. That is out. Moving over to item number 10, AB 2731 by Assemblymember Addis. Ashby. Aye. Ashby, aye. 13-0. That bill is 13-0. It is out. Moving over to item 11, AB 2751 by Assemblymember Alvarez. Ashby. Aye. Ashby, aye. That is 13-0. That bill is 13-0, I believe. We have everyone. Thank you for those that have joined us and those that are watching at home. And this meeting is adjourned. Thank you.