Senate Floor Session

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll. Allen, Alvarado Gill, Archuleta, Arraguin, Ashby, Becker, Blakespeare, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dally, Durazo, Gonzales, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Lear, Limon, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Nilo, Ochoa Bogue, Padilla, Perez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Sayarto, Smallwood Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valadez, Wahab, Weber Pearson, Wiener. Wiener. A quorum is present. Would the members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise. We will be led in prayer this morning by Senator Archuleta, after which please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Good morning. Our prayer for today. Gracious and merciful God, we pray for your power to be gentle, the strength to be forgiving, the patience to be understanding, and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding on to what we trust to be right. Please lead us. May we know the power of good and the power of love to create a new world where fear and selfishness no longer lead people to commit injustice or bring suffering to others. We pray for vision to see and faith to believe in the world emancipated from violence. Help us to devote our energy to the task of making peace and inspiring all to contribute their gifts for the preservation of humanity. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Thank you Madam President I am so proud to rise today and introduce all of you to my guests Today I am recognizing the Natomas Nighthawks men basketball team from Natomas High School here in Sacramento in Senate District 8. The Nighthawks have achieved an extraordinary rise over the past three seasons, consistently competing at the highest levels and representing their school, their community, and their city with pride. This season, the team reached new heights, winning the Division IV Section Championship and advancing to the state semifinals. They now compete at a higher Division III level due to their hard work and dedication. Their success builds on a strong track record, including three consecutive regular season league championships, a Division IV section finalist finish, and multiple runs into the late rounds of state playoffs. The Nighthawks' achievements have been fueled by an entire team of exceptional talent, including four All-Metro nominees, Alfred Wilkins, Aaron Wallace, Diego Villanueva, and Mano Jenkins. Together, these accomplishments reflect the team's resilience and commitment to excellence. We are also joined by the Nighthawks coaches Brian Edwards, D'Angelo Jenkins, and James Littlejohn, whose leadership has spearheaded by head coach Brian McKenzie, has helped guide the team to their extraordinary record while instilling strong values into each of these young athletes. Members, please join me in giving congratulations and a warm welcome to the Natomas Nighthawks on their historic winning season.

Good morning and welcome to this year's James Irvine Foundation Leadership Recipients. The California State Senate is honored to have you on the floor with us today. This award recognizes the leaders in our communities who are making tangible changes to help make our state a better place. This year, six honorees work on a range of issues that directly impact our lives. Those issues include homelessness, racial barriers in education, youth civic engagement, community college enrollment, and mental health. Their commitment and innovative solutions to these problems have changed the lives of thousands of Californians. At least one honoree has worked with our assembly to pass legislation, and we hope to see more of those bills advance through the legislative process. Organic grassroots work is vital to making change through all stages of government, whether that be at the local, state, or federal level. Thank you all for all that you do. I will now turn to my colleague from Berkeley to begin the introduction of the 2026 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards.

Well, thank you, Madam Pro Tem. As a resident of Oakland, as a representative of the city of Oakland and the California State Senate, it's an honor to recognize a leader who is shaping positive youth futures through cultural identity, mentorship, and leadership pathways. and that person is Chris Chapman. Having dedicated his career to closing the achievement gap for black boys, Chris founded Kingmakers of Oakland to academically engage youth and increase graduation rates through cultural connection. Research shows that students of color are disciplined at higher rates for the same behaviors exhibited by other students, which can lead to disengagement in school and lower graduation rates. And Chris work includes culturally responsive curriculum mentorship leadership training and strategic partnership building across stakeholders The KOO Crown Curriculum is a college preparatory elective that teaches African American history from the diaspora through Afrofuturism giving students the opportunity to connect with thousands of years of African history, culture, and achievement. He is fostering social equity through the belief that focusing on the needs of one group improves outcomes for everyone. And Chris's work is proof that seeing your culture, community, and history reflected back to you is uplifting in positive ways across your education and by educators who share that culture and history is vital to academic success. members on behalf of the state senate please join me in recognizing Chris Chapman for his visionary work in leadership on improving academic success and educator pipelines in the state of California

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I am proud today to recognize Lian Chun, Executive Director of Khmer Girls in Action, as a James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awardee. Lian came to California as a refugee after her family escaped violence in Cambodia. As a child she saw firsthand the impacts of the criminal justice system and disenfranchisement of her refugee community. But today she turned that experience into action, joining Khmer Girls in Action in 2009 and becoming Executive Director in 2011, and under her leadership, Khmer Girls in Action has become a pillar of Long Beach youth civic engagement, organizing that gives young people the tools to influence policy and shape the future of their city. These youth go on to become confident, skilled civic and community leaders who are breaking the cycle of generational trauma in our Cambodian and refugee and immigrant communities. Thank you, Leanne, for the work you're doing for youth in Long Beach and really the region, for the inspiration you've also permeated through Khmite Girls in Action. It has provided inspiration for us all. Colleagues, please join me in welcoming and congratulating Lian Chun. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Madam President. Thank you to the Senator from Long Beach. Colleagues today, I'm honored to be able to recognize the distinguished leader advancing community college success through student-centered research and policy, Ms. Darla Cooper. California's community colleges make up the largest, largest system in the United States. Half of all students in higher ed in the state of California go to a community college and they have an amazing advocate who is here today, Ms. Darla Cooper. Over the years, so many in this body has worked to expand access to community college, both financially and academically, and Ms. Cooper's work has been critical to that progress. Ms. Cooper's leadership and stewardship of the research and planning group for California community colleges means thousands of more students are graduating from community colleges or transferring to four-year universities. Through her research and advocacy on the groundbreaking AB 705, more students are now enrolling directly

Thank you, Madam President. And last but not least on the file today, file item 35 is a confirmation of Dr. V. Ling Tsai for appointment to the Medical Board of California. Dr. Tsai has served in the Medical Board since 2022. He's an attending physician at the Department of Surgery and UCLA Medical Center, and he also is a clinical professor at UCLA Medical School and works in private practice. He was approved by the Rules Committee on a 5-0 vote on March 18th. Respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I rise today to present SR88, which celebrates two historic milestones, the 50th anniversary of modern biotechnology and the 20th anniversary of the California Biotechnology Foundation. California is not just a part of biotechnology's story. We are the birthplace. Early 1970s, labs in our state pioneered recombinant DNA and genetic engineering, launching a new era of medicine that continues today to transform lives every single day. Powered by California's world-class universities, research institutions, and trailblazing biotech companies, the life sciences industry supports more than one million jobs across our state and generates hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity. In the span of just five decades, biotechnology has turned once theoretic science into effective drugs and therapies that improve and extend millions of lives. Conditions that were once considered a death sentence or a lifelong burden are now treatable, manageable, and even sometimes curable, thanks to biotech's advances. Some of these innovations include the creation of genetically engineered insulin, providing safe and reliable treatment for diabetics, antibody therapies that have revolutionized cancer care, turning deadly diagnoses into manageable conditions, and vaccines that helped end a global pandemic and continue to protect millions of lives today. For the past 20 years, the California Biotechnology Foundation, CBF, has been the trusted bridge between our innovators and policymakers. CBF is a nonprofit dedicated to education and outreach, with a mission to advance informed policymaking and increase awareness of California's life sciences industry. The foundation holds educational briefings, convenings, and public forums, ensuring our policy conversations are informed by science. Beyond the capital, CBF elevates programs that build STEM and biotech literacy, which helps develop the next generation of life science innovators. As we celebrate these dual anniversaries, we must recognize the people behind all this work, the scientists, the innovators, educators, administrators, and entrepreneurs whose vision and hard work have advanced medicine, strengthened our economy, and saved lives. As policymakers prioritizing an environment for science to thrive, it's crucial for scientific breakthroughs and advancements that benefit all of us and fuel California's economic growth and improve our lives. I'm happy to recognize the importance of modern biotechnology and the California Biotechnology Foundation today, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, colleagues. today I have on the floor to celebrate us are 88 Patricia Cooper the executive director of the California Biotechnology Foundation Tim Scott president and CEO of biocom Flo Kahn deputy vice president of advocacy of pharmaceutical research and manufacturers of America Amanda banks president of the California biomedical research Association and even more folks who are up in the gallery to celebrate these milestones. I encourage all of you to come and say hello to these lovely folks who contribute so much to our life sciences and our biotech sector in California. Thank you for your hard work and thank you for being in Sacramento today. Please join me in recognizing their contributions to modern biotech.

Dr. Gonzalez, you are recognized. Thank you, Madam President and members. I rise today to present Senate Resolution 90, which will recognize April 14th through the 16th as Khmer New Year. Khmer New Year or Cambodian New Year is also known as Moha Sangranta and coincides with the traditional solar New Year as celebrated across Southeast Asia in parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. In Cambodia specifically, the new year is celebrated by a three-day public holiday with various acts of worship performed on each day. Today California is home to the largest population, as I always say, of Cambodian Americans and the city of Long Beach, my home district, is home to the largest community of Cambodians outside of Southeast Asia. In fact, a stretch of Anaheim Street in downtown Long Beach is officially designated as as Cambodia Town and in fact they're going to receive their beautiful arch sign in the coming year which is very exciting to finally designate that as a true Cambodia Town. And for the Cambodian diaspora in California the new year represents a time to honor culture, cultural heritage with food, dance and so much more and a beautiful parade that we just celebrated in Long Beach Colleagues I hope you will join me in officially recognizing here in the state of California come my new year I respectfully ask for an aye vote Thank you Senator Gonzalez seeing no further discussion or debate

Thank you, Madam President. Immediate, well, five minutes after we adjourn, Sub-5 will be meeting in room 112. We're actually covering, we're looking at the prison situation, some of the vacancies that are occurring in the mental health space. So if anyone would like to participate, you're more than welcome to join us. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Minjivar. You are recognized

Budget sub-3 on Health and Human Services will be meeting 15 minutes upon adjournment of session in room 1200 O Street

Budget sub 1 will be meeting in room 2100 15 minutes after session ends. Thank you. Thank you Senator Reyes. You are recognized Thank you, Madam Chair. Budget Sub-2 will be meeting in room 2200. 15 minutes after we'll be covering sustainable aviation fuel tax credits, greenhouse gas reduction fund expenditure plan, zero emission vehicle incentive proposal, among other things. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. Budget Subcommittee 4 will convene 15 minutes after session in room 113. Thank you to all of the budget chairs as this is budget season.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I rise today to ask that we adjourn in memory of Rod Diridon Sr. Rod was born on February 8, 1939 in Wairica, California, to Claude Diridon. His father, Claude, an Italian immigrant, worked as a railroad brakeman and piano teacher to provide for the family. Rod grew up at the foot of Mount Shasta, Siskiyou County, in a small town called Dungemar. As a child, Rod struggled with dyslexia before the diagnosis was commonly known. He was often singled out and bullied for his learning difficulties. Despite that, he later worked his way through college also as a railroad brakeman and fireman. He was lucky as a child to become a Boy Scout. As he learned outdoor skills and conquered new challenges, he began to feel accepted and like he was part of something bigger. Soon enough, he was not just earning badges. He had transformed into an accomplished leader. And with that confidence, Rod found a teacher who offered to assist with his reading. I heard that story firsthand from Rod during the holidays, and it was very, very moving. He essentially attributed all of his success the rest of his life to that one teacher. With this help, he became the sharpest in his class, outperforming his peers, just a standout student. And through his increasing rank progression, Rod began to soar as well. Rod later graduated from San Jose State University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, continuing to earn an MSBA in statistics. While at San Jose State he met his first wife Marianne Fudge Feeling called upon by his country Rod then attended the United States Naval Officers Candidate School when he served two combat tours in the United States Navy in Vietnam from 1963 to 1967 Rising to the rank of lieutenant, he served on destroyers patrolling the coastline. Rod and Mary Ann were married in 1964 in Saratoga, California, which was the only time Rod ever took leave from his tour of duty with the Navy. After leaving his service, Rod briefly worked for Lockheed in his own research firm before being elected to the Saratoga City Council in 1971. In 1974, he was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, defeating a 14-year incumbent. That's when I first met him as a high school senior. During his 20 years on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Rod served as a progressive trailblazer. He is credited with ushering in a new political era for Santa Clara County by advocating relentlessly for LGBTQ issues, environmental protections, health care access, and most notably for public transportation expansion. One of his most significant achievements was leading the successful 1976 campaign in Santa Clara County dedicated to transit funding. Some of us in transportation space will recognize that as one of the first self-help measures ever produced by a county. This funding plan was the first of its kind in California and definitely laid the financial foundation for the county's modern transit network. Believing deeply in his work, Rod was once quoted in saying, If you're driving a car alone, you're doing something wrong. After his extensive work with the Board of Supervisors, Rod served as the founding executive director for the Mineta Transportation Institute in San Jose State University. I have to say, at the time he founded the institute, I wondered whether it would be kind of a useless endeavor or something that actually has impact. There are colleagues in this room at the moment that will tell you how much impact the Mineta Transportation Institute has had over the years including as recently as this week in the legislature. The Institute, under Rod's leadership, worked to increase the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of transportation through vital academic research and workforce development. In 2000, Rod was called upon by Governor Gray Davis to serve on the California High-Speed Rail Authority, where he chaired the authority from 2001 to 2003 and served until 2010. During that time, Rod successfully bolstered statewide support for a bond intended to fund California's high-speed rail project. And since 2020, Rod also served as co-chair of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association, a coalition of over 50 leading unions, public agencies, and companies who advocate for world-class high-speed rail projects across the nation. Rod was an accomplished speaker and to hear him speak on this topic of high speed rail was really actually a treat and he not only did that locally and elsewhere in the state of California but all over the world it's hard in the transportation space to find anyone who doesn't recognize his name but for all of Rod's accomplishments what will leave the most lasting mark is how he collaborated and mentored those who knew him He inspired many with his passion, his kind guidance, and his unending dedication to creating a better world. Of course, I needed to give this biographical information. I'd like to just make a couple personal reflections as well. I think had I stood up, had I risen up, today and just said, we lost Rod Deridon. He has the San Jose train station named after him and sat down and just let people use their imagination as to what someone would have to do at the age of 55. He lived to 87. He just passed away April 3rd. At the age of 55 to have the third largest city in the state name its train station after him. You know, he never flaunted that. Never. But obviously, he and his family have always been very proud of that designation. I mentioned Rod's military experience, naval experience. For most of his life, until his health finally started to fail most recently, to me he looked like Clark Kent. He had always the perfectly tailored suit, but the physique to go with that. I finally asked him one day, I said, how do you do this? And then he told me his regimen. Every morning he got up and did this unbelievable number of push-ups and sit-ups and other exercises. And that showed. It just showed. And he had the rest of the looks to go along with that part. he was always a coveted endorsement right up through 2026. And I won't get into the campaign politics stuff because that's not really appropriate on the floor. But how many people can you think of, really, that left office, his last elective office in 1995, who would still be one of the most coveted political endorsements in the valley, in our valley. He had a very, very special relationship with somebody else who had things named after him, former Secretary Norm Mineta. And, you know, their relationship around transportation was part of it. They also were big backers of somebody who had served in Congress in our area, Congressman Mike Hahn at the time, who also was a very strong advocate for transportation and ended up being so in Washington. But one of the reasons Rod was sought after from a political standpoint is because he would follow through. And he'd have these events at his house, in his yard, that were just fun, beautiful events. But to walk in there and see everybody mingling and Rod and Normanetta sitting on the couch, I mean, two individuals, one who has the San Jose train station named after him and one who has the San Jose International Airport named after him, having their own little private conversation going on, it was telling. It was telling. And, of course, most of us in Santa Clara County knew them on a first-name basis, so I'm not talking about awe. I'm just talking about respect that should be paid for two folks who were literally living legends. Rod was extremely strong around parks and open space especially during his 20 years on the Board of Supervisors basically whatever you wanted from the League of Conservation Voters went through Rod Deridon he played a significant role in that way and also in terms of air quality I couldn sleep so well last night and I say this next thing really just to give you some insight maybe into his personality because he was a consummate politician and I kept having this recurring dream all night last night of Rod running his own memorial service. And I say that, you know, respectfully, but also to give you a feel for him. And when I say that, I don't mean running it behind the scenes. I mean, doing what he did, you know, basically coming up to people like myself and saying, David, he called me David oftentimes, which was going back to my teenage years. David, you need to know this person. This person. You need to know this person. And I'm quite sure that in the services that come ahead, people will think about that. And also miss him. It's just hard to think about being in a crowd that revolves around his universe without him being there, literally doing those kinds of things, making those warm introductions, and telling people what he needed them to do. He wouldn't. I always wondered. I know he had some aspiration of maybe serving in the legislature at some point in time. I'm not sure if he would have enjoyed it so much. He always had three votes on the Board of Supervisors in a big county, and he was able really to tell people what he wanted done. And I think if he ever had come to Sacramento, he would immediately turn his attention to, how do I become the executive, you know? How do I become the governor? Because I need to tell people what to do, not ask people what they'll let me do. And that was him. Let me conclude by saying that his advice and friendship on a personal level was really, really important to me. I know it was really important to others, even though those kind of conversations were not generally observable because he would come in and close the door and sit down, not only give advice, especially over the last 10 to 15 years, he'd ask for advice. He'd ask for advice at the most personal level. Like, how do you deal with this? And that meant a lot to me. It really meant a lot to me. Whatever power he wielded, you know, especially during his elected years, somehow that transcended later on in his life to humility and gratitude that really just shined through his personality. And to say that he'll be missed as I noted is an understatement. I don't know how, I think a lot of people in Santa Clara County are just thinking how strange it's going to be to not see him everywhere like we always have and participating everywhere and participating actively. I do want to close by saying clearly it's not an overstatement by any means to say that he is Silicon Valley's father of modern transportation. Just about every transportation project in our valley can be traced back to Rod's actions or his direct influence. He survived by his wife Gloria who they married in 2001 a beautiful relationship I might add I visited that both of them at their house recently not long before Rod passed and the beauty of that relationship was very very obvious And his two children Rod Jr and Mary Margaret four grandchildren of course during that visit was basically all that Rod wanted to talk about. We'll all miss him. His family will miss him, and our heart goes out to him, and I'll ask the Senate to adjourn in his memory. Thank you.

Thank you. I think what the senator from San Jose stated is exactly who Rod DeRidon was. In so many ways, he was an individual that was a giant in Silicon Valley and throughout the Bay Area. You know, the big joke for a lot of us was, like, he has a transit station named after him, right? As much as we talk about transit, he literally was the father of public transit in our area. and I had a lot of conversations with him and I think some of the things, I'm just going to go more on the personal side.

Well, thank you. I want to thank my colleagues for their words. And this is a rare case where legend is an understatement. You know, Rod is an absolute legend in our area. And I represent northern Santa Clara County, so I didn't interact with him as often as my colleagues. But I wanted to share a couple of reflections from folks I know, some I don't know, that I saw online when there were reports about his passing. Permission to read?

Okay. So this one comment, Rod was both a force of nature and an exceedingly kind man, a rare combination. I think that gives you a little more context of his personality, a warm and generous soul. And this one from someone I know very well, Rod elevated everyone involved in policymaking through his dedication, wisdom, and compassion. And it shows the size of his personality, the forcefulness, but also the kindness and compassion. I really got to know him through he chaired the Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters for 20 years. 20 years he chaired, and that was really where I really got to know him. And you're getting from all of our statements just a sense of how much he will be missed in our area, how much he will be remembered and honored, and how lasting his impact will continue to be. I want to join with my colleagues in adjourning his memory. Thank you.

If there is no other business, Pro Tem Limon, the desk is clear. Thank you, members. The next floor session will be on Monday, April 13th at 2 p.m. Enjoy your weekend. The Senate will be in recess until 3.30 p.m., at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Monday, April 13, 2026 at 2 p.m. Thank you.