Assembly Floor Session

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. . Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Here we go. Morning, California. Good afternoon, California.

Mr. Speaker. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. . Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. . Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you.

Members, today we pray to our Lord for her courage and her healing, courage to stand in that place between the no longer and the not yet and make decisions that will make the lives of our fellow Californians better, healing to look over our conduct and act on the understanding that we are all the same, facing the same struggles and needing to help each other along our common paths. For these things, we pray. Amen.

one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Authority Leader Aguiar Khoury moves and Mr. Hoover seconds

Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Krell, Lackey, Calderon, and Pellerin to step on an adjournment in memory today.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 118A to allow Assembly Members Haney, Herbidian, Krell, Lee, Pellerin, and Valencia to have guests in the rear of the chamber and to allow Speaker Rivas to have guests on the floor today.

At the request of the authors, please remove the following measures from consent calendar. Item 147, SB 990, Grove. Item 159, SB 1405, Smallwood Cravis. And item 165, SB 1436, Committee on Revenue and Taxation.

No problem. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members, Senate amendments simply extended the bill's enhanced vetting requirements to geologists and geophysicists. AB 2106 has no opposition and has received unanimous support in the Assembly and the Senate. I respectfully ask your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please join me in welcoming the Science Bowl National Champions from Fremont's own Mission San Jose High School. The National Science Bowl is one of the most prestigious STEM competitions in the nation where students compete to solve complex problems in all branches of science and math. The team for my district, Mission San Jose High School, competed in Washington, D.C. this past May and won the high school division's national title, placing the first among 68 teams nationally. I like to recognize the students for their incredible achievement They are Anish Agarwal Rutvik Arora Roshan Anamailai Tinashe Sengupta Advati Mopori I'd also like to thank their coach, Dr. Dorota Savika, for her mentorship and unwavering support for these exceptional students who represent the next generation of innovators and changemakers. Congratulations to the Mission San Jose High School team for winning first place at National Science Bowl Championship, and please join me in giving them a warm welcome, colleagues.

her classmates Luna Levine and Marie Alvarez Cho to the California State Assembly. Naomi and her friends will all be starting the fifth grade next year and are spending some of their summer vacation driving all the way up to Sacramento from the East Bay to tour the Capitol and learn about their state legislature and the work that we do here. Thank you for making us a destination for your summer, and we wish you nothing but the best in your new school year. Naomi.

Assemblymember Kalra, you are recognized.

I rise to present ACR 199, which honors India's Independence Day, a holiday celebrated by Indian Americans to honor their heritage and pay tribute to the cultural and political significance of India's independence from Great Britain. On August 15, 1947, after years of nonviolent resistance to over 200 years of British colonial rule, India's first prime minister raised the Indian national flag and in doing so gave rise to the world's largest democracy. India, in relatively short order, ushered in an era of industrialization and self-determination for its people. California is home to the largest population of Indian Americans in the country, many of whom have made vast contributions to the tech, medical, agricultural, business, and hospitality industries, just to name a few. ACR 199 recognizes the great contributions and deep connections so many of our community members have to India's rich cultural history, celebrating that it is our diversity as a state that makes us stronger. It's my privilege to recognize India's Independence Day for all Californians and celebrate our nation's shared values of democracy and fair representation as we work towards a more unified global community.

Thank you, Speaker and Members.

The Sikh community played a huge, massive role in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Despite being less than 2% of the entire population of India, Sikhs accounted for the vast majority of freedom fighters who were executed, exiled, or sentenced to life imprisonment. Their sacrifices are by the numbers. Many events were recorded on the sacrifice of the Sikh community. So thank the author, Assemblymember Caller, for bringing this forward. Happy Independence Day.

Dr. Patel, you are recognized. Good morning once again, Mr. Speaker and members. Or is it afternoon? Today I rise in strong support of ACR 199, recognizing August 15, 2026 as India's Independence Day. On August 15, 1947, India gained its independence after a historic struggle for freedom rooted in nonviolence, democracy, and self-determination. This year marks India's 80th Independence Day in 79th year celebrating. It's an important milestone for members of the Indian diaspora around the world. For Indian Americans, this day also connects a global community, bringing together immigrants, their children and grandchildren and families with enduring ties to India. California is home to the largest Indian American population in the nation, and their contributions can be seen throughout our communities, from medicine and education to small business, technology and public service. I see firsthand in my own district where I am proud to join our community this year in celebrating India's 80th Independence Day and the heritage and traditions that continue to connect the generations. This relationship between India and the United States also extends beyond our communities. India's independence movement and Mahatma Gandhi's commitment to nonviolent resistance influenced leaders around the world, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the American Civil Rights Movement. ACR 199 honors both India's history and the generations of Indian Americans who have helped strengthen California. I am proud to jointly author this resolution with Assemblymember Kalra and I respectfully ask for your aye vote today.

but I'm even more proud of the fact that I have two colleagues here to ensure that I didn't remain the first and only one. And so I have great gratitude to my colleagues from San Diego and Delano, and a special thank you to the both of them and particularly a colleague from Delano for highlighting the contribution specifically of the Sikh community in the fight for India's independence. I respectfully ask for an aye vote on ACR 199.

Assemblymember Alanis, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to introduce H.R. 119, which recognizes October 11th as National Referees Day. Referees, umpires, and sport officials at every level play an essential role in maintaining the integrity and respect of the games we love. While their work often goes unnoticed, their professionalism, judgment, and dedication are important to ensuring that competitions can take place in a safe and respectful environment. Additionally, H.R. 119 serves as a reminder that these individuals deserve the same respect and appreciation as do the players and coaches, as sports could not exist without them. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

I would love that. Thank you.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Members, it is my honor for the International Referees Day that I would like to introduce Marsha Barclay, a successful and highly distinguished referee. Marsha has been officiating varsity, collegiate, and Olympic sports for 34 years. She has officiated a multitude of postseason games, including the NCAA Division I World Series finals, the ACA softball women's Olympic team official, and several CIF state championships. Marsha has spent decades mentoring high-level officials with her impressive experience and leadership skills. As one of the very first African American women to take a leadership role in California officiating she has inspired many young women to enter the ranks of sports officials across our state Off the court Marsha has an extensive background in criminal justice She became the first African-American woman to the rank of director in the Sacramento court system. I'm honored to recognize Marsha for her dedication and service throughout the athletic industry and the criminal justice system and in her own community. She's standing up here in the gallery next to Arezzo and I want to say thank you very much and please members join me in congratulating Marsha Barclay.

Bryan you are recognized for your guest introduction. Thank you Mr. Speaker and colleagues. I also rise, along with my colleague from Modesto, on behalf of my colleagues in the California Legislative Black Caucus. Not only has Marsha Barclay officiated varsity, collegiate, and national level competition for 34 years, she was one of the first two African-American women to rise to the rank of director in the court system. She's also a group leader with the Northern California Officials Association, more than 325 officials. She was one of the first black women to officiate in the Sacramento area and one of only three to break through the glass ceiling and work men's high school basketball games. As a former high school basketball player, I can tell you there's nobody tougher than the referee. And Marsha, you are black history and we appreciate you. Please join me in congratulating Marsha again. Thank you. Speaker, members, I rise today with great pride to present House Resolution 125, recognizing August as Chicano Heritage Month in the state of California. For me, this resolution is really personal. I have the distinct honor of representing the 60th Assembly District, where Chicano history and culture are deeply woven into the fabric of our communities, reflected in our families, our neighborhoods, our traditions, and the generations who have shaped who we are today. At the heart of our district is the incredible city of Santa Ana, which in 2021 became the first major city in the United States to officially recognize Chicano Heritage Month through the leadership of Councilmember Jonathan Hernandez. Today, we carry that recognition from the 68th Assembly District to the state of California. And we do so with pride, pride in our Chicano heritage, pride in being Californians, and pride in being Americans. Those identities do not compete with one another. They strengthen one another. Because the Chicano story is not separate from the American experience. It's part of the American experience. It's not a footnote, neither, in California. It's California history. Even the word Chicano itself reflects that journey a word once used to diminish Mexican reclaimed by a generation as a declaration of dignity identity and pride Here in California, Mexican-Americans have long fought to make the promise of equal opportunity real. In Mendez v. Westminster, families challenged school segregation and helped make California the first state to desegregate public schools, years before the Brown v. Board of Education. That same spirit carried into the 1960s, where East L.A. walkouts that included thousands of students demanded better schools and a fair chance for their future. A year later, El Plan de Santa Barbara helped establish Chicano studies, ensuring that our history and contributions would have a place in the classrooms of America. These were not simple victories for just Chicanos. They were victories for the American promise that education and opportunity belong to everyone. Our history is also one of service and sacrifice. Hundreds of thousands of Mexican-American and Hispanic-Americans served in our armed forces during World War II. That tradition continued in Vietnam, where Chicanos from the Southwest suffered a deeply disproportionate share of the casualties. They wore the uniform of the United States, fought under our flag, and defended our freedoms. They were Americans who served their country with honor then, and so many continue to do so in more recent conflicts. and our contributions extend far beyond those defining moments in history. Today, approximately 12.7 million Californians are of Mexican origin. That's roughly one-third of our state's population. Mexican-Americans have helped shape the identity and culture of California. Our influence can be heard in our music, seen in our murals, and experienced in our food, art, traditions, and incredible, vibrant neighborhoods. Our impact is also an economic one. Mexican-Americans are entrepreneurs and educators, engineers and first responders, healthcare professionals, veterans, small business owners and public servants, creating jobs and communities across our state. California's economy is driven in significant part by its Mexican-American population, generating more than $1 trillion in economic output. Simply put, California would not be the California we know today without the contributions of Mexican-Americans. We helped build it. We helped defend it. We helped shape its culture. And today, we are helping lead it as well. That is something every California can be proud of and should be proud of because pride in our heritage and pride in our country are not opposing ideas. They are both part of who we are. The progress we celebrate today was earned by generations before us.

By people who challenged barriers, demanded opportunity, served our country, and sacrificed so their children could dream bigger. Today we stand on their shoulders and our responsibility is to build upon what they began. God bless California and God bless the United States. I respectfully ask for a yes vote on HR 125 and ask for the first roll call to be open for co-authors.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, here in August, we recognize Chicano Heritage Month across California. We do far more than look back at history. We honor a fundamental truth. The story of California and the story of the Chicano community are inseparable. Decades ago, the word Chicano was used by some to divide or label. But through resilience, courage, and self-determination, a generation transformed that word into a powerful badge of pride, dignity, and civic empowerment. California was the beating heart of El Movimiento. It was forged in the agricultural fields of the Central and Imperial Valleys, where farm workers demanded simple human dignity and fair wages. It echoed through the classrooms of East Los Angeles during the student walkouts where young leaders stood up for equal education. It was recorded by brave journalists like Ruben Salazar, who gave voice to community truths that needed to be heard. And it was demonstrated on the front lines of our nation's defense. For generations, Americans with Mexican roots have answered the call to serve the United States Armed Forces with extraordinary valor, earning military honors and demonstrating an unwavering devotion to country. Chicano heritage is not just a chapter in a textbook. It is a living foundation. It is seen in our small businesses, driving local economies, public servants fighting for strong schools. our agricultural leaders feeding the nation, and our veterans who sacrificed to protect our freedoms. It's rooted in core values that define our state, fierce devotion to family, pride in hard work, faith, and deep sense of community. When we lift up Chicano history, we remind our children that their roots are deep, their culture is a source of strength, and their potential is, in this state, is unlimited. As we celebrate this month, let us commit to carrying that torch forward. Let us build a California where hard work continues to unlock opportunity, where every family thrives and where the legacy of those who fought for justice and dignity continues to guide our future. Thank you. God bless you. And happy Chicano Heritage Month.

Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon, colleagues. I have the honor of rising to introduce some very special guests today. I have with me Carissa Phelps from survivors first community Marjorie sailor from one safe place San Diego dr Ronald Chambers from dignity health and so on bait and CEO of Community Against Sexual Harm They are in the back of the chambers now and they have dedicated their lives as victim advocates to stand beside survivors of human trafficking in their darkest moments and help them on a quest to justice. These advocates stood firm when the path was uncertain and amplified voices that had been silenced. And they worked through complex legal and administrative processes with one unwavering purpose, to ensure that justice did not stop at the courthouse door, but reached the people who needed it most. Their work has helped many, many survivors throughout California and throughout the United States. They are doctors, lawyers, health care providers, social workers, and along with those who I'm recognizing on the floor today, There are many other victim advocates who help survivors every day who are in the gallery, so I'd like to recognize them today. Thank you.

incredible California women founders and CEOs whose leadership and vision has strengthened California's economy and future. These women represent some of California's most innovative industries, from agriculture and climate technology to health care, financial services, and housing. What unites these women is not simply that they founded successful companies. They saw a challenge and asked a simple yet powerful question, how can we make this world a better place? As we recognize these powerful women today, we also recognize the countless women and young girls across California who are watching them and seeing what is possible. To our honorees, I thank you for taking risks, creating jobs, solving problems, and leading with purpose. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. Today I rise to present ACR 221, a measure to bring awareness of the prevalence of sudden cardiac arrest among student athletes and act as a call to action to take preventative measures in saving lives of our younger generation. As a parent and lifelong educator, I am a big supporter of athletic programs, but every student deserves to come home safely after practice or a game. Sending cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for student athletes with about 2 young people under 25 years of age dying each year in our country According to a 2023 scientific session from the American Heart Association sudden cardiac death was the leading medical cause of death among NCAA athletes, comprising 13% of 1,102 total deaths with male, black, and Division I basketball players facing the highest risk. If you have any kids who play sports, you may be aware of the annual physical examinations. Unfortunately, these examinations miss about 85 to 90 percent of issues that may cause sudden cardiac arrest in youth. But with simple and impactful precautions, many of these tragedies can be prevented. I would like to recognize some of the organizations in our state and country that are working towards increasing awareness and providing preventative youth heart screenings and CPR trainings for youth communities. These include the Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation, the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation, Who We Play For, Project Adam, the California Youth Heart Coalition, the Saving Hearts Foundation, and the Heartfelt Cardiac Projects. I believe that every child deserves a chance to live, and we must do the work to be a part of this progress. Thank you. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present to you AB 2597, one of several annual bills carried by either the chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee or the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide appropriation authority for legal settlements approved by the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance. AB 2597, appropriate approximately $7.4 million from the general fund to the Attorney General to pay eight specified claims against the state. It also includes an urgency clause. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Assemblymember Addis, you are recognized. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to those of you who dressed in blue or green to help celebrate this very important day. You all look handsome and beautiful, and the coast loves you for it. Members, on behalf of the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus, I rise to present ACR 231 that recognizes August 10, 2026 as Coastal Stewardship Day in California. As a caucus as you heard me talk about many times we aim to shine light on the values and priorities of the Central Coast which I would say are values and priorities of every single Californian these fundamental priorities is the stewardship of California coasts and wetlands California and its coastline is inextricably linked as part of California's identity and economy, which supports recreation, fishing, and international commerce. Our coast is home to hundreds of species of animals, which include marine mammals, fish, seabirds, and turtles and California's wetlands are also crucial to our climate and support the biological diversity of our state by reducing harmful greenhouse gases by providing refuge for endangered plant and animal species and by reducing the impact of ocean swells during major storms but sadly California's wetlands have been reduced by nearly 90 percent due to several man-made factors like coastal development and industrial pollution. While our caucus has put forward a similar resolution back in 2024, policies that the federal administration has pursued, such as reopening closed oil pipelines and authorizing new oil drilling off of our coast, now make it more important than ever to protect our coastline from pollution. The Central Coast Caucus and I know the majority of you remain committed to protecting our coast and wetlands from these attacks and will continue to advocate for them and with that I respectfully ask for your aye vote on ACR 231. Thank you Assemblymember

member of the unofficial legislative North Coast Caucus Coastal Caucus I I wanted to stand in support of ACR 231. It's just a good opportunity for us to remind our colleagues about the confluence between climate change, climate policy, and the impact that humans have had on our ecology and our wildlife off the coast of California. As a very brief example, we have one room in a lab at UC Davis in Bodega Bay that has 15 times more white abalone than exists anywhere else in the world combined. And that's because of overpopulation or overfishing by us humans and a confluence of loss of habitat. We see that impact even on our land use policies as we're all having to plan for coastal erosion and sea level rise without paying attention to the linkage to things like overfishing fishing or over extraction of sea otters, which would then eat the purple urchins. And without a natural predator to eat the purple urchin, they eat the kelp. And the kelp has acted as that natural barrier for us. So this really is just an opportunity for us to highlight some of those challenges as we encounter other policies that are coming up, like floating data centers that we're seeing in certain areas, additional rocket launches, things that will impact our ecology off of our coast that don't currently have as many protections or at least as much discussion as is warranted for the potential impact and the harm that it will do to our coastal economies as well. So I want to thank my colleague for bringing this forward. It's a good opportunity. If you have a chance, get out to the coast. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise in strong support of ACR 231, declaring today as the Coastal Stewardship Day in California As my colleagues mentioned, the coast provides amazing benefits from a biodiversity standpoint, tourism, just a wonderful place to recreate for families and all Californians and people from all over the world. California's coastline is home to some of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems in the world. Santa Barbara and communities throughout our state, we're fortunate to experience the beauty and abundance of these coastal resources firsthand. My district is home to the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area, one of the most biologically productive marine environments on the West Coast. Throughout the year, more than 27 species of whales and dolphins pass through the area, serving as a reminder of the incredible wildlife and natural resources our coastline supports. Unfortunately, climate change has negatively impacted coastal communities throughout the state of California. This has resulted in rising sea levels, increased flooding, and beach erosion, all of which are visible in my district. This year, the Super El Nino threatens the highest sea levels ever experienced, and our coast and communities are at increasing risk. The state must take initiatives in protecting these natural resources while ensuring our coast remains accessible and healthy. This resolution recognizes both the fundamental importance of our coast and the crucial need to protect it for future generations. Please join me in recognizing the vital role our coastline plays in California's economy, communities and identity.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to invite every member to the members' lounge to grab a coastal-themed cookie. I do want to correct the record. I did not bake these cookies, but I did bring them from somewhere special, which is the French bakery in Morro Bay, Les Parisiennes. The shark cookies are going very quickly, so I encourage you when you step off the floor to go grab a snack. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. It is my honor to recognize our distinguished guests in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery, including His Excellency Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States. Pakistan and the United States share a longstanding relationship, one that is reflected here in California through the contributions of our vibrant Pakistani-American community. Pakistani-Americans have become an integral part of our state and have made important contributions in medicine, technology, finance, law, education, the arts public service and government Their contributions reflect the diversity that make California stronger and deepen the cultural and people ties between California the United States and Pakistan We are especially honored to welcome Ambassador Sheikh, a career diplomat with more than three decades of experience representing Pakistan around the world. Mr. Sheikh previously served as Pakistan's additional foreign secretary and as deputy chief of mission at the embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C. We are also honored to welcome our distinguished guests in the rear of the chamber, Dr. Imran Sharif, chairman of the Council of Pakistan, Mubashir Khan, acting consul general of Pakistan in Los Angeles, Khadija Alam and Muhammad Maksud Awan. We want to welcome our guests and celebrate the friendship between our communities, recognize the contributions of Pakistani Americans in our state, and strengthen the ties between California and Pakistan. Please join me in giving Ambassador Sheikh and all of our distinguished guests a warm Welcome to the California State Assembly.

Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's an honor to present ACR 232, which recognizes September 13th to September 19th of this year as the direct support professional DSP recognition week in California. DSPs help Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities live safely in their own homes, participate in their communities and hold jobs that enrich their lives and contribute to California economy So many of us have family loved ones and friends with intellectual and developmental disabilities Many of you know my sister has Down syndrome and our family and she have been direct beneficiaries of DSPs, and this is really life-saving work, and I don't think that's hyperbole. Anyone who has interacted with the DSP for their family members or loved ones knows that. DSPs perform highly technical, skilled, intimate work to support these individuals, and as I say, the families of the individuals. Whether helping with routines, teaching new skills, supporting someone through tough time, or just offering a comforting presence, a DSP's influence is lasting and important. The Landerman Act promises Californians with disabilities the services and support they need to pursue the lives of their own choosing. And that is so important. It is not just to live a life of survival, it's to live a life that the person with a disability chooses to live. And that's what the DSPs provide. Every day, DSPs deliver on that promise, empowering individuals with disabilities to live independently and lead fulfilling lives. With that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on ACR 232.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. I want to thank the member from Pasadena for introducing this resolution. Our direct support professionals are truly a critical role in this community of members with intellectual and developmental disability. They are the backbone of that community. They work with them, help them live a life every day from not only making sure they have the proper transportation, but also being able to experience employment as well, too. As mentioned earlier, they are the backbone of this community. The work that they do is crucial. It is so important, but yet they are not seen or recognized. There is still a shortage in this career because of not only the lack of pay, but also the amount of work and how intense it could be for our direct support professionals to do this work day in and day out. But they do one thing, and they allow the individuals with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to live a life. Every single person deserves an opportunity to live a life, and they do just that. this ACR 232 is not only just a resolution, but it's recognizing them for their hard work. It's recognizing them for the work that they wake up and do every single morning. It's recognizing them for the work that they wake up and they do from the minute they wake up until the minute they go to bed. But also taking a lot of that pressure and stress home with them as well, too. I want to thank the member from Pasadena to not only bringing up this resolution, but speaking so openly about his sister and sharing that story. I know how difficult it is to share such a story, but it means something to many of us who experience that every single day. And with that, Mr. Speaker and members, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

I just want to thank the member from Elk Grove for those eloquent words and ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. As the member from Elk Grove just said, this is truly heroic work, and DSPs are the backbone of the community that they serve. And so we have some heroes here with us and DSPs throughout the state. So please, colleagues, join me in welcoming Edie Tucci from Las Trampas, Kata Baker from Creative Living Options, Samantha Marquez from Creative Living Options, Haley Powell from Hope Services, and Lucas Tai from Hope Services. I want to thank you all for being here. Thank the whole workforce. Let's give it up for them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. Today I rise to present ACR 234, declaring September 26 as the California Wine Month. Joining us today are representatives from the Wine Institute and the California Association of Wine Grape Growers. As we know, California's wine industry has been a part of our state's history for more than 250 years and remains a cornerstone of our economy. Our wine community includes thousands of family-owned wineries and wine grape growers that support hundreds and thousands of jobs. California produces 95% of the nation's wine exports and is recognized around the world for its quality, its innovation, and commitment to sustainability. This has been a challenging year for the industry. Growers and vintners are working to keep wine affordable, but invasive species like the glassy-winged sharpshooter puts our crops at risk. Even with these challenges, California's wine community continues to move forward. Today, we recognize their contributions to California's economy and their support for local communities throughout the state. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote on ACR 234.

With me today, I have leaders from California's winemaking industry, including my constituent Ryan Bogle from Bogle Family Vineyards and our friends from the Wine Institute and the California Association of Wine Grape Growers. Welcome and thank you for all you do for the state of California.

Assemblymember Pellerin, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. I know today is a very busy day on the floor. We have bills to debate, votes to cast, deadlines ahead of us, and great reasons to celebrate, including our fellows. We also take the time to mourn the loss of loved ones during our adjournments in memory. And in many ways, that is exactly how life unfolds. There are busy days, there are celebrations, there is laughter and accomplishment, there is profound heartbreak. And in the midst of it all, every single day, someone is struggling with thoughts of suicide. Often silently. Often while going to work, going to school, caring for their family, showing up for their friends, and appearing to everyone around them that they are just fine. So on this busy day, I ask you to give me just a few minutes to talk about something that has profoundly changed my life. I rise today to ask for your co-authorship, your I vote, and your voice in support of H.R. 126, proclaiming September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Earlier today, I was joined with colleagues, mental health professionals, and suicide prevention advocates to recognize this month and focus particular attention on the mental health of our young people. Our children are growing up with social media, constant comparison, cyberbullying, isolation in a digital world where it can sometimes be easier to connect with a screen than another human being. And behind every statistic is a child. Someone's son, someone's daughter, someone's grandchild. A student sitting in a classroom who may look perfectly fine while quietly wondering whether life is worth living. That is why we have to talk about this. And for me, this conversation is deeply personal. Before November 19, 2018, suicide was not something I spent much time thinking about. Then, in a single moment, everything changed. My husband at 25 years Tom the father of our two children died by suicide Nothing prepares you for that phone call or the questions that follow the heartbreak the guilt the wondering if there was something you could have said something you could have done some sign that you missed well I've learned since then that that silence helps no one that is why I speak openly about suicide because suicide is preventable mental health conditions are treatable and conversations can save lives early in my grief someone challenged me to put my grief to work So I did. I joined a survivor support group. I walked overnight through San Francisco to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention. I became involved with NAMI. And ultimately, I ran for this office because I wanted to use this platform to help break the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. Along the way, I learned a few things I want to share with you. suicide is not selfish it happens when someone becomes trapped in unbearable pain and hopelessness and can no longer see a path forward words matter suicide is not a crime please don't say someone committed suicide say died by suicide or took their own life and asking someone if they are thinking about suicide does not put the idea in their head. It can open a door they desperately need someone to open. I've learned that grief doesn't end. It changes shape, but it never leaves. Those of us who lost someone carry them with us in our hearts every single day. and I carry Tom with me today. Let me share a little bit about him. He was wonderfully quirky, brilliant enough to have won our family fortune on Jeopardy if he ever ended up on that show. He was someone who actually read history books for fun. He was a gifted lawyer and a loving father, son, brother, friend, and husband. He loved Costco. Oh my God, he loved Costco and Home Depot and had a fascination with light bulbs. He could tell you the wattage and everything about it. And he was never without hand sanitizer and chapstick. He had a smile that could light up the room. And above all, he adored his children. I'm wearing a semicolon today. A semicolon is used when a sentence could have ended but didn't. In the suicide prevention community, it represents a story that isn't over. A pause. A second chance. A next chapter still waiting to be written. It also reminds us that so many people struggle in silence, sometimes ourselves, sometimes someone we love, and sometimes someone whose struggle we may never see. Every single one of us can play a role in suicide prevention Please be kind You never know what someone is carrying. Talk openly about mental health. Learn the warning signs. Store firearms safely. Promote the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline. And when someone is struggling, please do not look away. Ask the hard question, are you thinking about suicide? Then listen, stay, help them connect to support. You don't need to be a mental health professional to help save someone's life. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is, I am here. You are not alone. And if anyone hearing my voice today is struggling, I want to say something directly to you. Your life matters. You are loved more than you know. Whatever pain you are experiencing today is not the whole story of your life. And please believe me when I tell you, your family and friends will not be better off without you. Take it from someone who knows. So today, amid the votes, the deadlines, the celebrations, our adjournments in memory, and everything else that fills our busy lives, look around. Check on each other. check on our kids and don't assume that because someone is smiling, succeeding, celebrating, showing up that they too are not struggling. And sometimes one conversation, one act of kindness, one person who notices can be that semicolon in someone else's story. that pause, not an ending, a chance for another chapter. In a time of growing hatred and division, let us choose love. Let us choose kindness. Let us lift up our most vulnerable. Let us fund affordable and accessible mental health care for all. there's a song and together that would be Tom, he does things like that and together let us build a world, please let us build a world where every single person believes their life is worth living Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask for your aye vote on HR 126 and request the roll be open for co-authors Thank you

Pellerin. Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. I rise today in support of H.R. 126, declaring September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, but more importantly, I rise in honor of Riley. As some of you may know, I have been working on legislation for the past year and a half now with an incredible, brave mother and now a dear friend, Bridget Her son Riley just a few weeks after his 16th birthday attempted suicide His birthday balloons were still up in the room and she lost her son But members she does not advocate for suicide prevention because of her own story but for the many mothers in the world who have gone through similar tragedies By the time that I finish my remarks, somewhere in the United States, at least two LGBTQ plus young people have attempted or died by suicide. I want to let that sit for a second. Every 45 seconds, a youth feels like there is no other option than to leave this world. You see, there's an invisible struggle that many in this community face, one that has already taken too many lives. Our society at every turn tells LGBTQ plus youth that they are not enough, that they are abnormal, and that they are freaks. The CDC has declared a crisis. 20% of LGB youth and 26% of trans youth attempt suicide, and that is compared to 6% of their peers. Members, that is crazy and insane that we are living in a world where over 20% of a subpopulation is attempting suicide. We are at a turning point, one where we need to ask ourselves if we are doing enough. And while our great state has invested historic funding into mental health resources, including 988, we need to continue this fight. We need to ensure that when a young person reaches out and asks for help, that call does not go unanswered. This is our chance to offer a safe space, a space where identities are validated, where help can be offered, where crisis services can intervene before the worst happens. not just in September, but year-round, we will continue to remember the lives lost. Our hearts go out to every family who may have lost someone. But more importantly today, we make a promise to honor their lives and fight to prevent another from being lost. I want to thank my colleague from Santa Cruz for bringing this forward. And at the right time, I respectfully ask for your aye vote on H.R. 126.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I first want to thank my colleague from Santa Cruz for her strength, for her vulnerability, and sharing her story again on this floor and how important it is to do that and to talk about it to reduce the stigma around suicide. And I've spoken about how my hometown of Palo Alto has now suffered through three youth suicide clusters in the past 18 years. The first in 2008, 2009. The second in, I think it was 2014, 15, when I was on the city council. And the third was earlier this year. And earlier this year, to the point from my colleague from Los Angeles, it was predominantly transgender youth who took their own lives. A community that is being bullied and targeted and scapegoated for clicks and for, you know, people's, you know, what they perceive to be jokes. things that we saw earlier a couple days ago, I think, of certain community leaders claiming that they were going to declare themselves for the WNBA draft. because they now consider themselves transgender is sick. It's sick what people are doing to get attention. It's sick what people are doing for politics that is directly harming young people in California and across the country. I want to thank everybody on this floor, because earlier this year everybody supported a bill that I had, AB 2003, which has now been signed into law. But you supported it on consent. And so I didn't get a chance to talk about it. So I'm going to talk about it now. And this is a bill to create a suicide prevention training. The California Behavioral Health Commission, by early next year, will create a suicide prevention training and make that training available for free on a voluntary basis for every student in California, 13 years old or older, and for every teacher, administrator, and parent of every K-12 student in California, so that every adult in every young person's life at least has the opportunity to get training to be able to identify when a young person is struggling and to feel confident that they have the skills that they need to identify that, to intervene, and to get that young person the professional help that they need. That's the purpose of this training. I helped get a pilot done six or seven years ago. 20,000 people took that training under that pilot. And 25% of those people, 5,000 people, it wasn't academic. It wasn't just something that they were doing because they thought they might need it. In that moment, they knew a young person that they thought needed help. And that tells you how prevalent this problem is, especially in California. And so when that training becomes available, I will let everybody know because the training is only as good as if people take it. And so we want to increase awareness for all of our school communities and all 80 districts across the state so that more adults have the training necessary to help young people when those young people are struggling. So thank you again to my colleague from Santa Cruz, and I strongly urge your support for H.R. 126.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of HR 126 and I stand side by side with the member from Santa Cruz on recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Mental health needs to be accepted in our community and break down the stereotypes around someone seeking help. We should pause and take time to listen to someone who is reaching out, who could be going through a crisis in their life. We all struggle with something in our lives. Many times, the best thing we could do is to listen. There is more work to be done to reach all in the state of California and the nation. Our Native American communities also are included and need to be outreached to. As our communities suffer from the greatest disparities for mental health, statistic-wise, suicide prevention is an issue that needs continued visibility throughout our community and to be accepted by each and every one of us And just last year we continued to improve mental health care services and access to care in California through safety measures on the state's bridges and overpasses. think about that we have to put up safety guards on state bridges and overpasses yet where are we with the openness of the prevention of suicide suicide is the third leading cause of death for persons 10 to 24 years of age and the second leading cause of death among Native American youth between 10 and 20 years of age. California communities deserve to have health resources and suicide prevention services available, and we have to be open to be able to talk about these issues freely. In 2026, we have to make sure that when someone is seeking support, that we're there to listen and offer that support to them. We have to break down those stereotypes. Those stereotypes that might be in the back of many of our minds as growing up culturally, where it wasn't accepted to talk about these things. But we need to talk about these things. We need to be open, and we need to be able to listen to those that are reaching out. We have to make sure that voices that are crying out, that we're listening to them. I urge your aye vote and thank the author for bringing this measure forward. I urge your support on H.R. 126.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. I rise in support of HR 126 and to thank our colleague for her incredible leadership in this space. She has brought so much power to this conversation since joining this floor. And just earlier today, I was at a press conference with the author, and I was struck by the fact that I had never spoken about the time I lost a dear friend to suicide. He was my next-door neighbor at my law firm. We were young associates together. And on that Friday, he was preparing for his first deposition. He was going to take his first deposition that Monday. He was reading a book called How to Take a Deposition. And I told him if he had to read the book, it wasn't going to go very well. So I remember dragging him away from reading his book, which he carried in his arms to a bar that night. We had a drink. And it was probably the last time anybody saw him alive. Over the weekend, he took his own life and never took that deposition. and it was silent. When I sat with him that night, I didn't know that I'd never see him again. And I, for many years, what could I have done differently if I was the last person who spoke to him? And like the author said, there can be guilt, there can be regret, but the only thing we can do is move forward with the knowledge, the experience, the lived experience we have from those moments. and to do more, to share, to speak openly, and to allow people to know that they would be so deeply missed We were in the middle of a toy drive at the time at our law firm and he had bought Pat the Bunny for the kid that he had adopted and I still have his little Pat the Bunny book and I keep it on my desk to remember him every day and the talent and the life that was lost that will never be forgotten and I just want to rise to say exactly that, that every person's life matters, that people will care, people will miss you every day, and that we need to do more to make sure Californians' lives are lived fully, wholly, and with all the joy and pain that goes into living a life well-lived. And so with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and member. I was not going to say anything, but I did not want to be derelict in my responsibility. One, I want to ask the author from Santa Cruz to forgive me. And because she's been on this floor, she has brought this before us again and again. raising the conscious level of those who will watch and hear her voice about tom and about how tom is no longer with us and i remember two years ago i told her about my adjournment that i did on this floor about my nephew you see she's i told her about my nephew and i did an adjournment on this floor but i never told anyone how and why i did the adjournment about my nephew and why my nephew was no longer here. Well, my nephew took his own life. And my nephew took his life by taking a gun and using that gun and pulling the trigger at a young age of early 30. and it was very painful for our entire family. He made a phone call to his mother and told his mother what he was about to do and she rushed to him. By the time she got to him, the police was already there and he was gone, which was one of the most painful experiences for our entire family to bear. He was a character, the life of the party. And the reason why I elevate that story is because we don't talk about those kinds of tragedies to happen to African Americans. But we are not immune from African Americans taking their own lives in the families, especially men, because we're macho. And we realize that sometime we get to a place in life where the pressures of life are so unbearable that we feel that there's no one to talk to. And we feel that we cannot talk or turn to anyone and that we want to take an easy way out to do away with the pain. But it a temporary situation to a permanent end We should never we should always find at least someone that we can talk to Because the people who we leave behind will always remember that situation. We should, even those who are in the Capitol who will hear this situation today, understand whatever you're going through, you're not the only one that that has gone through what you're going through please hear what i just said and that's for all of us on this floor whatever you're going through in life whatever curveballs that life throws at you understand what i just said you are not the first one to go through what you're going through and experiencing and if people can go through it you can also go through it and know that you won't be the first one or the last one to go through what you're going through and if other people can go through and understand what i just said you're going through it you're coming out of it and understand it there's light at the end of the tunnel all you have to do is be patient you're going through it and so i want you to know the gentle lady from santa cruz please do this every time that you're on this floor i need you to elevate this conversation each and every year because we need to hear it and other people need to hear it as well you are powerful in your own right you are saving other people's lives and you giving people hope to hear about tom and tom is looking down on the work that you're doing i respectfully ask for an I vote on 126.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am so grateful for all the love and support I feel in this room today. Thank you to all my colleagues who spoke about this important topic of suicide prevention awareness and how it's impacting people's life and mental health. Also a shout out to my daughter who is watching it online as well. And she is my strength and my inspiration. And I'm looking forward to walking her down the aisle when she gets married in September. And we'll be carrying Tom in our hearts. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Yes, so colleagues, on each of your desks is a journal with a semicolon on the cover. And I hope you take that journal with you, write about someone you love, write about something you're grateful for, write down your hopes, or whatever you need to remember when life gets hard. and whenever you see that semicolon remember that your story is not over your story matters and so does the story of the person sitting beside you and across the aisle and most of our certainly all of our stories are not finished So please take that with you and write down your hopes and dreams. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. I rise today to honor Transgender History Month, a celebration that began in San Francisco in 2021, and California became the first state in the nation to officially recognize in 2023. This month is about recognizing a community that has always been here and has always been a part of the history of California. everywhere, in every single corner of the world, in every time throughout history, trans people have existed and contributed. Here in California, trans people have been scientists. They've been teachers. They've been academics. They've been business people. They've contributed in the arts and culture in every sector of our state for as long as California has existed. Trans people have been here and have contributed to everything that makes California special. Transgender and gender expansive people have been documented in California ever since its earliest recorded history. In 1775, Spanish soldier Pedro Fáez wrote about indigenous Californians who embraced gender variance and held respected roles in their communities. During the gold rush, Charlie Parkhurst became one of California's most famous stagecoach drivers. And for generations, San Francisco's Tenderloin became a home for transgender and gender expansive people who built community and cared for one another in the face of discrimination, exclusion and violence. In August 1966, transgender women and drag queens at Compton's Cafeteria in the Tenderloin stood up against harassment and police abuse and said enough. The Compton's Cafeteria Uprising became one of the earliest LGBTQ civil rights uprisings in American history, three years before Stonewall, and that is the reason why we celebrate Transgender History Month in August. California has long been at the forefront of the movement for transgender rights and liberation. Lou Sullivan built the first national organization for transmasculine people from San Francisco. Sir Lady Java challenged discriminatory laws targeting gender expression in Los Angeles. San Francisco created the first government office dedicated to advancing transgender rights. And the Tenderloin became home to one of the world's first legally recognized transgender cultural district. That is a history we celebrate. People who were told that they did not belong who became leaders. People whose history was erased built institutions to preserve it. And people who faced discrimination, organized, fought back, and changed California for the better. We also have to be clear about why recognizing that history is so important right now. Across the country, transgender people are facing an organized effort to push them out of public life. Trans kids have had their health care threatened or taken away. Schools, even here in California, have been threatened with losing billions of dollars in federal funding for protecting transgender students. doctors and hospitals have been threatened for providing gender-affirming care. Transgender Americans including here in California who volunteer to serve our country have been forced out of the military And here in California anti hate crimes have increased even as overall crime has declined California has been a place that has been shaped by the contributions of transgender people. And we cannot celebrate transgender people when it is easy and abandon them when standing with them becomes politically difficult. This history of California's transgender community standing up for their right to simply exist, simply live fully and freely and safely as themselves, is a movement that we all have benefited from. Nobody should be fired from their job because of who they are. Nobody should face violence simply for existing as themselves. And when trans people have fought to make sure that they can live as themselves safely, they have made all of us more free. They have made all of us safer. They have worked to actualize those words in the U.S. Constitution that all of us should have liberty and justice for all.

Thank you Assemblymember Haney. Assemblymember Addis, you're recognized.

Thank you Assemblymember Addis. Assemblymember Wilson, you are recognized.

Assemblymember Wilson, Assemblymember Ward, you are recognized.

Thank you, Assemblymember Ward. Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assemblymember Haney, you may close.

Assemblymember, do you wish for the first roll to be open for co-authors?

Assemblymember has asked for the first roll to be open for co-authors. Clerk will open the roll. All members vote who desire to vote for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote. Clerk, we'll close the roll and tally the votes. There are 47 co-authors added. Without objection, we'll take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Assemblyman Merhaini, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Welcome. All right. Okay, last bill on our third reading file is file item number 31. That's H.R. 129 by Assemblymember Sanchez. The clerk will read. House resolution 129 by Assemblymember Sanchez and others relative to sarcoma awareness month. Assemblymember Sanchez, you are recognized.

Thank you. Assembly Member Sanchez. Assembly Member Davies, you are recognized.

Thank you, Assemblymember Davies. Assemblymember Dixon, you are recognized.

Thank you, Assemblymember Dixon. Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assemblymember Sanchez, all set?

The assembly member has asked for the first roll to be open for co-authors. Clerk will open the roll. All members vote who desire to vote. This is for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote. The clerk will close the roll, tally the votes. There are 60 co-authors added without objection will take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. okay members we are going to pass and retain on file item 32 that brings us to the senate third reading file we going to pass and retain on all items On the Senate third reading file We're moving on to a vote on the consent calendar. This is file item number 170. Does any member wish to remove the item from the consent calendar? Seeing and hearing none, the clerk will read the second day consent calendar. Assembly concurrent resolution 233 by Assemblymember Sharp Collins relative to sepsis awareness month. Kirk will open the roll on the consent calendar. All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote. Kirk will close the roll, tally the votes. Ayes 63, no 0. The consent calendar is adopted. Thank you. Assemblymember Pelrin. You are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Assemblymember Pellerin. members let us observe a moment of silence to honor the life of this historic Californian Ken Haber Assemblymember Pellerin, you are recognized.

Assemblymember Lackey you are recognized for your adjournment in memory Thank you Mr Speaker Today I rise to honor the life of Aidan Walker Marquine

and he died three weeks ago. He was born in New York City to parents Juana and Richie Ross. He grew up mainly in Sacramento, graduated from Jesuit High School, and went to San Francisco State University where he studied film and broadcasting. But his dad, his grandpa, and his great-grandpa were all born in New York. So when 9-11 happened, he got on a plane, he flew to New York, he rented a truck, and he organized a volunteer drive, giving out booths to firefighters who the rubber on the soles of their shoes were so burned from searching through the rubble and the hot ashes. That's who he was. Free-spirited, generous, kind, and practical. He spent his life serving others, working in public policy in this building as well as in politics. He influenced many important campaigns and elevated many important issues. The through line through his work was justice and equality. Those who had the privilege of working with him described him as incredibly creative, being able to distill the truth out of any issue and knowing when an issue hadn't fully reached its true excellence. And he would always strive for that. He was rambunctiously intelligent. He was extremely witty and creative, and his work showed it. There is also a level of curiosity and discovery to him. For example he was also an expert hang glider pilot something I didn know about him until putting this together He will be missed by many many friends and colleagues in the Capitol community He will be missed by his parents He will be missed by his family My heart goes out to all of them, and I ask that we adjourn in his memory. Thank you.

I rise in memory of Joaquin Ross. A friend of mine lost his son recently, and I speak today to honor that son. I speak today to honor Joaquin Ross. I honor him here in our state capitol because Joaquin Ross is from a family of warriors in the fight to protect working people. because my friend raised a son who was a brilliant communicator and a fierce strategist. He used those skills to fight for basic fairness and decency for all Californians because he learned from the best. so to the people of California who may be fearing for their future and for their children's future I want you to know that Joaquin Ross was fighting for you but he was not alone in the fight I am not alone in this fight and you are not alone in this fight because my friend, who is fierce, who is relentless, and who loves to win, assures me that the best way to honor Joaquin Ross and the legacy of this family is to never give up on the people. Never give up on the people. Joaquin, I am proud to have served and fought beside you.

and Ms. Castillo seconds.

The quorum call is lifted and we are adjourned. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. . Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you.