Assembly Floor Session

Assembly is now in session. Assembly member Michelle Rodriguez notices absence of a quorum. The sergeant at arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent members. The clerk will call the roll.

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 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you.

Please join me in a moment of reflection. I recall being about 10 years old when I was given my first key. It was our house key, but not the front door. It was to the garage entrance. I was instructed, do not lose this. I didn't realize it at the time, but that first key was a symbol of my parents' growing trust in my ability to be responsible. I wore it carefully around my neck on a chain. As I grew older, more keys became mine to hold. Before retiring, I had an almost unmanageable ring of temple keys, a separate set of home and car keys, and sets of keys to the homes of our parents, siblings, and even a widowed uncle. Each key represented a trust and a responsibility that was given and accepted. Being a member of this assembly is a responsibility so profound, one must swear an oath to receive it. It is a rare opportunity to be elected to serve, and it is one of life's most trusted keys to bear. In the three terms we have served as the chaplains, we have proudly watched our members in action, and with some sadness, seen the changing of the guards. But as Patty and I feel, to have been a part of our California State Assembly is an honor that does not diminish with time. Our members are chosen by the people to serve, and they will forever wear an invisible key around their neck, a key that shines with the honor of an oath being fulfilled, an honor that will always be theirs. Wherever life may take us, let us try, as the Roman emperor Philosopher Marcus Aurelius encouraged, let us try to fulfill our purpose with humility and gratitude and leave behind a life worth remembering. Namo Amidawitz, let us try to live with kindness and gratitude beyond words.

please join me as we pledge allegiance to the flag of our great nation i pledge allegiance for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Assembly of the Chamber of Sacramento, Thursday, May 7, 2026, the Assembly of the Assembly at 9 a.m. the Hon. Josh Lowenthal. Speaker, Proton Pouwe, the Assembly- Majority Leader Ayer Curry and Assemblymember Lackey, seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions, there are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the Governor, there are none. Messages from the Senate, there are none. Moving to motions and resolutions, the absences of the day are as follows. for personal business, Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez.

Good morning, Madam Speaker. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 118A to allow Speaker Rivas to have guests on the floor and at members' desk to allow Assemblymember Harbideon to have guests seated at his desk as well.

At the request of the author, I am giving a one-day notice to remove item A-7 SB 259 Wahab from the inactive file.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I rise to recognize and thank our departing colleagues who we've had the honor and privilege of getting to know not only as legislators but as friends. Serving this institution is an extraordinary honor, but I don't think any of us would call it easy. Each of us comes here representing hundreds of thousands of Californians who have entrusted us with their hopes, their dreams, their concerns, and the very real challenges they face every day. the rising cost of living, finding an affordable place to call home, accessing health care, supporting their families, making sure their children receive a quality education protecting their rights and freedoms and building a better future for the next generation We represent districts that are very different from one another We come from very different communities different backgrounds different lived experiences reflecting the extraordinary and beautiful diversity of the state that we have the privilege to serve. And we bring those experiences with us to this chamber. We may approach the challenges facing California from different perspectives, but we certainly don't always arrive at the same answers. But I have no doubt that every one of our departing colleagues has spent countless hours fighting to make sure the voices of their districts are heard and advocating for the people that they were elected to serve. That is something that each of you should be incredibly proud of. And I think that commitment is particularly important right now. We are living through a time of profound challenges, when division too often overshadows what unites us, when hate is increasingly directed towards members of our communities, and when it can be easy to lose sight of how much we as Californians share in common. Serving here gives us both the privilege and the responsibility to push against that, to listen, to lead, and to leave our communities a little better than what we found them. And when you look back at your time in this institution, I hope that that is what you remember. Remember the ways, large and small, that you made life better for the people that you represented. Because none of us will be leaving this building having solved every problem. There will always be another constituent that needs our help, another challenge waiting to be addressed, another bill we wish we had gotten across the finish line, another issue where progress didn't come quickly enough for the people that we serve. But that doesn't diminish what we accomplish here. This work matters. It matters to our constituents. It matters to our communities, and it matters to the families whose lives are different today because of something that you did in this building. I often think of the words of Edward Everett Hale, an author, an abolitionist, and a former chaplain of the United States Senate. May I quote Madam Speaker? I am only one, but I still am one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something. I think those words are especially fitting today for our departing colleagues, because while your time in this chamber may be coming to an end, your ability to do something is not. Each of you leaves here with the experiences you've gained, the relationships you've built, and the knowledge that you've already made a difference in the lives of the people that you served. There may be things you hope to accomplish here that remain unfinished, but we all know that your journey and your opportunity to serve and to lead and to make a difference is far from over. Whatever comes next, I know you will carry with you the same commitment you brought to you to this chamber in the first place, the belief that each of us has the ability and the responsibility to do something that makes our communities better. So on behalf of your constituents, of the constituents that you have served, of your staffs who have been a critical part of your journey, and of all of your colleagues who have had the privilege of serving alongside you, I want to say a deep thank you for your extraordinary contributions to this institution and to the people of the state of California. And fortunately, this isn't a goodbye quite yet. I look forward to spending these final two weeks together and after that to seeing what each of you does next. Thank you.

I don't really want to do this because I don't want you to go. And I have been nice and begged you to stay. I've been mean and said choice words to try to get you to stay. But I think the people behind you all know that you are leaving us to do such big things because I truly do believe you're going to save the world. You're going to save so many lives doing what you're doing. And I'm going to miss you. But I believe everybody comes into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. And sometimes it's all three. So the reason I met Stan was actually not as a candidate, not as a colleague. I met him at the RNC in Milwaukee. And Shannon Grove came and grabbed me and goes, you've got to meet Stan Ellis. He loves water and is so smart. And so came into a restaurant in Milwaukee and ambushed Stan and said, hi, I'm Allie Macedo. I hear you know a lot about water. That's an understatement. He was pure genius, and we just completely connected over our passion for water, and he spoke science. I'm like, wow, this guy is really smart. And he tried to convince me he was just a dumb pig farmer, and I know he's told many of you that. So towards the end of the conversation, I said, well, what do you like to do for fun, Stan? He goes, well, I have a band. I like to perform and I sing. I said, all right, I got to know, what's your go-to song? And this is when I knew that we were going to be really good friends because he said, it's a song there's no way you know it's an old Leroy Van Dyke song. And I said, is it the auctioneer? And our eyes met that we would both know this very obscure song known as the auctioneer. And we sang it together. Shannon Grove has that video, and I think we knew the rest was fate. A few months later, we find out Vince Fong was running for Congress, and that seat was opening up, and Shannon Grove calls me and says, hey, remember Stan Ellis? I go, yeah, I remember Stan. She goes, he's going to run for Vince's seat. I said, I'm behind him 100%. So I drove to Bakersfield and I sat in his office. And the same question we all get asked when we're candidates stand, why do you want to do this? He goes, Allie, I'm going to go up there, I'm going to speak science, and I'm going to change people's minds. And I warned you that you would get frustrated at times. But he came up here anyway and became my seatmate and a lot of entertainment for me through the sessions. that calculated down to the minute how much it cost us when he felt like we weren't getting work done here on the floor. And I'm sure he reminded you guys of that too. The reason we met was because there would be a season that we would serve together. But now, Stan, we're friends for a lifetime. And the impact that you left on this place is profound. And the impact that you will have on the world is profound. And the support system behind you I know is so proud of you. I'm proud to call you friend, and you're not leaving us. We will call you. We will ask you to come join us and bring that beautiful science brain that you use really big words that we don't understand, but we appreciate it when you do. And so with that, Stan, thank you. Although your time here was short, it was profound. God bless you in everything you're doing, and truly, I believe you're going to change the world. Thank you.

Thank you, Allie. It's an honor. As Rick said, it is an honor to serve a half a million constituents. That's our job. there's no greater honor than serving God. God is our light, and God is everything. And he guides us, and I hope that he continues to guide us in a faithful manner. I would like to take the time to thank my staff, Christina Nelson, my chief of staff, Matt Julian and Emily Randall. They've done an amazing job. They've held me up. My family here today, my girlfriend Spring, my granddaughter Hallie, Travis and Amber, my son and his wife, they came up to support me today. I'd like to thank our pro tem speaker as well for keeping us organized. one thing that we've all been protected and it's kind of subtle is our assembly services and all you folks up there that do all this work and you don't get much acknowledgement throughout the year but could we give them a round of applause you guys are amazing so thank you very much god bless you all and what an honor to meet you and work with you thank you

Thank you, Madam Speaker. colleagues, it is with excitement today that I get to tell you that we are losing Damon Connolly. We think we'll be sending him over to the Senate. We feel pretty good about that. But I'll tell you, I've been trying to get rid of Damon for a really long time. So I first started working with Damon when he was on the San Rafael City Council. and remember meeting him working on local campaigns and thinking to myself, man, this dude makes everybody look so bad. He rides his bike places. He does all the things that people say that you should. He's smart. He's like a surfer bro who figured out how to talk about the law. That shouldn't happen. He was a deputy attorney general with an impressive record before he decided to get into his local public service. and Damon's always there for people. I knew him as he decided he was going to take on an incumbent for the board of supervisors, something that many people said was a really terrible idea. No incumbent had lost in decades in Marin County. He won by 40 points, I think ultimately in that race. And I had a chance then to get elected to this Council in Santa Rosa and served with him on regional boards. And at a time when the smart train needed champions, they had Damon. He is one of the people who is most responsible for seeing the success of a commuter rail and doing big things that mattered for people, everyone. I was really excited to be working with him in that role, and then he decided he was going to run for the state assembly. Worked with him on that. he gets up here and that was one of the draws for me to come up here is to see the good work that he was doing helping to represent people and fight for everyday people. Then I get up here and I figured out he was still going to make everybody look bad. And so now with the Senate seat opening up, we finally get rid of him from the green carpet and we get to send him over to the Senate. But he and I have had an opportunity, especially over the last two years, to travel Northern California together as he was campaigning and as I was learning my new district. We almost drowned crossing the Klamath River. If you look at Damon and think I can swim just as well as he can, you're wrong. That was a struggle, and there were a lot of people who were really nervous. They were about to lose two legislators down the river as we were swimming back and forth across it. I've seen him climb mountains, get lost in the redwood trees, and all along the way he hasn't lost sight of the people that he represents. And if you look at the bills that he pushes, they're bills that are actually trying to make lives better here in California. We can talk about them, but I don't think that that's really the most important thing about Damon. I think it's his accessibility. I think it's his love for his family. I think it's the way that he shows up for communities. And I'll be really excited to have him as a partner over on the Senate side. Thank you, Damon.

Yes, Ms. Speaker and members, today I rise to honor my colleague and friend, Assemblymember Damon Connolly. Damon came to this legislature with progressive values, and he has never been afraid to stand on those values, whether he's fighting for working families, protecting our environment, addressing climate change, strengthening our communities, or standing with organized labor. Damon understands that public service is about using your position to make people's lives better. He has been a strong partner to labor because he understands something fundamental. When working people have a voice, California is stronger. He respects the dignity of work, the right to organize, and the importance of making sure that people keep California moving, that people who keep California moving can afford to live and raise their families here. His legislative work reflects those values. He is championing environmental protections and climate action, housing and affordability, consumer protections, public safety, that put people and communities first. But I also want to say something about Damon personally. Damon is not afraid to say black. As a black woman in the legislature, I appreciate that. When we're talking about black communities, black workers, black families, or racial disparities, Damon doesn't dance around it. He understands that you cannot address inequality if you're afraid to name the people experiencing it. And members if you have ever served on a committee with Damon you also know something else about him Damon does not have a poker face You never have to worry what Damon is thinking If he likes your bills you know it If he has concerns about your bills, you definitely know it. Sometimes you know what Damon thinks about your bill before he even turns his mic on. And I appreciate that because you get what you see, right? Damon's going to, he can't keep his face straight, you guys. I experienced it personally. But I appreciate him because you get what you see. He's thoughtful, passionate, authentic, and willing to stand up for what he believes in. Damon, thank you for your friendship. Thank you for standing with labor. Thank you for your progressive leadership. Thank you for being an ally to black Californians and communities that often have to fight to be seen and heard. And thank you for bringing your whole self to this institution. even when your face tells us exactly how the committee hearing is going. It has been an honor to serve with you, my friend, and I wish you all the luck, and I look forward to working with you in the Senate. Stand with me in honoring my dear friend, Damon Connolly. Thank you.

Thank you Madam Speaker. Good morning everyone. I want to thank my longtime friend from Santa Rose and my amazing friend from Inglewood for those kind remarks. It really means a lot. And although hopefully I'm just going across the hall, we'll find a little bit of Wood here. I'm really going to miss working side by side with you both. And of course, I'll be, I'll miss being stuck on the floor with all my colleagues here today. It's been a thrill to work with you. So entering my final weeks in the assembly, I've been reflecting on how important our relationships are. As some of you may remember, when I was elected in 2022, it was following a hard-fought race with an exceptional opponent, someone who I am proud to call a very good friend now. But at the time, 40 of my soon-to-be colleagues in the 120-person legislature had endorsed that opponent. So let's just say I was uncertain about the reception I would receive once I get up here in Sacramento. But that apprehension disappeared almost immediately after I arrived at our first caucus within a week of getting elected. Everyone welcomed me right away, and I also appreciated the instant bond with the class of 2022, my fellow members of that class. You all welcomed me without reservation. As members of this body and cutting across party lines, we began to work together, serving on committees, partnering on bills, and finding common ground on issues across all of our districts. We took trips overseas, met each other's families, and bonded together through the gauntlet of the legislative softball game. A select few of us even managed to break an ankle to prove it. But still went four for five, right? What these four years have reinforced for me is that the most valuable currency we have as legislators is our relationships not only with our constituents but with each other In conversations I have, people sometimes assume that since we're a huge Democratic supermajority, we disagree on everything. It won't come as a shock to my colleagues, but that is far from reality. In this line of work, we inevitably come into conflict with one another, usually over legislation, but sometimes our personalities just clash. It's unavoidable, many would say, when you have 80 people working together, let alone 80 politicians. Working through that conflict, moving forward, and doing so with respect and without ill will, these are the simple principles that allow us to be successful as legislators and colleagues. I want to thank all of you for welcoming me in 2022 and working with me all the way through 2026. The relationships I have been able to develop in the Assembly have become essential to my ability to serve the North Bay and is something I will take forever with me as I move on. I want to thank Speaker Rivas, who has been an amazing friend and really a privilege to serve with you. While you are all important, I think you'll agree none of this is remotely possible without the support of our families. And I want to recognize my wife, Dawn, who's here with us today, my daughter, Brett, my other daughter, Darren, who's been along this journey for about 25 years now of public service for their continued support. I know this has not been easy. In fact, it's been pretty crazy. but I want you to know that I love you dearly and really appreciate you enabling me to do this. So thank you for being here today. Last but not least, I want to thank my entire staff who are all here with me today. Amazing. My district team, Melissa, Johanna, and Yesenia. My capital team, Christina, Michael, Isabella, Cameron, Lyndi and Aaron and the incredible ESTM committee staff Josh Shannon Margaret and Naomi thank you so much yeah let's give it up we can't do this job alone we depend on our colleagues our family and our staff and again I just want to thank everyone so much thank you to you all

Well thank you Madam Speaker. Members it is such an honor to have this opportunity to say a few words in tribute to our incredible colleague my seatmate and very dear friend Jackie Irwin I will always remember the first moment that I knew Jackie and I were going to be very good friends. We were at the Democratic Convention in February of 2019. And so I think I had been in office for like a little over a month. And Jackie and I were talking politics and policy. And at some point, something I said, Jackie just stopped. She went, you're a spreadsheet Democrat. I'm a spreadsheet Democrat. And with that, an enduring friendship and a small but occasionally mighty little club was formed. As a side note, members, the spreadsheet Democrats are always accepting applications. And really and truly, I think everyone knows that Jackie has brought the mind and heart of an engineer to the work that we do as policymakers. She is thoughtful. She is principled. Jackie digs in to solve problems and to get results. I think most everyone is familiar with Jackie's implementation of her legislation chart, which has kind of become a legend as well as an inspiration for many members as they join our body. If you have not seen it, y'all need to go visit Jackie's office before she leaves because she's got a giant chart with every bill she's ever passed where she and her team every year track the implementation of each and every bill that she has passed. And that speaks to who Jackie is, because she is not somebody who's here for the thrill of the press conference or the dopamine hit of a viral social media post. She's here to do the work, and she's here to get results. And my friend, look at everything that you have accomplished from your work on gun violence prevention to cybersecurity and technology policy, to the work that you did alongside Governor Newsom to pass Proposition 1 in 2024, to the work that we were able to do together last year to reauthorize California's landmark cap and trade, now cap and invest program. One of my favorite pieces of life advice is a Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote, which is, whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. Leave tracks. Leave a mark and also leave a path where others can follow. And Jackie, you have left incredible, incredible tracks. And the last thing I want to say is, and Damon, you mentioned this already. We all know that the work we do here in this building isn't just about good policy. It's also about strong relationships. And Jackie is one of the most warm, most generous, most welcoming people that I have met in this world. I think everybody knows that Jackie is the chair. In addition to chairing the tech caucus and, as I said, her important role in Spreadsheet Democrats, she's also the chair of the Orange Theory Caucus. I think every member on this floor has been invited by Jackie to an Orange Theory, to a Pilates class, to the walks around the park, to paddle boarding on the river. And I actually, most mornings, most mornings when we're here in Sacramento, I I wake up to a photo of Jackie and Patrick and Harbo and Pacheco and sometimes Lisa, Sade, Isaac, Chris Ward, Al, Alex, Jose, so many people. In these photos, the reason I wake up to them is because the Orange Theory Caucus meets at 6 a.m., so I am unfortunately only rarely able to attend. but Jackie I think you know I'm going to miss you so so much and I think that we all can take incredible comfort from the fact that you are going to continue to work for California you are going to continue to work for all of us continue to fight for all of us and so while we are so sad to see you leave this green carpet we're also so excited to see everything that you are going to accomplish and everything that you are going to deliver for our great state and for our great country. So we respect you immensely. We love you with all of our heart. Please give it up for the incredible Jackie Irwin. Thank you.

Hey Jackie, I got the Kleenex box right here. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our colleague, Assemblymember Jackie Irwin. Today we recognize a friend, a good friend, a terrific public servant. He prepares to leave the assembly and begin our next chapter in public service. Are you crazy or what? You're brought to this place exactly what you'd expect from an engineer. You know, you always have studied the problem. You drive me nuts when I'm trying to get policy. I'm thinking, where's her brain thinking? You always look for a solution and the facts. But what makes you such a good legislator is that you pair that sharp analytical mind with a real commitment to people. And I say that because I remember the phone calls we had during the shooting in your district and how devastating that was. And we all tried not to cry about it, but we knew we had to stand up for the people and have a strong backbone. And you did that. And then you got hit again with the fires. and you kept your community together, and you never forgot about where you came from and the heart and soul that you felt for every single one of your constituents during that time. From your days of being with the Thousand Oaks City Council and as mayor to years of representing Ventura County here in the Assembly, Jackie always remembered what public service starts here at home. In our neighborhoods, in our schools, our businesses, in our communities, here in Sacramento you've taken on some pretty complicated issues I'll never forget going to Washington DC I think it was and you were doing a speech about cyber security and privacy and technology and I thought I had no idea that you were doing this

Thank you members for your remarks Assemblymember Uren you are recognized Well thank you so much dear friends and hopefully I can get through this

Thank you. Thank you, members. please return to your desk so that we may continue with the ceremony. Up next we'll recognize Assemblymember Baines. Assemblymember Carrillo, you're

Thank you, Assemblymember. Assemblymember Bryan, you're recognized.

Thank you, members, for your remarks. Assemblymember Baines, you're recognized.

Thank you. Up next, we will recognize Assemblymember Soria. Assemblymember Pacheco, you are recognized for your remarks.

Whether she's advocating for safe housing for farm workers, clean drinking water for rural communities, affordable irrigation for farmers, or better access to health care and higher education in the Valley, Esme has made sure that the needs of her constituents are heard in this building. And all of us who have worked alongside her know that Esme does not just strive for the Valley. She makes the rest of us pay attention to it. When her district needs needed her the most she has delivered When Madera Community Hospital closed she immediately fought for resources to reopen it and protect other struggling hospitals across California When devastating flooding hit Planada, she helped secure $20 million to help that community recover. And as chair of the Agriculture Committee, she has made sure this legislature understands what policy decisions mean for farmers, farm workers, and rural communities back home. Esme is persistent. She knows her district. Once she decides that something matters in her community, she does not let it go until it gets resolved. This is a legislature we all know. But I have also gotten to know her as a close friend. We even spent some time as roommates, which I don't think all of you know about. But I also have gotten to know her, well, sorry, I probably should have stayed with her longer, except for one thing, she only had one restroom at the time. And anyone who knows her knows that she comes into this building every day looking impeccable. Clothes, makeup, hair, the whole package. In fact, I wore a dress today, did my hair, and I'm wearing heels today, all in honor of Esme. I realized pretty quickly that one bathroom was probably not going to sustain both a household and a friendship, so I moved into my own apartment, and the friendship survived. Most mornings before we get here looking presentable, you can find us sweating away at Orange Theory together. As far as I'm aware, our workout group has never included a state senator or at least one that was consistently going. So Esme, congratulations on becoming the first. somehow our coach they're frequently confused us as each other I don't know if you remember which is impressive because I'm somewhat tall and Esme well is not and in Orange Theory there are no heels involved and let's hope it stays that way And though she may be small, she has no problems bossing me around. In fact, I have to say, there are times where she makes me stay up way past my bedtime. So I thank you for that. I suppose that same persistence has served her well as a legislator, and I have learned that saying no to Esme is mostly a waste of time. Over the last four years, we have traveled together, celebrated together, and supported each other through some of life's harder moments. And when I lost my miniature Schnauzer, Mr. Belvedere, Esme was there for me in any way only another miniature Schnauzer dog mom could be. so I want to thank you and Buddy for helping me through that very very difficult time and that is Esme she shows up for people she does it for her constituents she does it for her colleagues and she certainly does it for her friends Esme, I am so proud of what you have accomplished in this House, and I know that you will bring the same determination to the Senate. While I am going to miss having you here with me on the green carpet, I am grateful that you are only moving across the building. I'll be cheering you from this house and probably from your actual house as well. So congratulations, Senator Soria. Please don't abandon our workout class and don't abandon me. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker Pro Tem. And colleagues, for the past four years, our colleague from from Fresno has been one of the most relentless champions that the Central Valley could ever ask for. She came to this assembly knowing exactly who she was here to fight for, and she has never lost sight of them. Farm workers, families, small businesses, the rural parts of our state. People who work hard, who contribute enormously to California, and who too often have to fight just to be seen and heard in this capital. So Esmeralda made sure that they were heard. As chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, she brought the voice of the valley directly into her work. The farmers who feed this state and nation, the workers who make that industry possible, and of course the communities whose futures depend on it. But her advocacy, her advocacy never stopped at the committee room door. As was mentioned from our colleague, anyone who has worked with Esme knows that she is persistent. She calls, and she follows up, and she calls again, and she pushes, and then she calls again, and then she pushes some more. Because for Esmeralda, this work has never been about Sacramento. It has always been about home. And I've had the unique view of that commitment, because for these past four years, Esmeralda has been a seatmate. And, you know, we've worked well together. We've always worked well together. We've shared plenty of laughs. We've created a lot of memories. except I'm not going to put you on blast like some of our other colleagues that put our colleagues on blast. And so yes, I'm going to miss looking over and seeing my friend right next to me but I'm certainly more excited about where she is going because the Central Valley, it needs that same relentless voice in the California State Senate. It needs someone in the upper chamber who's going to keep showing up. Keep pushing. Keep reminding all of us that California's future cannot be written without the people. people and the communities of the Central Valley. And so I will miss my seatmate tremendously, but I could not be prouder of my friend. And I can't wait to see what she does next. So thank you, Madam Speaker Proton.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to my colleague from Downey, thank you for your kind words. Members, four years ago, I walked onto this floor for the first time incredibly grateful. Today, I stand here with an even deeper sense of gratitude. It's been the honor of my life to represent the hardworking people of Assembly District 27 in the People's House. So to the voters who trusted me with this responsibility, thank you. My first term certainly tested me. You guys heard a little bit about it. A hospital in my district closed right before getting sworn in. Communities flooded. Family lost homes. They lost jobs. Access to health care. But during those difficult moments, I learned something about this institution. I wasn't alone. My community wasn't alone. All of you on this floor understood that even if Madera, Merced, or Fresno weren't in your district, the people who lived there still mattered. Speaker, I want to especially thank you. Thank you for your support, for treating me like family, for trusting me to chair the Agriculture Committee, and perhaps most importantly, for surviving having me as your seatmate. I want to acknowledge that even before becoming speaker, you and your team were among the first to recognize that we had to do something when Madera Community Hospital closed. Because of that partnership, we helped reopen that hospital. We put more than 700 people back to work, and we restored access to health care to more than 160,000 people in Madera County and the surrounding communities. We also worked together when floods devastated our districts and farm worker families lost nearly everything. And recently, we ensured our regents received our fair share of resources to protect our immigrant families, just to highlight a few of the things that we worked together. Thank you for your leadership, but most importantly, thank you for your friendship. And don't worry, wherever I end up, I promise you, I'm going to come and find you and bug you. To my colleague from Downey, my sister from another mother, thank you for your kindness, your friendship, and always having my back and the Central Valley's back. And thank you for motivating me to be part of the Orange Theory Caucus, have you guys all heard? even though there were mornings I didn't make it like this morning but I have an excuse I played hard last night and we won go NorCal I want to give a shout out to my colleague from Irvine and Arenda I don't know where they're at but thank you for reminding me especially in my first term that my most important responsibility was always to the people who sent me here And let just say there were a few close calls at the end of session when you know they wanted to make sure I didn press that green button Behind the debates, the legislation, and the drama, to my colleagues from the 2022 class, you all know what I'm talking about when we first got here. I found friendships here, and I'm really grateful for all of you. Some of you challenged me. Many of you guys encouraged me. Some of you helped me get something across the finish line for my district. And some of you became people that I genuinely love. Whether we all agreed all the time or maybe half of the time, I hope you always know where I stood. And I hope you knew that when I gave you my word, I meant it. To Team Soria, Roy, Gilbert, Arturo, Joanna, Ben, Brody, Maria, Oneida, Alex, Alondra, Kylie, Diego, thank you. Thank you for all of your work. To every staff member and every intern who has ever been part of our team, be proud of what our team accomplished. District 27 is a little better today because of the work we did together through legislation, during budget, and sometimes just simply answering the phone in our office or handing a backpack or a turkey. Thank you to all the speaker staff, the committee staff, and all those who helped us be successful in our time here. I know that I did not do the work alone. And finally, but most importantly, to my husband, Mr. Terrence Frazier, thank you for being my rock. I agree with our colleague Ms. Irwin we can't do it without family I love you Terrence and I could not have done these four years without you and I can't do the next eight years without you either so again thank you for your own wavering support it has really given me the ability to be the leader that my district needed me to be and needs me to be. To the Fraser and the Soria family, you've put up with me being gone a lot. Thank you. I want to thank Maddie, my stepdaughter, who also made the drive to be here this morning. Thank you for the late nights, the missed dinners, the endless events, the phone calls, texts that somehow always really come when we're sitting at dinner. And for understanding that public service doesn't always fit into a neat schedule. Members, while this is not a goodbye forever since I hope to see you from the other side of the Capitol, I do not want to leave this assembly without telling you how incredibly grateful I am that our paths crossed. And before I leave this floor, I have one last ask. As you continue doing the work representing nearly 40 million Californians, please don't forget about the Central Valley. Don't forget about the small towns. Don't forget about our rural hospitals. Don't forget about our farmers and our farm workers. The Central Valley doesn't always have the loudest voice in the building, except for this one. But it is essential for the future of this state. It is a region that feeds California, feeds the country, and helps feed the world. So keep fighting for California, all of California. Thank you for your friendship and thank you for giving this daughter of farm workers from the Central Valley the privilege of serving alongside you in the People House and doing some great work together to help working families across the state It has been the greatest honor of my life to work with all of you. Thank you, members, and hopefully I will see you all across the hall. Thank you again. Thank you.

Assemblymember Ramos, you are recognized for your remarks. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I rise to recognize my friend Avelino Valencia. He has led a life of humble beginnings a childhood where his parents Avelino and Liviar Mr and Mrs Valencia ran a small business and he seen firsthand the true struggles of running a business but he also seen how to succeed and be a voice for the community Avellino is proud of his Mexican roots, of the tribe that he's from, called the Purapache, and is quick to say that they never suffered a defeat. It also shows his culture and upbringing to stand for rights of those who need a voice. He has succeeded where others have failed, taking issue with the norm of society and pushed back to gain athletic achievements, but also education achievements. It's true that Avelino played football in NCAA Division I and also played and tried out in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks. But my friend also attained great education in his own rights, an attainment of a master's degree from John Hopkins University. Yes, he's standing right here before us as a smart and educated jock. It has been a pleasure getting to know Avalino and his sweetheart of high school, Monica, a true pillar of their communities. Dr. Valencia oversees education at institutions in the Anaheim School District, giving hope through education to our youth. Avellino has worked on several bills here on this assembly floor and in the state of California. He has a priority bill currently to ensure that the name Anaheim stays with the angels. He also moved forward on cryptocurrency, making sure that holding cryptocurrency was something that was introduced to each and every one of us, as well as successfully running tribal bills. These areas and issues show his fortitude as well as his virtue to tackle and succeed on issues that he feels are justified. He's also been a strong supporter of Native American issues with missing and murdered indigenous persons, housing, and participated in the first Native American Day Parade here at the Capitol. He's also presided over this chamber during the Native American Legislative Caucus events and has walked and sang traditional songs with California's first people at many events. His true character continues to move forward. I had the opportunity to visit Mexico with Avellino, where we went and visited cultural sites, cultural sites of pyramids of the sun and the moon. where we sang traditional songs there, and we walked up steps to where the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, where we made an offering and offered a prayer. These actions show the true virtue of a man that in time of life perils that he turns to God for guidance. My friend, Avelino Valencia, you will be missed in the State Assembly as you make your charted course to the Senate. Thank you, my friend.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Buenos dias, members. My path is a bit different than some of our colleagues here on the floor today that are concluding their service in the state legislature. I potentially have an opportunity to continue to serve California and the greater Orange County area in the other house, our Senate counterpart. And because of that, it took me a second until it actually dawned on me because of a question that my mother asked me a couple of weeks ago when we were having dinner. Very innocently, she goes, mijo. So everything's going very well. but what were to happen if for some reason things don't pan out how you'd like them to this November? And in a very stark realization, it hit me. Wow, this is the end of my service on this assembly floor. And what I've learned has been one of the most impactful lessons of my life. There isn't an institution that I'm aware of that not only has the diversity, but the creativity, the commitment, and the drive to not only move each respective district forward, but the state, the nation, and truly the globe. and some of the lessons that I've learned, and I don't mean to leave anybody out, but just as examples, our colleague from Menlo Park, I learned his passion and his drive when it comes to issues that he cares about. To my colleague from Whittier, what it means to be a state person, to show discipline and respect and decorum in this incredible chamber. to my colleague from San Luis Obispo, show compassion and grace when providing service to others, especially when attacks are being presented. To my assembly seatmate, my brother, Mr. Ramos, your strength and wisdom has been a beacon that I have had the good fortune of being able to follow. And thank you for that Our Speaker Rivas his friendship and trust That does not come easy in this world today And the character and value of that individual needs to be commended. So thank you for all that you do. Now, my mantra has always been a team player. I come from an athletic background. I was raised in the structure of a small business, and that all takes coordination, strategy, planning, leadership. And that's exactly why I wear this pin on my lapel. I've never actually worn my assembly member pin since the day I got elected. that I've chosen to wear this pin because it's a gentle reminder every day that we're all part of a bigger system. We're a coalition that binds together to accomplish greater things than ourselves. The pin, it says it takes teamwork. And that's so emblematic of what it takes to get things done, especially in government. You can be a little gear. You can be a big gear. But we all need to coexist, function in order to achieve whatever it is that that engine is pointed at. One of the quotes and concepts that I have used as my North Star and my focus when it comes to how I evaluate policy and how I vote on policy has been to plant trees of which shade we may never enjoy the shade of. And that, to me, says so much about what it takes to, at times, sacrifice what's in front of you or in the best interest of you for the next generation and others. And that can be interpreted in many ways. We all have different definitions based on life experience, background, creed. But if we all hone in on a concept like that, at the end of the day, the outcome is going to be in a better place. when i was playing football one of my biggest mentors and incredible coach mr gene murphy at fullerton used to blab out all sorts of things in latin all the time i had no idea what he was saying half the time he would just say abilino your name is latin so you should read up on these things, and I would just dismiss it and just say, what are you talking about, Coach Murphy? I'm here to play football. But he would always say one thing, sumum bonum. And when I actually took the time to look into what that means, it translates to the pursuit of the greatest good. that has been my hope and goal as a legislator and i've been so proud to see that be manifested on this assembly floor through the actions and decisions of all of us despite the disagreement despite the differences I am grateful for the unity that we have each and every Monday and Thursday And that's what binds us together like glue. So in a long-winded way, I'd like to say that my support of all of you in whatever capacity that has come, whether little or small, will continue as I move on to my next chapter in public service or in life. Colleagues, thank you so much for everything that you have all provided to me. It truly has made an impact in who I am as a person. And I hope to continue to do the work alongside all of you and to ensure that what we leave today blossoms tomorrow. The best is yet to come, colleagues. Thank you all, and God bless.

Assemblymember Davies, you are recognized for your remarks. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Well, I was going to start out with this incredible story about a key, but the Reverend jumped to me before I could go there. So with permission to quote, Madam Speaker.

These are words from one of the most incredible author and writer, Dr. Seuss. Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. And keep that in mind. It has been such a pleasure because Diane and I, we knew each other around 2012 when we were serving on different city councils and mayor, and we jumped on League of City and a lot of other groups but I never really had the opportunity to get to know her And one thing you have to know is Diane loves to laugh And I love to make her laugh, so I'm not sure which is more fun. But she has been so incredible, and I've never met somebody so bold, so if you ever want something done or said, just tell her, Diane, you should go do that, and she just does it, and then you stand behind the door as she's doing it. And the courage that you've taken to be here, and then as you move on for supervisor is amazing because I know you're not doing it for yourself. I know that you've done what you've needed to do on this floor, and now the county needs you in Orange County. And for those of you that may not always get this told, but as a Republican, as you go through, you'll have questions like, why do you want to go up there? You know, if there's a supermajority, you can't get anything done. And my answer is, yes, you can if you work hard enough. And Diane is someone that has done that. But you have to work hard enough on relationships, and that's how it's done. and she's already had 21 bills signed into law with probably five more coming down the line. She's worked with foster care, human trafficking, HOAs, God love them, substance abuse treatments, e-bikes, domestic violence, coastal erosion, and putting an end to body brokering. These are just some of the things when it comes to public safety and all the different committees that you have sat in, this woman does her homework more than anyone I know. And she has a strict, strict routine, unlike myself. I am a sleeper as well. I don't know if you know this, but she gets up every single day at 5 in the morning and runs. And I don't know what's more crazy, that or you running around the Capitol in the dark in Sacramento. So this woman then gets ready, goes to her office, opens up the Washington Post or one of your other incredible newspapers, because she still reads the newspaper. And then she starts texting us tons of stories, which are very interesting, new ideas, but she never stops. And I can tell you, like I said, it's a friendship that honestly I've never had. And then Kate, basically the three of us, and they're always like, what are you going to do without her? And you're irreplaceable. So we're probably going to have to have Phil step in, you know, where you're at. But I just want to tell you what a privilege and an honor it has been to work with you. And I just, it's really hard for me. because again, we all need each other up here. You know, the best part of the day is when you sit down with one another and you talk about what went on, how we can make things better, you know, what made us upset, but at the end we usually end up laughing and hugging. And that's really what it's all about. And you have really made this place very special, and I want you to know that. And there's one thing I do have to come clean on. All right, I'm not proud of it, but for the past four years, you've probably notice that you can't close your desk and that there are two of everything in there and my desk is clean it was Phil just so you know and Phil isn't here anymore but if you look at his desk it's very empty no actually it was me and I just couldn't resist because you keep pushing the thing down and every time you turn around I throw something else in it so that's been four years of just enjoying that and watching going wow I've got two of everything I'm like yeah I know but you know what that's what has made it fun because you just your laughter is contagious and I really want to finish up with a prayer and this prayer really could be for all of those that are leaving dear God thank you for the time we shared with our colleague bless their new path with peace guidance and success. Go before them into the next chapter. Keep them safe and let the work of their hands continue to bear good fruit. Amen.

Well, thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, members. And what a joy it is to stand for my friend Diane Dixon. And it is very fitting that Diane Dixon asked for somebody across the aisle to speak for her, because Diane Dixon will work with anybody and everybody in this capacity and understands that it's only about delivering for the district, for the people of California, no matter how that gets done. I want to say a few things about Diane. She, of course, is Madam Newport Beach. She was elected to the city council in 2014, two terms as mayor, spent 40 years in the private sector as a business executive, and has had the most bills signed by any Republican into law in 2020-25. In fact, throughout her four years in the legislature, Assemblymember Dixon has had 19 bills and counting successfully signed into law. One piece of legislation Ms. Dixon is particularly proud of is AB 349, which would help teen moms in the foster child system help them, support them, by ensuring certain funds they receive to support their infants are indexed to inflation. Let's stop and think about that for a second. She ran this bill three years in a row, and it was finally signed into law by the governor this past year. Champion for California's coastline, protecting the environment for future generations. Sound like a Democrat to me. Spearheading the San Gabriel River Working Group to help stop more than 400 tons of trash from entering the Pacific Ocean each year. Champion for e-bike safety throughout the state of California. In the 2023-24 legislative session, her bill 1774 was signed into law, which would prohibit a person from selling a product or a device that can modify the speed capacity of an electric bike so that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. You know, I'm actually going to have to stop here, Diane, because I can just go on and on and on. I do want to say though how critical it was and I think I can speak for the chair of our privacy committee Chair Bauer on the partnership that you had with all the members as the vice chair, setting the culture of that committee, which is truly the only committee that, in my experience, where people walk in with a total and complete open mind. and you have taught us, Diane, to do the right thing at every single opportunity. When I think of Diane Dixon, the first thing that comes to mind is her wrestling with the microphone when she gets up to speak. And I have to say, most of the time, the microphone won. But actually, what I think of more than anything else when I think of Ms. Dixon is how she is a complete outlier in politics in 2026. At a time where elected officials are rewarded for being divisive, for disregarding what the other side has to say, for in some cases being curt and short, that's something that is nowhere near Ms. Dixon's playbook. She is the kindest, nicest, most thoughtful person that I've ever come across in this business. It has been not just a joy to serve with you, but I've learned so much from you, and all of us have, the way that you conduct yourself. And Mr. Gonzalez isn't here right now, but you've whipped all of us on the floor a lot better than our majority whip has as well. And we thank you for that. I'm grateful for the four years that we've spent together. I'm so excited for your future endeavors and we will miss you terribly. Truly, thank you for your service, Ms. Dixon.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, my dear friends from Orange County and from neighboring Orange County in Long Beach. Thank you, Josh and Lori. It has been a pleasure of a lifetime. It's such an honor as everyone speaks about the honor of serving in this great building and doing the people's work and responding to people. Yes indeed I worked in business for a large corporation, global corporation, traveled the world for many years and it makes me so happy just to travel to Sacramento every week. I don't have to get on a big plane for 15 hours and go to China or Europe. I could serve the people for California because this was my goal. I've had a lot of goals in life. I do run every morning, and people say, do I do marathons? No, it's the one thing I do that I don't have to have a goal. I could just go and clear my mind and get my mind set for the day. But serving the people, it's not like I wasn't intending to really go any further. I really thought I would be here for the complete term. And there was another calling that takes me back to Orange County. My husband would say it would be the dogs that I really going home for to be with our golden retrievers But I enjoyed my working across the aisle I mean as a super minority member we need to work across the aisle When you strategize, how do you get things done? It requires working together and working with colleagues who share the same goals and developing those relationships. And I'm so honored for the relationships I have built. Everyone who has voted for any of my bills, I'm so grateful. and working with the chair of the health committee on the such important in Orange County and other communities, but the drug addiction, substance abuse issues are so serious in Orange County, and I couldn't accomplish what I had without the chair of the health committee, for which I'm very grateful, and the chair of the transportation committee on my e-box. You all worked with me so I could serve my constituents. The 500,000 constituents in Orange County, we communicate with all of them, bipartisan. It doesn't matter what political parties our constituents belong to because we are representing all of them. And last year we served 25,000 constituent requests. I always like to say, I'm from the government. I'm here to help. That's an unusual phrase. People aren't used to that. I want to solve their problems. What else am I going to do? This is what I want to do. And I have a great staff that makes me look good here in the Capitol. And my Capitol staff, Aaron and Bennett and Danley, they are amazing. And in the district, Cooper and Janelle and Ben, they're listening and watching. I'm so grateful. You make me look so good. And I'm so grateful. People tell me all the time, whether it's my Capitol staff or my district staff, oh, your staff did this. Aaron did this, Cooper did this, and all the constituents know my staff. It just makes me so proud. And then I can't forget Hannah, who was my chief of staff for the first two years. She's still here in the building, and she's a terrific friend, and it's been wonderful working with her. And I've learned so much. My first staff in the first four years, I didn't. We've served on city councils, but it's very different in the legislature and the processes and procedures. So having a great staff and to get things done really made a difference. I have to give also thanks. I hope my husband is listening. He couldn't make it up here. He's helping fighting crime in Orange County. He works with Todd Spister in the DA's office. And as a lawyer, I'm not a lawyer. I served on the Judiciary Committee, and Assemblyman Calra was always a great partner to work with. We didn't always agree on legislation, but we certainly worked together well, and I honor that. And my husband was always helpful to me on the laws and such. And my husband's been a prosecutor, not a civil lawyer. And so he said, I haven't looked at this since law school. Let me think about it. But it was a great help to me so I could be knowledgeable of how I look at the law. I feel like I've been through law school the last four years, learning about the law, all kinds of the law that the Judiciary Committee works through. But one thing I'm really proud of, because Senator Umberg and I really worked together on helping solve a significant issue with the state bar, but we couldn't solve it because the judiciary, the state bar is managed by a third branch, a judiciary branch, but we as legislators could say, California state bar and your examination needs to get fixed because there was a big fiasco in 2025 when they outsourced and computerized it. the bar exam and ended up with serious lawsuits million in lawsuits to the state bar because the law exam was not administered correctly So Senator Umberg and our respective committees he chair of judiciary worked together on the bill to strongly encourage the chief justice to go to a national standard on the bar exam. And that is happening. And thanks to both of us working together, we couldn't tell the chief justice. We had to be respectful of the jurisdictional lines, but they realized they had a problem, and they are moving forward implementing it on their own. We couldn't specify, but we could encourage. And I couldn't have done that without Senator Umberg. And it helps, one thing, being from Southern California and flying up here on an airplane, we all work together. The Orange County delegation, there's Sharon and Lori and... And my mind's going, Kate, my dear friend Kate, all of us, Phil and Greg sometimes, or somewhere else, all of us from Orange County. And over here on this side of the aisle, Avelino, we're all together, Cotty, we're all together on the flight. We wait in the morning at the gate, and we fly together, and then we're waiting in Sacramento, the airport, and we fly home. We talk a lot. We discuss issues and personal issues and legislative issues, and it's been a very good cohesion-building opportunity. So I want to just thank everyone for helping to make my legislative career in my terms successful. I feel I've accomplished a little bit and did something, as was said earlier. And I want to just thank everyone for being such a good friend and helping me along the way. I want to thank the staff, the staff here, the policy staff, the sergeants who drove me every day. I never drove my legislator car. I always had a driver because I was always nearby. But so many people behind the scenes helped keep this capital and the legislature running so smoothly. We do think we could save more time. Mr. Ellis, you and I, Stan, you and I think we could run the time more efficiently. not. That's what we both agree from our business experience. But anyway, I am honored to serve with all of you. I will hopefully be still serving the people of Orange County. That's what I intend to do. My service is not done yet, and I'm grateful to all the friends and colleagues and support I've had in the Assembly of the State of California. I can't believe I'm not crying because it's very emotional. So thank you all, and best of luck to all of you. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. I feel incredibly honored to get to say some remarks about my friend, Tom Lackey. Also fitting that he would wear this suit today. If you're thinking Tom wore this suit because he is the greatest patriot to ever come out of Palmdale, you'd be right some of you might be thinking he's wearing this suit because it's the same suit that afro man wore when he beat the cops at trial you would also be right that is the complexity that is tom lackey he's not a one-dimensional man he's not a simple man but he's an incredibly honest man. I had the privilege of serving on the Public Safety Committee for two years with Mr. Lackey. And those of you that know us both well would probably believe those were a contentious two years. But they weren't. They were years where we got to learn each other and share life experience and then look at policy differently now having known each other. I can tell you there are major things that have changed in California that would not have changed if not for my friendship with Tom Lackey and his compassion and sincerity to looking at policy. A couple of pieces of legislation that come to mind is a bill called Waukesha's Law. It's the first law named after a black woman in California's history. Waukesha Wilson lost her life in a LAPD holding cell and her family was never notified. So we wrote a law to make sure that if you die in custody, that the family has to know within 24 hours, you have a duty to tell them. People thought that bill would be contentious. And then it went to the first committee and Tom put his stamp on it. And all of a sudden it became bipartisan and unanimous. After the wildfires raged in Los Angeles and around our state, many of us said we should raise the wages of incarcerated firefighters. People told me I was out of my mind. You are never going to get the legislature to invest in incarcerated people during a budget deficit. It's just not going to happen. I showed up to public safety that day. And the vice chair of the public safety committee told me, you know, I don't know if you've got lackey. The Republican recommendation for the day was not to support it. And Tom heard everybody who came to committee and spoke on why this was right and fair and just and good for public safety and good for restitution and good for California And when it came time for Mr. Lackey to vote, he said, okay. And what he knew at the time and what I knew at the time was Tom Lackey's okay just meant this bill is bipartisan and will go unanimously off this floor and really make a difference in its potential to change the life of incarcerated firefighters in California. That doesn't happen without Tom Lackey. I've got five or six more of these examples through the years. We had one moment on the floor where we had a colleague who's no longer with us who was referencing that there is no such thing as a child prostitute, which was a tagline of a bill 10 years ago that decriminalized charging young girls under the age of 18 as prostitutes because you're not old enough to consent. And as this colleague who was saying this was using that tagline from 10 years ago, I looked up that bill. And that particular colleague didn't vote for that bill 10 years ago. You know what Republican did? Tom Lackey. because his entire service in the legislature has been marked by those examples of him disagreeing with his own caucus at times, disagreeing with the other caucus at times, disagreeing with himself at times to come up with what he believes is the most honest decision that he can make. We work in a business where it's increasingly comfortable to lie right to people's face. that is not tom lackey if he's there you can take it to the bank and if he's not you've probably got a little bit more work to do i will miss my friend from palmdale i will miss you greatly i think this entire body will miss you greatly california is better because of your service California is safer because of your service, and you have made this body a better place. Colleagues, please join me in celebrating our friend Tom Lackey.

Thank you, Speaker and colleagues. There are those rare people in life who remind you that public service can still be about character, decency, and doing the right thing. For me, Tom Lackey is one of those people. And Tom, I want you to know how deeply honored I am that you asked me to speak about you today. That means more to me than you'll ever know. and it is so wonderful to meet your lovely wife, Linda, as well. Tom served as my vice chair on the Assembly Elections Committee and as you all know, Tom is Republican, I'm a Democrat and there are plenty of things that we do not agree on but there has always been mutual respect for each other's views and many times where we agreed. Tom, you were one of the first members I had a meet and greet with when I was a freshman. I admired your compassion, your authenticity, your 28 years of service as an officer with the CHP, your time serving your community as a school board trustee and council member. You gave me a challenge coin that I carrying in my pocket today I can absolutely say without a doubt 110 I adore this man Because beneath the party labels, Tom Lackey is exactly the kind of person you hope to serve alongside. thoughtful, genuine, funny, faithful, and above all, a man of integrity. And a man with great value, great sense of style. I love the suit today. And in this building, we throw around the word honorable quite a bit. Tom has truly earned that title. Tom came from a town of about 3,000 people and ultimately found himself representing nearly half a million. But he never forgot where he came from or who sent him here. In fact, when I asked Tom what advice he would give to others in public service, it was simple. Be who you are and never forget who sent you here to serve them. That is Tom Lackey. He doesn't change who he is depending on the room he's in. He doesn't check which way the political winds are blowing before deciding what he believes. And while we certainly haven't always voted the same way, I have always known where Tom was coming from. and I've always trusted that it came from a sincere place. If you know Tom, you know about the bracelets. He wears a gold-length bracelet as a reminder of his commitment to faith and to his family. He wears a blue-line bracelet honoring his years in law enforcement. And he wears another bracelet to remind himself to stay balanced. faith family service balance those aren't just things Tom wears on his wrists they are the way he lives his life although I do have to question that commitment to balance because this man also loves EDM music yes EDM and then there are the bananas bananas. Tom hates bananas. And I don't mean he mildly dislikes them. Apparently his feelings about bananas are strong enough to influence California public policy. Because when I carried legislation to make the banana slug California's official state slug, there was one no vote. One, Tom Lackey. Now, Tom, I have forgiven you mostly. But I want the record to reflect that after all of our bipartisan work together, when California's banana slug needed you the most, you abandoned us. And yet, that story is also part of what I love about Tom Lackey. He is unapologetically himself. Tom, as you prepare for this next chapter and as your family prepares for the wonderful milestone of your daughter's wedding, I hope you know what an impact you have made on many of us. You have shown us that people can disagree without being disagreeable That friendship crosses party lines that kindness isn weakness and that integrity always matters You have reminded me that our politics don't have to define our relationships, and that sometimes that person sitting across the aisle can become one of the people you cherish most. I will miss having you as my colleague in this esteemed institution. I will miss your humor, your perspective, and yes, even your no votes. Tom, please stay exactly who you are. Keep your faith. Keep your family close. Keep serving others. Keep those bracelets on your wrist to remind you what matters. Keep listening to EDM. And for goodness sake, Tom, eat a banana. I love you, my friend. It has been truly a great honor to serve with you. Thank you.

you're going to be out of here. There might be some people in here that might understand that a little too closely. But I'm telling you, I'm likely to emotionally stumble. And I'm sorry about that. I wish I could help it, because I hate it. Told you. I want to thank my friend from Los Angeles, my friend from Santa Cruz, for those very, very kind and warm remarks. I'm going to announce the reason for this crazy outfit that I'm wearing right here. a guy named Joseph Foreman he's from Palmdale his name is Afro Man I'm not a big rap guy EDM is not rap but I will tell you something very powerful was expressed by this young man and I have a bill that addresses what I call the lemon pound cake bill, there's a lot of symbolism in life. And I'm telling you, the symbolism that that lemon pound cake song that was written by Afro Man, that law enforcement sued him over, sends a loud message. It sends a message that we can also have fun with serious topics. We don't always have to be angry. We don't always have to be mean-spirited in disagreement. But one thing I'm very thankful for, that Afro man, this is a replica of the very suit he wore when he testified in this trial against these law enforcement individuals who robbed him of what he deserved. And so that's one of the reasons why I wear this today. Against the advice of many. . because I think it speaks loudly. It speaks loudly to a truth that I think is easy to overlook. And I'm very, very thankful for so many influencers in my life. Sorry. but my maker I'm so thankful to know that there is a God who loves me I've been taught it since I was a child what a gift that is what a gift that is to set your life in the right chart so many people are not gifted with that understanding we need to help them I have family that I didn't know how lucky I was for that I'm ashamed but I had a father who was a dentist a self-made man who started smoking at 8 years old to curb his hunger it destroyed his life he suffered a very ugly death but I had a father who invested in me and he was the father he never had I had a mother who sacrificed her gifts to be a full time mother and I have siblings who were just siblings but I love them to death also a part of my family is something that I hope you get to enjoy it's staff whether you include them as family is up to you but I'm telling you I have been extremely fortunate for 12 long years when you think about 12 years think about it that's your entire schooling prior to college. When I first got here, there were people enrolling in kindergarten. Now they're graduating from high school or graduated from high school. That's a pretty significant slot of time. And I'm very, very thankful for so, so many things. And my staff is standing in the back there. They all know, if they don't know, I love you very much. Very, very thankful for all of you. And there's one in particular that was not only my chief of staff, but my roommate. He put up with me for eight years, man. And I will tell you, we suffered through some very big life challenges that weren't political. Those kinds of friendships are so powerful, and they will continue. I want you to know something that I've learned in this body is that goodness is not partisan. That goes to you and to you. It's real. You've got to find goodness, man. Search for it. And sometimes, here's the reality. The only reason I'm not that great at figuring that out on my own, I was forced to because I was a targeted member If I wanted to stay in this body I had to figure out that the majority of the people I represented thought differently than me So I need to figure out where the common ground Where's the areas that I can help people know that they can trust me? Trust is only earned, folks. And when you betray that trust, it's very almost difficult, almost impossible to get back. here's my other, I wasn't going to say much negative, but I am going to say this. I hate partial truths. And let me give you an example. You could say, Mr. Lackey, it's reported that Mr. Lackey Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints slash Mormon brings two wives to the assembly floor.

Thank you. Okay, members, we only have 22 more member tributes to go. 22, maybe 21. All right, members, it is time to recognize and acknowledge Dr. Arambula. And we first ask Assemblymember Ramos to speak.

Thank you. Assemblymember Wilson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members, for the opportunity to address you here today. And before I begin, I'm reminded of a quote that my daughter taught me quite a long time ago, which is that while we have two ears and one mouth, that's so that we can listen twice as hard and not speak twice as fast as some of us so often do while on this floor. But today I want to share some advice. I do want to share some of the insights that I've gained from being on this floor now for over a decade. And that is that listening has a purpose. That focusing on people's stories, where they come from, who they are, and why they're here, why they choose to serve this institution of any place in the world. And I have to speak about the importance that this green carpet has, that this building, that what we do together as a legislature has in shaping the greatest state in our nation, and in moving us forward every day that we have an honor of showing up to this state capitol. Now, I've been blessed to have been elected, frankly, to have been called to serve. I didn choose when I grew up to want to become an elected member of this body I chose to serve my community by saving lives And I loved that job I really did I loved being able to show up and ask how I could help, what I could do, and how I could make their pain, their suffering, their lived experience just a little bit better. But what I saw during my time in practice is there's not enough we can do within those four walls, sometimes we have to pull upon the levers of government. And that we get the government we deserve. If we're not willing to do something about it, if we're not willing to step up and serve ourselves, then we're stuck with those who are. And that means we have to ask more of ourselves. That means we have to sacrifice. That means we have to take the time to give to our constituents what they deserve, and that's our responsibility. And so I've been grateful that I've only served here in the People's House. I'm not from the Royal House. I'm not going to the Royal House. I'm not going to the Senate, which, if we've not forgotten, is the enemy. I've only served here in the People's House. And the reason why I served here in the People's House is because we do the people's work. That time and time again in this building, we stay connected to our constituents. We don't have elections every four years. We are back in front of our constituents every weekend. we're back doing their work and we get elected every election cycle. So having been elected for six cycles, I first have to start by thanking my staff who kept me connected to the district. And that begins with my longest serving staff in Maria Lemos, my district director, who's here in the back of the chambers. Felicia Matloss, who's my communications director. Maricela, my senior field rep, Maricela Ortiz, Damian Douglas, my field rep who's back at our district office right now. But it also includes Itzy, Chong Tua, Zach, and so many of the interns who have come through our district office. To my capital staff and my chief of staff in Eusebio Padilla, Erica Da Cumas, who's been my scheduler, Victoria Harris Arlie, David, Elizabeth included in there we have Sana we've had Maheen, we've had Arusa, we've had Jackie we've had Grayson Doucette we've had so many people who have come through my office who have contributed and has made this place better none of us can do this by ourselves and it makes us realize that we have something to do by uplifting staff, empowering them so that we can do a better job together. That ultimately, it's important for us to build that team-wide network and to watch them go other places. Whether or not that's watching as they become chiefs of staff, whether or not that's eventually waiting for them to run for your seat, to run for office themselves, what you do is you I hope to inspire them through your own commitments to be willing to give back. And so I wish to tell you a little bit about that commitment and how I spent my time while up here because I do think it matters how we spend our time Now I had the ability to chair sub one and I did it for nearly eight years It does not sound like much But that's a committee that they had to split into two because there was too much darn work for any one person to do. And I shouldered it for eight years. And I shouldered it for those eight years without ever once cutting off public comment or testimony. And I did it for those eight years, oftentimes late into the night, while many of you were out doing whatever it is that we do at night, till 9, 10, 11 o'clock, sometimes till midnight. Because here at the People's House, we have to listen to the people when they come to tell us about their budget. These aren't our tax dollars. These are theirs. And if we want this system, this government, to work for people, then we should spend the time to listen to them to make government better, to make our programs better, to make Medi-Cal and social services and developmental services and child welfare services and adult protective services and disability services, the programs that we run here in our state needed to be strengthened and improved. And frankly, we needed to increase the resources to those very programs. So in my time in office, in the decade that I've served, we've increased that spending towards our social safety net by over 50%. Ways in which we can better capture people before they hit rock bottom, before they end up back in an emergency room because they had no other choice. And what we're able to do by affecting those social drivers of health is start to address the root inequities that happen between too many people who are suffering still in our state. We hear about it every day as we talk about this affordability crisis, as we watch as our community members are struggling to make ends meet, to keep a roof over their head or food on our tables. That we can't lose sight of their struggles while we're working here to do the people's work. And so it's been in that service that I've shown up every day, listening to their stories, wanting to advocate and wanting to push. It doesn't mean that I speak up often here on this floor. I believe I have the second least amount of words spoken by a Democrat on the floor this year, for those who do keep track. But I speak up when it matters, and that matters to me when my constituents are impacted. Now, I represent the 31st Assembly District, which is Fresno. It's the same zip code, the same community that I grew up in. I have that honor of living in now, where I'm raising my three daughters. But when I came here over a decade ago, I was looking at the pictures just yesterday. I saw as my youngest daughter, Kennedy, who's here, who now just turned 11, wasn't even old enough to be able to walk down the aisle. And I watched as my three and four year old at the time who are here in Scarlett and Aviana were hugging each other as they were coming down this aisle and the joys that they had. And the memories that we will have made here while on the assembly means that we've been able to grow together as a family, But it also means that we've sacrificed together as a family. It means that we know what the perils are of giving of yourself as an individual. When you have to come up here four days out of the week, when you have to give of yourself and your family, you oftentimes do it at the impact of those who are closest around you. And so I want to remind them, if I can, while it is a struggle, I hope you've also seen the importance of service, the importance of giving back, the importance of making sure that we get the government that we deserve. It's not a mistake that I asked them to sit in my seat here today. It was just a fight between which one was going to take the seat first that I had to really battle between. And, you know, I bring that up because it is our job to make sure that those future generations see themselves in these positions as well. And so I'm grateful to have had my time carrying that baton, knowing that we can do what we can within our service, but that it's also time for us to pass it on to the future generations. And so for those future generations who are looking at this body, who wants to serve in this institution, you should know that change can happen. That we've seen it happen. Here I am having served under what then began as President Obama through Trump 1.0, Biden and now Trump 2.0. And I've watched as we've expanded health care. I've watched as we've made significant progress. I've watched as we as California are the tent pole for America's economy. And what we've done as a body, what we've done as a state is miraculous. But what we've done as an institution to become more reflective of the communities that we serve is even more impressive. When I began, we had 95 men out of 120 legislators representing us. And today it's 59-61. Having three daughters, knowing the importance that representation has, it is a great point of pride to me that we will reach parity and that we will fight to make sure that everyone's voice gets included up here. And so I'm grateful for this opportunity to be able to thank my staff, to thank my family, but most importantly, to thank this institution. To give us an opportunity to be able to serve our community is the honor and privilege of a lifetime. And so I'd ultimately like to end just by thanking the people, my constituents who sent me here, who had trust in me, who had faith that by sending a doctor, that ultimately we'd be fighting for a healthier Central Valley, and we have. We've delivered results. We've delivered victories. And now it's time for us to go back home, finish raising our daughters, and to pass the baton on to future generations. Thank you all for the opportunity to serve and to share some words with you today. Thank you

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It is a distinct honor to be able to honor one of the elder statesmen of the State Assembly and certainly the Black Caucus as well. You know, there's not very many members who end up serving 12 years. And there's some of us whose only wish is to never serve all 12 years. however he has been able to do so and as a matter of fact he is one of the last remaining members who were able to either work for or serve with some of the old school members of the legislature when things were a little bit rowdier let's just talk about assembly member mike gibson the great member representing the great city of Carson. You see, since Gibson entered the legislature, he has served as a passionate and outspoken leader on the issues that matter most to his district. For the past 12 years, Assemblymember Gibson has stood on this floor and repeated one phrase. That will stay with us very long after he leaves this body. And that's the question he continues to pose to not only himself but to many of us as well. What is our why? What he means by this is simple. Why do we show up to this job every day? Why do we get out of bed each morning? Why do we choose public service when there is an easier, quieter way of making a living? Why do we miss birthdays and ballgames and bedtimes for a job that doesn't always say thank you? He asked what is your why so many times over the years that I pretty sure some of you have started answering it just because he continues to ask it For Gibson the answer is always the same His why is to serve. To carry the priorities of his constituents all the way to Sacramento. and to make sure everyone in this chamber knew that the people of the 65th district had a voice and a seat at the table. And we knew whenever he felt that his district was not having a voice, he made sure that he got our attention. And I say that during his time in this body, he has done a darn good job of doing exactly that. From 2015 to 2025, one of his greatest legacies will be to have served eight years as Democratic Caucus chair. The longest anyone has ever held that position in California's state history. During that time, he has proven to be a formidable advocate for public safety, police reform, education, and the supply chain policies of this state. Specifically, his bill, AB 1621, created some of the most stringent restrictions on ghost guns in the nation. AB 490, Angelo's Law, banned law enforcement from using restraint techniques that caused positional asphyxia, commonly known as knee-to-neck. The same technique that took the lives of George Floyd and here in California, Angelo Quinto. and AB 835 extended the statute of limitation for vehicular manslaughter in cases when a driver fled the scene of the accident. One issue that is deeply, deeply personal to the assembly member and one of the great examples for all of us when it's time for us to turn pain into power. these bills along with many others during his time are results delivered results for his constituents results for his communities and results for the state of california mike gibson as a legislator legislator will be remembered for generations to come as a voice for the voiceless. But for me, I remember Mike Gibson as the person. We know there's times when Mike will take over this floor and he will preach some of the biggest Baptist sermons on this floor than anyone have ever heard. And you always knew when it was coming, when he first starts off a sentence with, watch this. And we said, oh, Lord, here we go. You always knew Gibson meant business because he was the only member on the floor dressed better for a Tuesday committee hearing than most of us will dress for our entire time, including weddings. I'm actually convinced that Gibson owns more bow ties than the legislature will pass bills this session. But you know when you saw the bow tie walking down the hall that you were in store for two things good laughs and good food I do not know what type of kitchen Gibson has in his office but somehow he can make some gumbo he can make some fried chicken, he can make some banana pudding, all kinds of stuff you will regularly get a text when it's time to eat in Gibson's office. See Gibson knows a little bit something about some southern hospitality. And if you're going to call someone family he knows you got to feed them too. And so if you're ever hungry somehow Gibson will bring out a crock pot or something out of his office and make you some southern food. And honestly, his reputation for food might just outlast his reputation for bills because he's fed so many of us. See, he loved to break bread with legislative staff, building staff, and members alike. and each of those will all have a story it doesn't matter if you are a member a sergeant if you're a custodian if you're a member or anyone's staff sometimes i wonder where the heck my staff is and they in gibson's office and I think that says a lot about the man Gibson is and should be remembered as a man of faith who treated everyone with a level of respect that all of us would do well to learn from and so as we prepare to say goodbye to Mike Gibson the legislator I think it's also fitting that we also take a moment to say thank you to the man who always tried to create a culture of family in this legislature and particularly with the democratic caucus who didn't forget about people's birthdays or most importantly make sure that people had a little hug and a little loving when we all had different crises and lost loved ones in our lives as well so assembly member on behalf of this chamber we say thank you thank you for 12 years of service 12 years of what is your why 12 years of good food 12 years of making sure that car Carson always had a seat at the table the bills you've passed what outlived all of it will outlive all of us in this room ghost gun restrictions angelo's law extending justice for victims of hit and run that's just a legacy that's not just a legacy that's about lives changed and lives saved we will not forget the work you've done here and more importantly sir we will not let you stop here this chamber will carry it forward because that's what you taught us to do congratulations assembly member gibson the voice of the 65th assembly district and we know that they are lucky to have you we know this body is lucky to have you and we have been lucky to have you these 12 years as well well done

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's always very hard to follow Mr. Jackson, but I will do my best to do that today. When you look around this chamber, you come to understand that every person here arrived carrying something with them, a story to share, a community to represent, a reason to serve, and a vision. For Assemblymember Mike Gibson, or as we've learned today and out these last 12 years, Preacher Mike, that reason has always been Watts. He was born there, raised there, and for 12 years he has carried Watts and Compton and Wilmington and every community in between into this building every single day. Mike and I represent neighboring communities, different districts, but the same fight. Watching his work up close has been one of the privileges of this role. And I've had the privilege of knowing Mike long before we were colleagues in this chamber. I remember Mike as an organizer back in the days when he was doing the hard work, thankless work of organizing, building power, bringing people together, and fighting for working families through the labor movement in Los Angeles. I watched him put that organizing experience to work with United Teachers Los Angeles, standing with educators and understanding that when you fight for teachers, you're also fighting for students, for families, for the future of our communities, and for the future of California. And members, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Mike has always had a little bit of style to go along with all that organizing. The man is a sharp dresser, and those bow ties, as it was mentioned, let's just say Mike Gibson has never met a bow tie that he didn't think could make a political or a fashion statement. But underneath the suits, the bow ties and that always present smile is someone who has always been serious about the work and getting the job done for his constituents. 12 years ago or 12 years is a long time to serve, but what matters is not the length of service, it's what you do with it. And Mike Gibson used every one of those years to its fullest. When the world watched George Floyd take his last breath under the knee, Mike Gibson did not wait. He authored AB 1196, the first statewide ban on police chokeholds and restraints in California history. The courage to look at a broken system and refuse to look away is what separates legislators who serve from legislators who lead. Mike Gibson acted, and California, my friend, is safer because of you. That is who Mike Gibson is, and it shows up everywhere you look in his record. He secured $25 million for Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, a hospital that is a lifeline for black and brown Angelenos in the community he loves. He has fought for sickle cell funding for ghost gun legislation and for $5.5 million to fund the arts, cultures, and families of Watts. He has spent his career standing up for civil rights, standing up with victims of violence and demanding that we confront the consequences of gun violence in our communities. And that commitment didn't begin just in Sacramento. It was forged through years of organizing, through his work with labor, through his service on the local Carson City Council, and through the countless fights where Mike learned that progress does not happen because someone asks nicely. It happens because people organize, they stand together, and like Mike, they refuse to give up. These acts are not modest contributions. These are the kinds of investments that change the trajectory of a community for generations to come. And I been lucky enough to see another side of Mike He is my office neighbor so I get to smell what he making that day And always happy and always generous with his time and always willing to share a laugh And of course, we sit together. He's my lunch buddy. Where before every meal, he prays for his meal. And I'm certain I know you pray for me too. But more importantly, Mike has been a mentor, a friend, and especially to the freshman class. and for me, and a powerful example of what it means to be a leader of color who opens doors, shares wisdom, and makes sure the people coming behind him know they belong in this room, and they belong in this chamber. That kind of mentorship is a legacy, too. For that and so much more, California has taken note. The California Association of Black Lawyers named him Legislator of the Year. The Sickle Cell Disease Foundation named him a champion. The Community College League of California named him as an outstanding legislator. The honors are many, but what they all say in different words is the same thing Mike Gibson delivers. Mike, this chamber will feel your absence, as will the communities you have served so diligently. But the laws you wrote, the hospital you funded, the children in Watu will grow up with an arts campus in their neighborhood, those with your legacy will remain. And so with the example you set that organizing matters, that labor matters, that civil rights matter, that communities matter, and that leadership is ultimately about making sure the people you represent are stronger because you were there and you stepped up to lead and you stepped up to serve. The Golden State sincerely thanks you for your time in Sacramento, as do I and many of your colleagues here in this chamber. Now Now go get him at that Board of Equalization and please don't let them tell you that bowties aren't appropriate there. As many here in this room, I like Mike. Thank you Mike and congratulations.

Thank you. Next member we will recognize is Assemblymember Marisucci. Assemblymember Fong, you are recognized for your remarks.

Thank you. Assemblymember Patel, you're recognized for your remarks.

Thank you. Thank you, Assembly Members, for your remarks. Assembly Mayor Marsucci, you are recognized for your remarks.

my wife Hiroko was really the rock and raising our strong beautiful daughter and so I cannot thank you enough thank you for letting me serve in the legislature thank you for this privilege I just want to close by saying that 12 years went by fast. I went into this, like a lot of folks, I went into this taking a big pay cut from being a lawyer to serving in the legislature. But I did it because I'm a true believer. I'm a true believer in the opportunity to be able to fight for what you believe in, fight to make a difference. fight to make the world a better place. And I've chosen my lanes that I've focused on over the years, education and climate action. I just, kind of following Mr. Gibson, I also want to apologize for some of the feelings that I might have hurt over the years because we're all so passionate about our work up here. And I know that there are times when we feel so passionate about our bills or about the issues that we're working on that there are some hurt feelings. And I just want folks to know that it was never personal, that, you know, I think we all do this work so passionately. We serve the people of the state of California because we're all true believers. And so thank you again for this wonderful opportunity to serve. Look forward to continue to stay in touch. Not sure what is next in the next chapter of my life, but whatever I do I rest assured I will continue to be a true believer and to continue to fight to make the world a better place so thank you everyone applause Thank you

Thank you. Colleagues, today we get to celebrate someone who has devoted so much of her life to public service. Our friend, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva. And Sharon, I want to start by saying how incredibly honored I am to speak about you today. It means so much to me. Because somewhere along the way, you became more than a colleague. You became a dear friend. Sharon's path to the legislature has always been rooted in community. She was a teacher, a member of the Fullerton City Council, and the first Latina mayor in Fullerton's history before coming to the State Assembly. And throughout her time here, she has never forgotten where she came from or who sent her here. Sharon has been a fierce advocate for Orange and Los Angeles counties and for working families across California. She has fought for our veterans, for housing and homelessness solutions, for our schools, including making sure kids know how to write in cursive, for mental health services, and for the people who too often feel like government isn't listening to them. And Sharon, you listen. She brings the perspective of a teacher to this work. She asks questions. She pays attention. And she cares deeply about people. She also has a wonderful ability to bring people together, even when we don't agree. Now, for most of the time that I've known Sharon, I think you would all agree that she is indeed sweet Sharon. Warm, kind, thoughtful, always ready with that big smile. But something happened these last couple years. I don't know if it was term limits approaching, fewer reasons to hold back, or simply Sharon deciding, you know what? I'm going to say what I think. So sweet Sharon got spicy. And I have to tell you, Sharon, you rock at being spicy, Sharon. She speaks up. she tells it like it is. She brings the heart, sorry, she brings the heat and the heart when the heat needs to be brought. But even when she's spicy, the heart behind it is exactly the same. Sharon cares deeply about this institution, about the people she represents, and about doing what she believes is right. And that is what I will remember most about serving with you. But Sharon and I are also sharing something else right now. We are officially in our mother of the bride era. And you have your future son-in-law here with you today, Bob, and of course your husband, Jesus, who's been your rock through all this. But our daughters are getting married, and so in between bills and caucus meetings and floor sessions and everything else we do around here, we get to talk about weddings, daughters and families, and all the joy and craziness that comes from being the mother of the bride. And Sharon, that's one of the reasons I know our friendship isn't going to end with our time in this building. I'm going to miss seeing you in Sacramento, but I fully expect the dinners, the phone calls, the wedding updates, the family updates to continue. I want to be there to celebrate the good times with you and I want to be there to support you and your family through whatever life brings. The legislature may have brought us together, but it doesn't get to decide when our friendship ends. Sharon, public service is ultimately about the people whose lives we touch along the way, and you have touched so many lives. You have made your community proud and you have made this institution better. You have made me better. So I couldn't possibly send off sweet and now occasionally spicy Sharon with just another speech. So I've updated the lyrics to a song. A song that is loved by your grandson. This could be very embarrassing for me, but here we go because I'm doing it with love. And hopefully the rest of you around here can sing along when you know the chorus. Okay. Where it began with a heart for service, and then we watched as her service grew strong. Year after year, She was always sweet Sharon, but lately Sharon's been bringing the heat. Hands raising hands speaking out standing strong telling it straight Spicy Sharon, bum bum bum, we love seeing this side of you. Sweet Sharon Good times never seem so good So good, so good, so good Sharon Get rid of me too easily Mwah!

Wow, how do you follow up with that? How's the itsy bitsy spider sound or something easy? Well, it's with great honor that I stand today to talk about my good friend. I got that far, Sharon. Today we get to recognize and thank a very special public servant who is now very spicy. And I just love when you come and speak on the floor. I don't know if you realize it, but many of us have been in this building for quite some time. but when you speak, it's a voice I have missed for a while. And remember the days when we had Shirley Weber when she would get up and speak and the whole room was silent. And I remember the days that Susan Eggman stood up and the room was silent. And why is it because people trusted you and they knew that whatever you had to say came from your heart. Everything you have done has come from your heart. When we became friends on the floor, The most exciting thing is about that we had something in common. We were a little bit older than everyone else here on the floor, but we got to talk about our family. Because our families have had the rough road, and our life experience is what's come out of the policy that we've all done. I know your number one thing is your family. your mom, I wish she was here today and I'm hoping she's watching it today because she'd be so proud of you your sisters your children but number one Jesus and why I bring this up why it's so important is because as many have said is this job is really difficult when you don't have a rock behind you and Jesus as you were figuring out healthy issues we all were around here and saying prayers for you and making sure you got back on the road and it's so great to see how wonderful you are but I know what the main thing is is that we got our grandson roaming around And the struggles we had for you until he arrived And what a blessing he has been to your family We've been lucky, Sharon. And many of us in this room, and Ash Kalra was one of them, we got to go to India together. Have you ever been to India with Ash? Well, think twice. I've never seen anybody show up with a machine gun at his doorway but anyway that's a whole other story but Sharon as we know has always worked across the aisle she's been a very steady voice for all of us she's kept us focused, she kept us focused on the people's work and she listened to many of us in this room you know when we started the we've been around with the women's caucus and it grew and our voices got stronger, one of the voices that got stronger was yours. Because you found a gap of something that we need to take care of, and that was incarcerated women. And you started the workshop, along with Assemblymember Bonta, to make it so strong and how much incredible legislation has come out of that. And I thank you for doing that. And I thank you for the women who are sitting in prison today that didn't have the opportunity or we didn't have the wherewithal to make their lives better. So thank you for doing that. Thank you for all the things you've done for us with child care and having the strong voice to make sure that our children were taken care of. Because as we know, if we don't take care of the children when they're little, what can we do with the world? We need to teach children how to be responsible, but we have to teach mommies and daddies. And you always kept mommies and daddies in your thoughts all the time to make sure how do we make their lives better. You're leaving behind some friendships, relationships, and a reputation for caring deeply for people and the communities represent. I want to thank you. You've changed my life. You've changed so many people's lives. And I hope everybody listens to a few things with Sharon, that she was a good representative for the people, but she wants this institution to stay strong. And the frustrations that we have had on the floor, whether it's people being late or not showing up dressed properly or whatever, that's part of the institution, right, Sharon? And she'd say, come on, we've got to get these things done. But you were part of the institution that's here, and there's not many of us that are left that can remember those speeches and those conversations. nor on a beautiful day like today that everybody was civil and let the person speak and their families speak because years ago it was a fight up here to have we'd have hours of these conversations but thank you so much you've made a difference your work here mattered and I'm going to miss you Congratulations on this incredible career, and I would like to give this microphone to you to share your story today.

Thank you First thank you to the member from Winters and the member from Santa Cruz who will be forever friends

It's like a dream. It seems like just yesterday that I walked on this green floor in 2012. And members, if you don't remember, that was a quote from just last week from Reverend Bob O'Shidi. I was first elected to the California State Legislature in 2012. However, I lost my election in 2014, and I returned in 2016 with the support of my constituents. And today I stand before you having completed 12 years of legislative service and 14 years of a remarkable journey. And during those years, I've had the privilege of serving under two governors. Governor Jerry Brown, who I just had a conversation with this weekend. He's still watching us, friends, and he has a lot of advice for these last two weeks of session. under Governor Gavin Newsom and working with four speakers. Of course, my favorite speaker is right here, Speaker Robert Revis. And through these years, I've watched this Capitol change. I've watched California change. I've watched the legislative body change. And if I'm being honest, I've changed too. As I prepared to leave, I realized the greatest part of this journey was never the titles, the votes, the bills, or the politics. It was the people. It is the people. and first to my family, to my husband, Jesus. You've been my cheerleader, my partner, and my steady support every step of the way, and I could not have done this without you. Thank you. To my four adult children, you were not adults when we started this journey. Catherine, Molly, Patrick, and Jack Ryan. I'm so proud of you. I'm not proud of the titles of degrees or awards. I'm proud of who you have become as adults. Hardworking, caring, compassionate people. I love you dearly. Through 14 years, life happens. You watch your children grow up. I've watched your children grow up. And you celebrate graduations, a marriage, and a soon-to-be marriage by my daughter's fiancé, Robert Mazzola, just in this fall. And yet you have heartbreak along the way. I lost three brothers during my elected time and our first grandson, Holden. And yet we celebrate the arrival of our beloved grandson, Harry, who's two and a half, and we have the best time with him. Secondly, I want to acknowledge my team. so many individuals that I've worked with from my district team to my state team to our budget team to interns and young legislators to the DCO team and of course to this beautiful floor team, our sergeants, even the docents that take care of this institution in this Capitol. We could not do the work without you. For those of you know me, I have some team members that we want to see placed. So look up Quirk Silva team. They are excellent. To the team that works with me, you've given so much. You've worked long hours. You've dealt with impossible schedules. You answered the phones when nobody else wanted to. And you listened to constituents when they were frustrated. And yet you kept doing the job. Thank you so much. My success is your success. And I'm so proud of all of you. To my colleagues, those of you that have had the privilege of working side by side for so many years, thank you. And I'm proud of you, too. This is not an easy job. We're not always going to agree. And we're going to bitterly fight, and we're going to argue, whether it's within our caucus or across the aisle. But that is part of our job, is to stand up, to learn from each other. And yes, when you step into it, to apologize and to say I'm sorry and to move on. Because when we come here, it's our constituents that are depending on us. They're depending on us to work together, to find common ground, to look for ways that we can move forward. So thank you, colleagues. I will miss you and maybe as my new family my daughter Molly who lives here and her fiancee Robert will continue to live here you might see me with the little stroller I might even be one of those people standing on the corner as we walk to the swing building I'll have little paddles for you like you might want to amend your bill or listen or say you're sorry or whatever I'm gonna make those little paddles. Remember how I did the housing awards? My own housing awards. All right. Finally, I leave as a humble public servant. I understand the privilege I've been given. Being elected is not an entitlement. It is an opportunity, and it's a responsibility. And I want to say a sincere thank you to the constituents of AD67. Over 14 years, my focus has evolved. Over the years, I focused on housing, homelessness, mental health, and education. In the last three years, I've had the opportunity to lead on the budget, and I thank Mr. Speaker for that opportunity. I've taken my own fact-finding journey into incarceration in California. Those experiences changed me. They challenged assumptions I had. They opened my eyes and they reminded me that behind every policy debate are real people people with families struggles hopes and dreams I know that there is still much work to be done to work towards a golden state that glimmers for all. I'd like to leave you with a little advice as a classroom teacher. First, family first. First, protect your family time and say no to too many events. Second, legislation is messy. Sometimes getting part of what you want is better than getting nothing at all. I call that slivers of legislation. Be willing to pivot and amend and listen. And third, let it go. Have constructive debates. Fight for what you believe. And you can even get angry, but then patch up the differences and move forward together. Because tomorrow you still need to work together. And finally, lead with your heart. Remember that you don't know the struggles of many of the people that you represent. the person sitting across from you may be carrying a burden that you know nothing about. Let us remember we are here to serve thousands of Californians that are diverse, that have varied opinions and needs. Fourteen years ago, I walked into this Capitol with a lot of energy, a lot of opinions, and a lot to learn. Today I walk out with more perspective, more humility, countless memories, lessons learned, and immense gratitude to my family, my team, my colleagues, and for the people I represent. It has been an extraordinary privilege serving the people of California. 14 years is a lifetime, and what a journey it has been. so so long farewell and I say goodbye to you

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to withdraw AB 2476 Ellis from engrossing and enrolling and to return the bill to Senate for further action.

Senate Bills 327, 685, 868, 905, 1013, 1203, and Senate Bill 804.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay.

House Resolution 133 by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and others relative to 818 Day.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is a special day for me as I bring a part of home up to the state capitol. I rise as the proud author of House Resolution 133 to recognize August 18, 2026 as 818 Day in honor of the historic, cultural, and economic contributions of the San Fernando Valley. The 818 is more than an area code. For more than 1.8 million people, it represents an identity, a shared history, and a place we are proud to call home. The Valley's culture lives in its landmarks, family-owned businesses, murals, community centers, houses of worship, and traditions passed down from one generation to the next. You taste it in the taco trucks on the corner, the panaderias where families stop in the morning, the carneserias, pupuserias, food stands, and family-owned restaurants that have become neighborhood staples. It is a place where cultures do not simply coexist, they blend and thrive. The valley's story, however, began long before there was an 818. This land is the ancestral home of the Tonga Tataviam, Fernandeno Tataviam, and Chumash peoples. Their stewardship, traditions, and enduring relationship with this land are not history alone. They are living foundations that continue to enrich the valley today. The valley was later shaped by its citrus groves, ranches, and fertile farmland. generations of farm workers labored on that land and helped build an essential part of California's economy the valley's history is also one of resilience in the face of exclusion Pacoima often recognized as one of America first black suburbs became a center of black settlement during the 1940s and 50s when African Americans were denied the opportunity to purchase homes in many other communities. Today, the valley has become much more than just a place to live. From people all over the world, it has become a place to start over, put down roots, buy a home, open a business, raise children, and build a better future. The valley has also helped shape the world's imagination through its legendary studios and entertainment industry, from Warner Bros and Walt Disney in Burbank to Universal, and generations of productions filmed throughout the Valley. Behind the stars and the screen, there are thousands of Valley residents, writers, artists, craftspeople, technicians, and small businesses who have made entertainment an important part of our local economy and identity. From Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas, and San Fernando to North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Van Nuys, and Northridge. Every community carries its own history and character. Together, we form a region that is remarkable, unforgettable, and a true gem in our great state. H.R. 133 honors those who built this valley, celebrates those who sustain it today, and affirms that the San Fernando Valley is an essential part of California's story. On August 18, 2026, we honor the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead to the future of the 818. Members, there is a postcard on your desk with artwork made by a talented muralist in my district, Juan Pablo Reyes, also known as JP Murals, who is an incredibly talented kid from the Valley whose art represents the very best of our community. With you, we leave a small token of what makes our home so special. We hope you visit us soon and experience the Valley's magic for yourself. I respectfully ask for your aye vote on House Resolution 133 and invite all members to join in celebrating August 18th as 818th Day. Thank you.

Aye.

Thank you. Thank you. .

Thank you. Thank you.