Floor — 2026-06-01 (partial)

Good morning, California. The assembly is now in session. Now in session. Assemblymember Schiavo notices the absence of a quorum. Sergeant Arms will prepare the chamber, bring in the absent members. Clerk will call the roll.

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Reverend Nostal. Please join me in a moment of reflection. When we become uncentered on ourselves, feelings of happiness naturally begin to emerge, But letting go of selfishness is not just at the heart of finding our own sense of well-being. It is at the heart of creating a better world. For when we become uncentered on ourselves, our wisdom eyes open to see that we are not separate from the earth, our environment, or all life. We see that all people everywhere, we are a part of one humanity. Pope Leo said, Our common path can and must be understood to involve everyone in a spirit of human fraternity. Peace is built in the heart and from the heart by eliminating pride and vindictiveness and carefully choosing our words. True peace begins with humility forgiveness and mindful communication When they ask me who my people are I will proudly say humanity all of humanity are my people True spiritual teachers and spiritual traditions all try to remind us when we become uncentered on ourselves, our wisdom eyes open to see that we are not separate from the earth, our environment, or all life. We see that all people everywhere, we are a part of one humanity. Namo Amida. Let us try to live with kindness and gratitude beyond words. We ask our guests and visitors to join us and remain standing for the flag salute.

Please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Assembly Chamber of Sacramento, Thursday, May 7, 2026. The Assembly met at 9 a.m. The Honorable Josh Loventhal, Speaker. Majority Leader Aguiar Curry moves and Ms. Sanchez 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 seem adopted. Messages from the governor, there are none. Messages from the Senate, there are none. Moving on to motions and resolutions, the absence of the day will be deemed read and printed in the journal.

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assemblymembers Wilson and Michelle Rodriguez to speak on adjournment in memory today.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 118A to allow Assemblymembers Krell, Wilson, Macedo, and Lackey to have guests in the rear of the chamber and to allow Assemblymembers Wilson and Berner to have guests seated at their desks.

I request unanimous consent to rescind the action whereby on September 8, 2025, SB 830, Errageen, was read a third time, passed, and set to the Senate.

At the request of the author, I am giving a one-day notice to remove item A7, SB 453, Stern, from the inactive file.

Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to re-refer SB 239, Air Green, from the local government committee to the public safety committee.

Thank you so much. Good afternoon, colleagues. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Majority Leader for loaning your desk for this exciting occasion. I have the honor of welcoming the Futures High School Hydrogen Car Grand Prix team. Earlier this year, engineering students from Futures High School, which is part of Gateway Community Charters, earned first place at the Hydrogen Grand Prix Pro California State Final Award qualifiers, giving them the opportunity to compete in Switzerland for the Hydrogen Grand Prix World Finals. Colleagues, this is a really big deal. These students are so talented. I was able to see these cars firsthand at their fair earlier this year, and what they've done is nothing short of spectacular. I'm so excited for them. I'm so excited for California's future when we have students like this. And it's my honor to welcome Daniel Zavalenko to the floor, Michael Yurkiv to the floor, Avenir Karpuk to the floor, and Kelly Kessler to the floor to be recognized today. By the way, this is their first day of summer and they're spending it with us. Colleagues, please join me in welcoming these incredible students. Welcome to the California Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, please join me in welcoming some wonderful visitors from my district. my good friend Jasmine Chisholm, and her daughters, my goddaughters, Lottie and Lyric Tate. Lottie is a junior getting ready for her senior year, and Lyric is an eighth grader preparing to enter high school. They are both students at Griffin Technology Academy in Vallejo. They are job shadowing me today. Welcome to the Capitol.

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker and members. I'm welcoming to the floor my daughter, Maya. Many of you remember when she was this big. I call her my little girl, but she's not so little anymore. She's going to be a sophomore next year at San Diego Academy. So welcome, Maya.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 185 by Assemblymember Macedo and others relative to Portuguese Heritage Month.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Both are the members. I rise today with great pride as a fourth-generation Portuguese-American to present ACR 185, recognizing June as Portuguese Heritage Month. As the granddaughter of immigrants from the Azorian island of Trusada, I am honored to recognize the countless contributions of Portuguese Californians. California is home to 350,000 Portuguese Americans, the largest population in the United States, and as driven by the promise of the American dream, many Portuguese immigrants arrived in the pursuit of gold during the gold rush and eventually settled in the Central Valley in the late 19th century. Many held jobs as day laborers, and eventually families pooled their money together to purchase land for crop farming and built the bedrock of the state's powerhouse dairy industry. By 1960, Portuguese-American farmers produced an estimated 90% of California's milk. Today, they continue to represent about two-thirds of dairy producers in core agricultural hubs like Merced, Kings, and Tulare counties. One of the great traditions of our culture is the centuries-old tradition of the Portuguese Holy Ghost Festa. Brought to California by immigrants in the 1800s, it honors Queen Isabel of Portugal for her charity. The vibrant celebrations are famous for parades, crowning of festival queens, and sharing meals with family and friends. These celebrations bring together faith, family, culture, and service. There are a few cultural traditions that remain as visible, enduring, and community-centered as the Portuguese Festas that have been celebrated here in California since the late 1800s. As a kid, festas meant getting a new pair of jeans, dress, or cowboy boots to wear to the festivities. For decades, Portuguese Americans have contributed to California's economy, culture, and history. They have brought with them a strong work ethic, deep faith, and a commitment to family and community. Those values continue to shape our state today. As we celebrate Portuguese Day, the entire world is looking ahead to the World Cup, kicking off this month. And of course, the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. Now he is 41 years old and playing in his sixth World Cup. There were rumors that this might be his last year, but his coach recently hinted he might stay on through the 2030 Games. Boa sorte to Cristiano Ronaldo and Team Portugal. It is a privilege to help recognize the generations of Portuguese Californians whose hard work and sacrifice helped shape the communities we call home. I respectfully ask for your aye vote on ACR 185 and ask for the first roll to be open for co-authors.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on behalf of the California's Legislative Hispanic Caucus in support of ACR 185.

Heritage Month, as well as June 10th, the day of Portugal, and May 25th, the day of the Azores. The Portuguese story in California is a story about hard work, family, faith, and community. For more than 200 years, Portuguese immigrants, many from the Azores, helped build California from the ground up, especially in agriculture, dairy and fishing. From the whaling boats in Monterey to the tuna canneries in San Diego, Portuguese Californians have always contributed to our state. And today that legacy continues in business, public service, education, the arts and our military. Thank you to the California Portuguese American Coalition and the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute at Fresno State for their work preserving Portuguese language and culture for future generations. Their partnership with local communities, with the universities, and the government of Azores is helping strengthen cultural ties and create new opportunities here in California. I want to thank my colleague from Tulare for bringing this resolution forward to honor of the more than 350,000 Californians who proudly traced their roots to Portugal. And as the daughter of a Portuguese American, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

I want to thank Madam Majority Leader for her support in running this resolution and allowing me to run it this year. Proud Portuguese girls. And with that, respectfully ask for your aye vote and the first roll to be open for co-authors.

some sweetbread on your desk you have a delicious treat called masavada which is a portuguese traditional sweetbread and they all came from a bakery in my district pastry delights very grateful for them and in the rear of the chamber i have two very special gentlemen that i've had the honor of knowing for a while now so please help me recognize denise borges the president of the california portuguese american coalition and felipe ramalheda the consulate general of portugal in san francisco

The clerk will read.

Assemblymember Stephanie, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to say the comments from my colleague from Tulare about the World Cup sting a little bit from Italy, but that's okay. I do rise to present ACR 197, recognizing the month of October as Italian-American Heritage Month in the state of California. Of course, it is not October, but we're not here in October, so that's why we're doing it now. As a proud Italian-American and chair of the Italian Caucus of California, I'm honored to recognize the profound contributions our community has made. It's especially meaningful to bring this resolution forward this week, as tomorrow is June 2nd, which marks Italian Independence Day, which is known as Festa della Repubblica. California is home to nearly 1.5 million people of Italian descent, one of the largest Italian-American populations in the country. Italian immigrants helped build this state, working the fields, fishing the coast, and shaping industries from agriculture to construction. They founded businesses, opened banks, thank you Bank of America, which was Bank of Italy, and brought traditions that still enrich California's culture today. In San Francisco, they rebuilt the city after the 1906 earthquake. They created landmarks, launched into institutions like the San Francisco Opera and the Bank of Italy, and shaped North Beach into a beacon of Italian-American life. They helped build the Port of Los Angeles, shaped the fishing industry in Monterey, and were among the first to cultivate grapes in the Central Valley. Italian Americans have contributed to every corner of public life, arts, education, labor, science, and public service. As A.P. Giannini, the son of Italian immigrants and founder of Bank of America, once said, serving the needs of others is the only legitimate business today. His commitment to expanding opportunity for working families reflected the same spirit of service and determination that has defined generations of Italian Americans in California, including my family. Last year, alongside Senator Cortese, I was thrilled to launch the Italian Caucus of California to uplift Italian-American voices, history, and contributions within state policymaking. And I was incredibly touched that so many of you, my colleagues in the Assembly and the Senate, joined us in building that caucus. So let us continue to celebrate the stories, sacrifices, and achievements of Italian-Americans across California. Grazie mille, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As granddaughter of proud Italian immigrants and as co-chair of the California Hispanic Legislative Caucus, we rise in support of ACR 197.

I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Okay, got it.

desks. Yes. You'll see, as a small token of appreciation from the Italian Cox of California, and as a nod to our rich and delicious heritage, members will find a gift on their desk today. It's a box of Bocce chocolates. Bocce stands for kiss, so it's the Italian kisses.

The clerk will read.

Assemblymember Lackey, you are recognized. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to recognize June as Congenital Cytomegalovirus, or CCMV Awareness Month. CCMV is a common virus that can infect people of all ages and is one of the most common infections to cause birth defects in the United States. Approximately one in five are born with CCMV and they will experience permanent health problems including hearing loss, vision impairment, developmental and motor delays, and other serious medical conditions. Despite its potential severity, public awareness of this virus remains very, very low. That why I brought forward ACR 205 to help honor the ongoing efforts of the advocates and families working to help raise awareness of CCMV and support those who live with it I respectfully urge your support and I vote

to be open for co-authors.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to welcome and recognize a few people on the floor in the gallery who are helping to bring attention to the CCMV. First, I would like to welcome, as was introduced earlier, former Senator and my good friend, George Renner. Next, I would like to welcome his wife, Pamela Jessup Renner, who has recently authored a book called Grief, Grit, and Glory. This book details her journey on navigating her son's diagnosis and her transformation to becoming an advocate for not only her son, but for families who have also been impacted by CCMV. Additionally, I have with me Johnny Jessup and his incredible care team, Nurse Monica Sachi and his aide Katie Braggs. Michelle Zappas, a CCMV California representative, is also on the floor with us. Lastly, I would like to bring to your attention in the gallery to recognize the incredible support system and love of Johnny's family, which includes Catherine, Anthony, Alexis, Brent and Blair Jessup. I think they're to my left. Welcome everyone and thank you members for allowing me to take the time to bring this resolution to the floor and recognize everyone here.

Assemblymember Connolly. The clerk will read. Senate concurrent resolution 177 by Senator Weber Pearson and others relative to World No

Connolly, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members, proud to present SCR 177, which proclaims May 31, 2026 as World No Tobacco Day. World No Tobacco Day was created by the World Health Organization to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death and disease in the entire world. It kills more than 490,000 Americans each year, causing nearly one in every five deaths in the United States. The tobacco industry has a long history of targeting youth with flavored tobacco products and aggressive marketing. Today, that same playbook continues with e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products marketed as safe or as alternatives to quitting. California has taken strong action to protect kids and communities. In 2020, we enacted SB 793. Our nation-leading law to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, and voters overwhelmingly upheld that law through Proposition 31 in 2022. SCR 177 declares that May 31, 2026, as world note, Tobacco Day, and reaffirms California's commitment to protecting our children from a life of addiction and illness. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote on SCR 177, and would like the first vote open for co-authors.

Assemblymember Wilson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, members. I rise today to adjourn in memory of John Wesley Finney, Jr., a beloved California resident and devoted educator who passed away on March 30, 2026 at the age of 98. John Finney was born on January 12, 1928 in Watts, California to his loving parents, John Wesley Sr. and Arnetta Plato Finney. Mr. Finney was the eldest of 10 children. We are joined today by his family and loved ones, Pamela Finney, Benita Finney, Sean Richardson, Lawrence Sims, Isaiah Stewart, and Shamia Sumter join us on the floor. Rudisha McNeil-Lana Raspberry, Joe Richardson, Gabriel Smith, Sidney Stewart, and Maisha Sumter join us in the gallery. John earned his degree in business administration from USF and began his professional career as a bus driver for San Francisco Municipal Railway. He later joined the San Francisco Police Department, where he served for 12 years in the Juvenile Bureau. During this time, he continued his education, earning a master's degree in administrative services from San Francisco State University and a teaching credential from UC Berkeley. He began teaching while still working nights as a police officer, eventually transitioning into education full-time. In 1972, John joined the Vallejo City Unified School District as a principal of People's Continuation High School, where he transformed it into the highly respected school. His innovative approach became a model for other districts, eventually leading him to become the director of alternative education for the Vallejo City Unified School District. In recognition of his impact, the school was later renamed John W. Finney High School and has since evolved into the John W. Finney Educational Complex. After retiring from Vallejo City Unified School District, John continued to serve working as a substitute teacher, interim principal, and later a Blue Rock Springs golf course in Vallejo. He officially retired from Blue Rock Springs in 2025 at the age of 97. I joined the family and friends of John Wesley Finney Jr. in celebrating and revering the accomplishments and legacy of a distinguished and caring individual. John was a deeply loved man whose laughter, warmth, and spirit touch many. His life speaks to the great good that could be accomplished by those who strive for the best in every aspect of their lives. His presence will truly be missed. Members, please join me in celebrating a great Californian's life.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members. Today, I rise to request that we adjourn in the memory of Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Levi Vargas. Deputy Vargas was tragically taken from us far too soon after suffering a medical emergency during the annual Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup relay race. Deputy Vargas was only 30 years old and serves as an 11-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, most recently in the San Dimas Station. He will forever be remembered by his loved ones, colleagues, and community as an exceptional young man who was loved, respected, and admired by many. Deputy Vargas served with compassion, professionalism, kindness, and courage. He was deeply devoted to his faith and his calm and loyal spirit made a meaningful impact on the community he served. My heart aches for his wife, Amanda, his family, his friends, and the entire law enforcement community as they grieve this devastating loss. Let us honor Deputy Vargas' legacy by remembering his dedication to public service, his strength of character, his devotion to his faith, and the many lives he touched. May he rest in peace.