Floor — 2026-07-02 (partial)

Allen, Alvarado Gil, Archuleta, Araguin, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Daly, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limon, McGuire, McNerney, Manjavar, Nilo, Ochoa Bog, Padilla, Perez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Cillarto, Smallwood Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umber, Voladares, Wahab, Weber Pearson, Wiener.

to be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and a special musical performance by Philo Abid. As we gather today, creator God, source of hope and liberty. On the eve of this Independence Day, we gather not simply to celebrate a moment in history, but to honor a living story. A story written in courage, sacrifice, struggle, and the enduring hope of a nation still becoming. 250 years ago, a flame was kindled. Not a flame belonging to one generation alone, but a flame entrusted to all who would follow. Carried through wars, hardships, and season when the nation was challenged to live more fully into its own ideals. Today, when we face a world where trust is fragile, community divided, and where some may wonder whether the promise of America and freedom still resonates grant us the courage not to turn away from these challenges and to meet them with humility and wisdom On this 250th anniversary may we honor the light of what has been heal what remains broken, and faithfully carry forward the enduring torch of freedom. Renew our flame. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for our love.

Oh, say. Oh, say. Can you see? By the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. O the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming And the rocket red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night That our flag was still there Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free And the home of the brave

Assembly Bill 126 by the Assembly Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, in accordance to education finance, making an appropriation therefore to take effect immediately. Bill related to the budget.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. This is the Education Omnibus Trailer Bill. It was date stamped for 9 o'clock in the evening Monday, which is why we did not adopt it then. The education budget delivers for schools and kids by providing a 4.31% supercola for schools through the local control funding formula, a record 43% increase in special education funding from last year, or an additional $2.4 billion, more than $700 million in support for teacher pipeline programs, and it also provides pregnancy disability leave up to 14 weeks. It provides billion for discretionary block grant million for kitchen infrastructure and training grant funds including family food pantries and school gardens It provides million to support students who are experiencing homelessness This is a package we should be proud of. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in opposition to this measure. I have to say, as a certified public accountant, I truly marvel at the creativity that is the obfuscation of the new settle-up plan, settle-up repayment plan. this would quite frankly make Enron accountants blush along with the other Proposition 98 maneuvers of current and past budget plans. We also continue to practice significant policy changes in the budget document. I don't know when we're going to stop this, but it is seemingly increasing. We have 34 different code sections with charter school accountability measures in this budget. Now, the language was part of the governor's January budget trailer bills, but these proposals, these particular proposals, have never been heard in any subcommittee. When I talk about transparency, the answer is always, well, the facts have been out there. We've had subcommittee meetings, budget committee meetings, and the like. And in some cases, that's true. That is not true for this. So for many reasons, those in particular, I urge a no vote.

Thank you, President and the members. I rise in opposition to AB 126. While this bill contains worthwhile education investments, it also withholds $3.9 billion in Proposition 98 funding that our schools have earned under California law. Those dollars belong in our classrooms, supporting teachers, special education, and mental health services and student learning, not financing other state priorities. Even California's leading education organizations oppose this funding maneuver. we should honor Proposition 98 and fully fund our students. I respectfully ask for no vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of AB 126 and again want to thank our Senate Budget Chair for all of the tremendous work that he's done. These are tremendous investments into our education sector here in California. We have over $100 million for the new Americans in Schools program, or the CalNAS program. We also have $500 million in universal school meals. These are, once again, historic investments into ensuring that our students have access, even outside of school time, to make sure They have access to food and $75 million for K through 12 Dream Resource Center grants. We know our Dream Resource Centers located all across the state of California are doing such important work for students that come from mixed status families are undocumented students. This is a critical support in addition to that. Another historic investment, we're investing in pregnancy leave for all of our K through 12 teachers. The first time in the state that we'll be doing this, these teachers have not had access to pregnancy leave. These are historic investments and ones that we should be tremendously proud of. I urge an aye vote.

Thank you. I really appreciate the comments that were just made. And I would just remind everyone that it was just a few short years ago we were in the bottom five in spending for education of the 50 states. We have moved up considerably since then. And this is a good budget. It keeps that momentum going. I ask for an aye vote.

Allen. Abraudogil. Archuleta. Aye. Aragin. Aye. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespeare. Aye. Cabaldon. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cervantes. Aye. Choi. No. Cortese. Aye. Dally. No. Durazo. Aye. Gonzalez. Grayson. Aye. Grove. No. Hurtado. Aye. Jones. Laird. Aye. Limon. Aye, Maguire. Aye, McNerney. Aye, Menjavar. Aye, Nilo. No, Ochoa Bog. Padilla. Aye, Perez. Aye, Reyes. Aye, Richardson. Rubio Ciarto No Aye Aye Strickland No No Aye Aye No Aye Aye Call the absent members Allen Aye Aye Gonzales Jones No Richardson Rubio Thank you. Senator Laird moves a call.

Abra Arqueo, Gonzalez. Aye. Ochoa Bog, Richardson, Rubio. Ayes 28, nos 8. The measure passes.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, under motions and resolutions, at the request of the author, please remove AB 1617, file item 238 from the consent calendar for purposes of amendments.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. At the request of the author, if you wouldn't mind, please, removing file item 197, Assembly Bill 2588 from the consent counter, and move to the inactive file.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. President. I request to remove file item 247, AB 2471, from the consent calendar.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, Mr. President, at the request of the author, I rise to remove file item 189 AB 1918 from the consent calendar.

Yes, thank you. I would like to remove file item 251 AB 2780 from consent calendar at the request of the author, please.

Assembly Bill 1594, 1613, 2329, 2397, 1738, 1815, 2748, 2383, 2493, 2543, 1586, 2502. Second reading will be Dean Dredd.

Senator Resolution 67 by Senator Blakespeare relative to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Thank you, Mr. President. May I introduce the singer that we heard from earlier? May I do a short introduction of that?

Okay I understand We will do that after Okay Good morning members I rise today to present Senate Resolution 67 which commemorates our nation's first 250 years, our 250th birthday, and honors the principles upon which our democracy was founded. The 4th of July is a profound and deeply emotional holiday, as so much significance is wrapped into our origin story. It's how we feel about our country and how successful we are at living up to our ideals, those that were enumerated in our founding documents.

Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate that. When I'm thinking about this holiday, the 4th of July, which I do every year, I reflect on what it means personally to experience those overwhelming feelings of patriotism. When you think about what is patriotism and why is it so profound, it is the strongest forces at play in our deepest psyche. It's our own identity. It's our attachment to the land and our geography. It's about that shared sacrifice, and it's about having a multi-generational history that's woven together with others around ideals. Several years ago, I was completely overtaken with the Lin-Manuel Miranda Hamilton craze. reading the book by Ron Chernow, memorizing all the lyrics of the musical, and seeing the show as many times as practical. Our family of four even went as Hamilton for Halloween. We had three Hamiltons, me and both our small kids, and one King George III, my husband. That founding father's story was told from so many different perspectives, but it included a strong liberal perspective, which I think is one of the reasons that it resonated for so many people. If you recall, one of the main songs was Immigrants, We Get the Job Done. The telling of that story connected the larger story of American greatness, of struggle, of aspiration and sacrifice and of loss. I am fully personally aware, as I know so many of us on this floor are, of the sweep of our 250 years of history, of the original sin of conquest of land that was not our own, of the horrors of black enslavement that began when that first ship sailed to America in 1619, of the broken promises and unfinished work of reconstruction, of the multiple brutal wars that we've had here and abroad, and speaking to our current day, the feeling that here in California, we're actually under assault from the federal government. And some of us are in no mood to celebrate nationalism writ large. But I would challenge that now is the time for us to dig into our patriotism, to recognize with full honesty the bumpy road that we've traveled and that we're still traveling. But all that being said, America is truly great. Our grand social experiment in self-government, however you assess its current state, remains vital. It has endured and continues to be our best hope for weathering the many storms that humans will always create for ourselves. My patriotism is rooted in our American values, that commitment to justice and liberty and equality. But it's also mostly rooted in gratitude. It's gratitude for those freedoms that were created by the brilliance of our founding documents and have been protected through our collective commitments. and through the central insights that our resilience as a country rests on a divided power structure that always goes back to the will of the people Our freedoms to speak and to worship and to love whomever we choose to control our own life's course and our self-determination, to pursue our own definition of meaning, those are so profound, and they come from our rights as Americans. As a member of this esteemed body of the California State Senate, I feel especially patriotic today because of the shared ritual of honoring our country with all of you, and also because my love of country is so intertwined with my love of the state of California. California is the best of America. I have no question about that. As a lucky participant in its government, I feel that swell of pride about being both a Californian and an American on America's 250th birthday. And I want to say, happy birthday, America.

Thank you, President, again, and the members. I rise in proud support of this resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. As an immigrant who came to this country seeking opportunity, I have lived the true American dream. America welcomed me, allowed me to build a career as an educator, raise my family, and earn the privilege of serving the people of California in this chamber. As we celebrate 250 years of birthday and celebrating this wonderful day and weekend, everybody will participate in these parades and other activities. Let's remember the freedom and an opportunity that make America so exceptional. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I rise in strong support of Senate Resolution 67, commemorating our 250th anniversary as a nation. I've been reflecting a lot lately, just as my colleague, on what Independence Day truly represents for our country and what it means for the work that we do here in this chamber. The Fourth of July reminds us that we are one people. It reminds us that despite our differences, we are blessed to live in a country founded on the idea that our rights do not come from government, but from nature and nature's God. And our love for this country, our patriotism, isn't simply an appreciation of our beautiful landscapes or mountains or beaches or our communities' amenities. true patriotism is a love for what this country stands for, the values declared on July 4th, 1776, and defended ever since. For 250 years, we have persisted as a nation. And for For 250 years, we have fought and toiled to improve that nation. That Declaration of Independence signed in 1776 deserves to be celebrated because it marks the birth of our nation and the formal assertion of our right to self-governance. The document is not just a relic of the past. It was the foundation of our future and articulates the fundamental rights that all individuals, possess life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, which are just as sacred today as they were 250 years ago. As President Abraham Lincoln said in 1858, the Declaration of Independence is the electric cord that ties us together, linking the hearts of liberty-loving people as long as the love of freedom exists in the minds of men and women throughout the world. Let us all remember that our work in the Capitol is part of keeping that promise alive. May we continue to govern in the way that honors our founding truths. Happy birthday, America. I wish each and every one of you and all the people of California a safe and meaningful 4th of July.

Thank you, Mr. President, colleagues. Today I rise in strong support as a proud co-author of this resolution, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Like many of you, my family came to the United States drawn by the promise of the American Dream, an ideal rooted in dignity, freedom, and opportunity. Today, we mark 250 years since our nation found the courage to stand up to tyranny and dare to imagine a future in which all people could succeed. Our nation has changed profoundly since the signing of the Declaration. We commemorate this milestone, but we must acknowledge that many of our communities continue to face barriers to freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Families are still being torn apart. Disparities persist, and much work remains to fully realize the promise of the Declaration in our own time. What I do know is this. Here in this chamber, we are reminded every day of our duty inscribed on these walls. Senatoris et civitatis liberatum tueri. It is a duty of a senator to guard the liberty of the Commonwealth. And so as long as our democracy endures and we have the privilege of serving on this floor, let us meet that responsibility with resolve. Let us honor the courage of those who came before us, not only with words, but with action. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. and in recommitting ourselves to the work of building a more perfect union where the promise of freedom and opportunity belongs to all. I ask that you join me in voting aye on this measure. Thank you.

Thank you Mr President I too rise in support of SR 67 Today we gather not just as senators or Californians but as grateful Americans of the greatest nation in the history of the world. As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we pause to honor the two and a half centuries of courage, sacrifice, faith, and freedom that created this nation. 250 years ago, ordinary men and women and made extraordinary decisions, they declared that liberty was worth fighting for. They risked everything, their homes, their fortunes, their families, and their lives, because they believed that freedom comes from God and not from government. And because of that, they stood firm. Generations of Americans have lived in liberty. This morning, each of us should be deeply humbled to be part of that American story. A turning point for me, when I was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, I witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I'll never forget it. I saw people climb that wall. I saw families reunited. I saw tears streaming down the faces of people that had lost their freedom for decades. In that moment, I realized something very powerful. America is not just a place on a map. America is an idea, an idea so powerful that people around the world risk everything for a chance to come here and live free. And today we celebrate America 250 years, and I believe we must remember exactly who we are. We are a nation that defeated tyranny. We're a nation that ended slavery. We're a nation that liberated Europe from fascism. We're a nation that put a man and a woman on the moon, and we're a nation where millions have come seeking opportunity, freedom, and hope. No country has done more to advance human liberty than the United States of America, and yet America's greatness was never automatic. Every generation had to defend it. The revolutionary generation defended it with muskets and courage. The Civil War generation defended the idea that all men were created equal. The greatest generation stormed the beaches of Normandy to preserve the freedom across the globe. And today it's our turn. It's our responsibility to not inherit America casually. Our responsibility is to preserve America intentionally. Because freedom is fragile. The founders understood this. John Adams once said that liberty once lost is lost forever. That's why America's 250 anniversary is more than fireworks and celebrations. It's a moment of reflection, a moment of gratitude, and a moment of recommitment. We must recommit ourselves to the values of this nation and which made it strong. Faith, personal responsibility, hard work, family, service, and a love of country. I see those values every day in our farmers who rise before dawn to feed America. I see them in small business owners who work tirelessly to create jobs and provide for their families. I see them in law enforcement officers who put on a uniform every day to protect our communities. And I see them in our United States military veterans, men and women who have answered the call to defend the freedom we so graciously live in. America is free because brave Americans were willing to sacrifice and some never came home and today as we celebrate 250 years of liberty we honor every fallen hero who gave their life so this republic could endure We honor the soldiers at Lexington and Concord the Marines at Irohima the heroes of Korea and Vietnam, and we honor the warriors who are continually fighting the war on terror. Their sacrifice reminds us that freedom is never free. America is not perfect but America is worth believing in I can tell you that people are all created equal and that our rights come from our creator and liberty belongs to everyone those truths changed the world and they still matter today the spirit of America is alive and well across California and throughout our country And I believe America's best days are ahead of us, but only if we have the courage to defend what made this nation exceptional. President Ronald Reagan once said freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction, and he was right. Freedom and the values of America must be taught. They must be protected, and freedom must be cherished. This is our calling in this generation. As we celebrate 250 years of the United States of America, let us remember that this republic was built on people of faith and courage, people willing to sacrifice something greater than themselves, and let us commit ourselves to leaving this nation stronger for our children and our grandchildren, so that when America celebrates its 300-year birthday, the generations that come after us will say that we did our part. We stood for freedom, we stood for truth, and we stood for opportunity, and we never stopped believing in the promise of America. I believe with all my heart that American spirit is still alive today, and I believe there still are millions of Americans who love this country deeply, and I believe that with God's help, America's future remains very bright. May we always remain one nation under God. May we never take liberty for granted. And may God continue to bless the United States of America. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SCR 67.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in strong support of SR 67, which the good senator from San Diego has brought forward forward in order to recognize and honor our country's 250-year anniversary celebration birthday. And as I reflect on this moment, I think about the fact that we are a nation of immigrants, and my own story, my own family story, coming to this country. My grandfather immigrated here from Mexico through the Bracero program. That was a time period when our country was in the middle of war and needed additional hands and workers to come here from Mexico. So in exchange for their labor, they were offered citizenship. And so my grandfather, along with several thousands of other men, crossed the border to come here to support the United States with the expectation that one day that they would become citizens of this great country. that promise wasn't quite delivered on for those of you that are familiar with the history of the Bracetto program my grandfather waited until he was almost 80 years old to become a citizen of the United States despite this promise that was made to him but he stayed here and continued to wait because he so badly wanted to be a citizen of the United States wanted to participate in our democracy and considered it to be the highest pride and the highest honor I remember after he became a citizen, he was able to vote. He would vote in every single election. He was very active, at that time lived in Nevada. In Nevada politics, he just wanted to participate so badly in American politics and American society and just took it with such great pride that he had finally attained his United States citizenship. And yet as we're celebrating the 250-year founding of this country, I can't help but reflect on everything that's happening around us, not just across the country but even in the state. activists reported and the New York Times that this past week we saw some of the highest numbers of undocumented folks taken during raids across the United States. There are estimates that over 10,000 people were taken this past week alone. We often don't see the raids even reported on anymore in the news because it's become so normalized. we just celebrated the anniversary of when the raids began almost a month ago and on that anniversary I took my father and my family to go to Manzanar so that my father and my family could see the internment camps that have been set up because I think it's a very important moment to think about what happened that moment in history so long ago when we discriminated against Japanese Americans when we targeted people based off their skin color. And so many years later, we're back here doing the exact same thing. As I reflect on this moment and the founding of this country, I can't help but wonder, 250 years from now, how will we reflect on what's happened today? How will we reflect on how we've treated our immigrant community when we call ourselves a nation of immigrants? I love this country for all of the values that it espouses, many of which have been spoken by today by my colleagues. But at the same time, what I love even more is the people that are here, the incredible diversity that our country has continued to celebrate. And part of doing that is making sure that we are treating people equally. We're treating people with respect and love and kindness. And at a moment when we have a president who has indicated that he wants to remove birthright citizenship, something that's been built into our country's constitution, I worry. I really do. I take it with great pride that I'm a senator here in the state of California when just a few generations ago my own grandfather wasn't even able to vote. and he's not here anymore, but I can't even imagine what his reaction would be to know that I get to be a senator representing this state. We have such a tremendous responsibility, every single one of us in this room. And I think on a day like today, as we're celebrating our country's founding, I hope that each and every one of us can continue to work towards not just representing this country's values, but also protecting the people that are in it. I urge an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today in support of SR68 and want to thank my colleague and seatmate from San Diego for bringing this resolution forward. As the United States turns 250, I look upon this milestone with a deep sense of our nation's complex history. It is not lost on me that when our founders declared, quote, all men are created equal, They excluded the millions of souls whose uncompensated labor built the foundations of this very nation. Yet the story of black America is not merely one of survival through enslavement, segregation, and structural disenfranchisement. It is a story of a people who took those founding words and forced America to live up to them. We remember patriots like Crispus Attic, who was the first to fall in the Revolutionary War. We honor the abolitionists like Frederick Douglass, who famously laid bare the hypocrisy of a nation celebrating liberty while enslaving millions. We carry the legacy of those who marched through Jim Crow era, facing down fire hoses and dogs to demand the right to vote. As we mark this semi-quincentennial, our patriotism is not blind. It is rooted in memory. We celebrate our ancestors who bled for the Constitution and who, generation after generation, renewed the American promise. Black history is the unyielding anchor of American democracy. Our work is unfinished. true celebration comes not from glossing over the darker chapters of our history, but from protecting the hard-won rights of every citizen today. This anniversary must be a collective charge to defend the voting booth, eliminate economic disparities, and build a more just and inclusive future for all. Let us use this milestone to build the America that has been promised but is still being perfected. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR67.

Thank you. I first want to thank the author for bringing this forward. This is incredibly important. You know, I have had a lot of conversations with many of you guys on the floor, and we often talk about the importance of serving our nation and our country and our community and the people that we serve and how important it is. It's not lost on me when we walk through this Capitol and we see the ceilings and we see all the paintings and the history that this building alone has in this state and in this country and just the people that really make this country the greatest country in the world. I do want to highlight I'm very, very proud and fortunate to be one in my family that was actually born in the United States.

Allen.

Alvarado Gil. Archuleta.

Aragon.

Ashby. Becker.

Blake Spear.

Cabaldon.

Caballero.

Cervantes.

Choi.

Cortese.

Daly.

Durazo.

Aye, Gonzales. Aye, Grayson. Aye, Grove. Hurtado. Aye, Jones.

Jones.

Aye, Limon. McGuire.

Aye, Menjabar.

Aye, Nilo.

Aye, Padilla.

Aye, Reyes.

Aye, Richardson.

Cillarto.

Aye, Smallwood Cuevas.

Aye, Strickland.

Aye. Umberg. Aye. Aye. Valadares. Aye. Wahab. Aye. Aye. Weber Pearson. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Aye. Ashby. Aye.

Avrato Gil. Limon. Richardson. Rubio.

Thank you, Mr. President and members. I would just like to say a few words about our incredible singer today. Philo Ibid is an Egyptian-born multi-genre vocalist who rose to national attention as a standout contestant on season 23 of American Idol. He now lives about an hour from here in Tracy. From his formative years in Egypt, Philo has been deeply fascinated by the beauty of human connection through music. I think he's such a perfect choice for today as we talk about America as a nation of immigrants. In 2019, Filo enrolled at the University of the Pacific, where he earned a bachelor's degree in music while pursuing a pre-med track. He then earned a master's degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 2024, where he studied world music in Spain and began writing and recording songs that reflect his personal journey. His music tells stories that transcend borders, blending genres with honesty and emotional depth. We are delighted to have invited him and have him be here with us today on the floor of the Senate. And I encourage all of you to come up and say a few words to him, welcome him, if you would like to. And I would like to also thank him for his stirring renditions on the West Steps this morning. So with that, I have behind me Mr. Philo Ibid.

Welcome to Ms. Rabid and thank you for filling our chambers and our hearts with pride, patriotism, spirit and meaning. Members, anyone who would wish to join, the Senator Blakespear, Senator McNerney, who represents both Tracy and the University of the Pacific as well as all of your colleagues please retire to the rear of the chambers for the photo Thank you. Thank you. All right, continue with consideration of the daily file. The Senate will now proceed to Governor's appointments. Senator Grove, we'll begin with file item 52 under Governor's appointments.

Senator Reyes.

Seeing no other senators' permission to be recognized, Senator Grove, would you like to close?

All right. All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Call the absent members.

Aye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item 53 is the Governor's appointment for Tom Epstein, J.D., California Community College Board of Governors, where he's served on the board since 2014. Now retired, he was the Vice President of Public Affairs at Blue Shield California from 2001 to 2016. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Communications and Public Broadcasting Service. He was approved by the Rules Committee again on June 17th. A unanimous vote respectfully asks for an aye vote.

Allen.

Alvarado Gil. Archuleta.

Aragon.

Ashby.

Becker.

Blake Spear.

Cabaldon.

Caballero.

Cervantes.

Choi.

Cortese.

Daley.

Durazo.

Gonzalez.

Grayson.

Grove.

Hurtado.

Jones.

Laird. Limon.

McGuire.

McNerney.

Mangevin.

Nilo.

Ochoa Bogues.

Padilla.

Perez.

Reyes.

Richardson. Rubio. Tuyarto.

Smallwood Cuevas? Aye. Stern? Aye. Strickland? Aye. Umber? Aye. Valadez? Aye. Wahab? Aye. Weber Pearson? Aye. Wiener? Aye. Laird, aye.

Thank you Mr. President. Colleagues, file item 54 is the confirmation of Joseph Williams for the reappointment to the California Community College's Board of Governors, where he's served since 2020. He was an elected member of the San Bernardino Community College District Board and the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Rialto Unified School District. He previously served as a public affairs manager for Southern California Edison and has held various positions in the county of San Bernardino. The Rules Committee approved his reappointment on June 17th. Respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. Another superstar from the Inland Empire. Respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Allen.

Alvarado Gil. Archuleta.

Aragon.

Ashby.

Becker.

Blakespear.

Cobaldin.

Caballero.

Aye Cervantes, aye Choi, aye Cortese, aye Daly, aye Durazo, aye Gonzales, aye Grayson, aye Grove, aye Hurtado, aye Jones, aye Laird, aye Limon, McGuire, aye McNerney, aye Menjavar,

Aye Ochoa Bog Aye Padilla Aye Perez Aye Reyes Aye Richardson Rubio Sayarto Aye Smallwood Cuevas Aye Stern Aye Strickland Aye Umbert Aye Valadez Aye Wahab Aye Weber Pearson Aye Weiner Aye

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item 55 is the confirmation of Mark Beckley for reappointment as the Chief Deputy Director of Operations at the Department of State Hospitals. Prior to this role, he had been serving as the Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Aging since 2019. His career in state service started in 2001 at the Department of Finance. He was approved by the Rules Committee on June 17th. A unanimous vote respectfully asks for an aye vote.

Allen.

Abrago Gil. Archuleta.

Adegeen.

Aspie.

Becker.

aye Blake Spear aye Cobaldon aye Caballero aye Cervantes aye Choy aye Cortese aye Daly aye Durazo aye Gonzales aye Grayson aye Grove aye Hurtado aye Jones aye Laird aye Limon McGuire. Aye. McNerney. Aye. Menjabar. Aye. Nilo. Aye.

Pérez. Aye.

Richardson. Rubio.

Smallwood Cuevas. Aye.

Umber. Aye.

Aye.

Alvarado Gil, Limon.

Richardson, Rubio, Valadares.

Ayes 37, no zero. The appointment is confirmed. Members, we'll turn next to unfinished business. File item 74. Senator Arraguin. Secretary, please read.

Senator Arrageen.

Senator Cortese.

county in terms of the work that will ultimately need to be done through the registrar of voters including their unbelievable generosity in at this point assuming the cost for doing that work And again just wanted to make sure that that acknowledged and pointed out in a time of such difficulty in terms of budget deficits and so forth So with that said, thank you, Mr. President. I would urge an aye vote on SB 830. Senator Arrigin, you may close.

On file item 74, SB 830, Secretary, please call the roll.

Call the absent members.

Ayes 29, noes 4 on the urgency. Ayes 29, noes 4 on the bill. The assembly amendments are concurred in. Proceeding next to the consent calendar, second day, Secretary, please read.

Does any member wish to remove any item from the consent calendar? Seeing none, Secretary, please call the roll on file item 230, after which we will apply that vote to the remaining items on the consent calendar.

Thank you. Thank you. All right. Call the absent members.

Ayes 37, noes 0 on file item 230. That measure passes, and we'll apply the ayes 37, noes 0 on the consent calendar. Senator Ashby.

All right. Without objection, reconsideration on file item 250 is granted and the item will be removed from the consent calendar. Seeing no objection, that will be the order. Members, now is the time we will return to motions and resolutions to consider a motion to adjourn in memory. So, I would ask all members to please return to their desks or to the rear of the chambers and please give the adjourn in memory motion your full attention. Senator Caballero.

Senator Caballero, thank you for bringing the story of Supervisor Rodriguez to the Senate, and truly we join in their consolences. Please bring his name to the desk so that he may be properly memorialized. Members, if there is no other business to come before the Senate, President Pro Tem Limon, the desk is clear.

All right, the Senate is in recess until 3.30 p.m., at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Monday, August 3rd, 2026 at 2 o'clock p.m. Thank you.