Floor — 2026-04-30 (partial)

Sister Michelle Gorman. So we gather in God's presence, and let us pray that today we will be merciful to ourselves and to others. If we utter the word mercy, standing each of us by an open window anywhere we are in the world, then the word mercy will carry on the sound waves, outwards and unceasing, through the air of the wounded world. and maybe when it takes flight into deed and kindness, justice and effort it will affect a healing, a hope and a blessing. It may call the homeless home. It may coax to hope the betrayed and broken. It may ease the burdened earth. Listen for it. Listen for its neighborly dialects and global idiom. Imagine those who, like you, are saying it aloud and those who need to hear it today. One word, one deed of justice, one kind effort at a time. Gracious God, give us the courage to say and be mercy today. Amen.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item 23 is the confirmation of Dina El-Tawasi for the appointment for Director of Department of Transportation, also known as Caltrans. Forgive me, I just came up the stairs. Also known as Caltrans, she's a civil engineer, 27-year veteran of the department. She previously served in leadership positions for Caltrans District 4, the Bay Area, and District 12 in Orange County. She's an incredible asset to this team. She'll bring a new, exciting leadership to the department, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item 29 is a confirmation of Allison Saltonstall for appointment for the Court of Reporters Board. She is a certified court reporter for Sacramento County Superior Court, where she served since 2017. She's also the president of the Sacramento Official Court Reporters Association. She was approved by the Rules Committee on April 15th in a 5-0 vote. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Allen. Aye. Abraudio. Aye. Archuleta. Aye. Ida Gain. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blake Spear. Aye. Cabaldon. Aye. Caballero. Cervantes. Aye. Choi. Aye. Cortese. Dally, aye. Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, aye. Grove, aye. Hurtado, aye. Jones, aye. Laird, aye. Limon, McGuire, aye. McNerney, aye. Menjivar, aye. Nilo, aye. Ochoa Bog, aye. Padilla, Aye. Perez. Aye. Reyes. Aye. Richardson. Aye. Rubio. Aye. Ciharto. Aye. Smallwood Cuevas. Stern. Aye. Strickland. Aye. Umber. Aye. Valadares. Wahab. Weber Pearson. Aye. Weiner.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item number 32 is the confirmation of Olivia Mae Asunshan for appointment to the California Commission on Disability Access. She's a project architect for Kwot Raksh, which is Korok Architects, and serves as a commission as a representative on disability community. She was approved by the Rules Committee on a 5-0 vote on April 15th. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Alan. aye abrad gill archuleta aye i'd again ashby becker i blake spear i cabalden caballero cervantes i choy i cortesi dally i durazo gonzalez grayson i grove i hurtado i jones Aye. Laird? Aye. Limon? McGuire? Aye. McNerney? Aye. Menjivar? Aye. Nilo? Aye. Ochoa Boak? Aye. Padilla? Aye. Perez? Reyes? Aye. Richardson? Aye. Rubio? Cillarto? Aye. Smallbur Cuevas? Stern? Aye. Strickland? Aye. Weiner? Aye. Rubio, aye.

He also serves as the vice president of the San Francisco Port Commission, and I'm sure all those qualifications make him qualified for the Exposition and Fair Board Directors. He was approved by the Rules Committee on April 22nd on a unanimous vote, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Allen. Aye. Aye. Ronald Gill. Aye. Aye. Archuleta. Aye. Aye. Aragon. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Aye. Blakespeare. Aye. Cabaldon. Aye. Aye. Caballero. Cervantes. Aye. Aye. Choi. Aye. Cortese. Dally. Aye. Durazo. Gonzales. Reset. Aye. Grove. Aye. Hurtado. Aye. Jones. Aye. Laird. Aye. Limon. McGuire. Aye. McD grandes. Aye. Menjevar. Aye. Nilo. Aye. Ochoa Bog. Aye. Padilla. Aye. Aye. Perez. Aye. Reyes. Aye. Aye. Stern? Aye. Strickland? Aye. Umberg? Aye. Voladares? Wahab? Weber-Pearson? Aye. Wiener? Aye.

Senator Cairn Resolution 143 by Senator Umberg, Related to Hmong, Laotian Special Guerrilla Unit Veterans.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I rise today to present SCR 143, which will recognize and honor the sacrifice made by the Special Guerrilla Unit of Hmong and Laotian soldiers who fought in the secret war in Laos during the Vietnam conflict. In the early 1960s, the United States recruited these forces to serve in covert and very dangerous missions in Laos. Tens of thousands of men and boys, some as young as 12, served alongside our forces. These soldiers retrieved downed U.S. pilots behind enemy lines, guarded U.S. radar and air bases essential for the Vietnam War, engaged the North Vietnamese Army in Laos to disrupt supply routes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This effort devastated the Hmong population, with over 30,000 Hmong soldiers losing their lives and more becoming wounded and disabled. Many of those who survived were forced to resettle in the United States as refugees, but their service did not receive the same recognition as U.S. Vietnam veterans. Today I am privileged and honored to welcome a large delegation of Hmong veterans who serve in this conflict and honor their courage sacrifice in service the United States the resolution before you today recognizes their achievements and honors the Hmong and Laotian lives lost in the service the United States this is a long overdue recognition and I'm privileged and proud to be able to present it today with that I urge an aye vote thank you senator seeing no mics up for

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise as the chair of the Military and Veterans Committee and to honor these men who have given us so much. The loss of 35,000-plus will never be forgotten. Their sacrifices to work with the American troops during that era is very, very important. And your service to us, well, again, is pride, honor, and dignity, and we're honored to have you with us today. So on behalf of the State Senate, I agree with my colleague that this is overdue. Congratulations and welcome home.

No, just I'm grateful for the opportunity to recognize them after not recognizing their service for so long. Urge an aye vote.

Allen. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Aragin, Ashby, Becker, Blake Spear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Daly, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limon, McGuire, McNerney, Menjabar, Aye. Nilo. Aye. Ochoa Boak. Aye. Padilla. Perez. Aye. Reyes. Aye. Richardson. Aye. Rubio. Aye. Ciharto. Aye. Smallwood Cuevas. Stern. Aye. Strickland. Aye. Umberg. Aye. Valadares. Wahab. Weber Pearson. Aye. Wiener. Aye.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Today among us are the veterans of that special guerrilla unit who joined us in Vietnam, and they're here with us today in the gallery. In December, my office received a letter from Yang Xiong of Tulare, which brought this issue to my attention, And I was quite pleased that they would bring it to my attention, so we had an opportunity to recognize these courageous men and their families who fought with us in Vietnam. So thank you. Welcome to the Senate chamber.

Senate Resolution 96 by Senator Cortese relative to National County Government Month.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise to present SR 96, proclaiming April as National County Government Month in recognition of California's 58 counties and the California State Association of Counties, otherwise known as CSAC. This year carries special significance. 2026 marks the 176th anniversary of California's original 27 counties in our state's statehood, coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary. CSAC which was founded in 1895 has spent 131 years advocating for county governments before this very body Counties are California operational backbone We know that Legally, they're a subdivision of state government. They implement state and federal programs while remaining accountable to local communities, delivering health care, food assistance, public safety, and elections administration to 39.5 million residents every single day. As a former county supervisor at Santa Clara County, I know firsthand the weight of the decisions supervisors face and how county government touches people's lives. And it's been a great honor to recognize over the course of the year one of my colleagues that I voted with day after day and week after week, Susan Ellberg, as the current president of CSAC. I also want to recognize the unique challenges we're facing today, even unprecedented. Counties are preparing to absorb the impact of significant federal action on health and human services. They are our first line of defense. When federal programs are cut or restructured, it is county employees, all 419,000 of them, who were asked to fill the gap. I want to say as recently as 10 minutes ago, I was advocating, as have so many on the floor of this Senate, so many colleagues, to make sure that those 419,000 county employees have the resources they need to address the gaps that we're looking at, especially those caused by H.R. 1. Colleagues, please join me in honoring California's 293 county supervisors and administrations and the hundreds of thousands of county employees who serve the public every day. I'd respectfully ask for your aye vote on SR 96.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. I rise today in support of SR 96. Really appreciate the senator from San Jose advancing this important resolution. I think that we can all agree that California's 58 counties from Del Norte to San Diego are the backbone of the Golden State. And they ensure that our communities have fair and safe elections, high quality infrastructure and services, and they protect our most vulnerable residents. And especially this year, with the impacts of H.R. 1, one of the worst pieces of legislation to pass out of the House and Senate in decades, we're in trouble. And especially California counties. over a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicaid, 3 million Californians losing their health care, taking food assistance off the table for millions across this country. And I'm grateful that county leaders are standing up, standing strong and speaking out about the need for assistance. I'd like to be able to recognize one of the officers of CSAC. He's a leader within the organization, Supervisor Sabatier. Supervisor Sabatier is from the great county of Lake. He has been a champion for helping residents recover after devastating wildfires. He's been a champion for building affordable housing and growing local jobs. I want to say thank you to him and the leaders of CSAC for their incredible work. I would respectfully ask for an aye vote.

I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Allen. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Aye. Archuleta. Aye. Aye. Arraguin. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespeare. Aye. Cobaldin. Aye. Caballero. Cervantes Aye Choi Aye Cortese Aye Daly Aye Durazo Gonzalez Grayson Aye Grove Aye Hurtado Aye Jones Aye Laird Aye Limon McGuire. Aye, McNerney. Aye, Mengabar. Aye, Nilo. Aye, Ochoa Bogue. Aye, Padilla. Aye, Perez. Aye, Reyes. Aye, Richardson. Aye, Rubio. Aye, Sciarto. Aye. Smallwood Cuevas? Stern? Aye. Strickland? Aye. Umberg? Aye. Voladeros? Wahab? Weber Pearson? Aye. Wiener? Aye.

Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. President, to introduce my guests, our guests from CSAC We have Susan Ellenberg, the current president, as I alluded a few moments ago, the current president of CSAC. Luis Alejo, former assembly member, who is CSAC's vice president, first vice president, as they would say at CSAC. We also have Lake County Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, and we have CSAC Chief Executive Officer Graham Knoss. Please join me in welcoming them at this time. Thank you.

Senate Bill 1347 by Senator Nilo, an act relating to people health.

Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate the opportunity to present SB 1347. This bill really is just a simple cleanup measure that clarifies existing law for the stocking of albuterol in public schools. In 2023, the legislature passed on a bipartisan basis AB 1283 by then Assemblyman Chen, which authorized stock albuterol in public schools, authorized. Since the passage of AB 1283, the state has made access to preschool a priority and is now expanding to universal preschool. This clarifies that stock albuterol is authorized in all public schools, which now includes a preschool. The measure has a support. Support, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Allen. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Aye. Archuleta. Aye. Aragon. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blake Spear. Aye. Cabaldon. Caballero. Cervantes. Aye. Choi. Aye. Cortese. Aye. Daly. Aye. Durazo. Gonzales, Grayson Aye, Grove Aye, Hurtado Aye, Jones Aye, Laird Aye Limon McGuire Aye McNerney Aye Aye Menjabar Aye Nilo Aye. Ochoa Bog. Aye. Padilla. Aye. Perez. Aye. Reyes. Richardson. Aye. Rubio. Aye. Aye. Ciarto. Aye. Smallwood Cuevas. Stern. Aye. Aye. Strickland. Aye. Umbert. Aye. Aye. Valadares. Wahab. Weber Pearson? Aye. Weiner? Aye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning, Senators. I rise today to present SB 977, A bill that will require a chain restaurant that sells children's meals to offer at least one healthy meal that meets minimum nutrition standards. These nutritional standards are that a child's meal should not contain more than 550 calories, no more than 700 milligrams of sodium, 10% of calories of saturated fat, 15 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of trans fat. These nutritional standards were set by the National Restaurant Association as a part of the Kids Live Well program. We have all seen the alarming impact of poor nutrition on our children's health, and as a mother, I know how challenging it can be to find healthy options when dining out. Currently, our state faces a childhood obesity crisis, and we must take action now to reverse these trends. SB 977 is an important step forward. the bill will require a chain restaurant to offer healthier meal options for children, helping families make better food choices when dining out. Now let's discuss the importance of choice. Some may say that parents understand their children's needs and how to best determine the appropriate meals when eating at restaurants. But when the choices are limited in the restaurants in your community, do parents really have the ability to choose what is best for their children? About 80% of families either dine in or take out from restaurants every week, and some families live in areas where their options are not as healthy, or that you may find in other, more affluent areas. It's no surprise that these are also the areas where we have the increased rates of childhood obesity, childhood diabetes, and other childhood chronic illnesses. It is also no surprise that these are areas where one's life expectancy is lower than more affluent parts of California. By setting clear nutritional standards we are making it easier for parents to provide healthier meals for their children no matter where they live or no matter where they eat. We are also breaking down some of the societal factors that are leading to disproportionate health outcomes. As a mother I try to set my kids up for a healthy future and this should be an option a realistic option for every family in California, whether you live in the inner city, the suburban area, or the rural area. This bill helps ensure that children's meals not only meet basic nutritional standards, but also supports their long-term health. It's time to prioritize our children's well-being, truly give all parents the ability to choose what's best for their family, and take steps towards a healthier California for all. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SB 977.

Thank you, Mr. President. I proudly rise to present Senate Bill 1234, the ABC Act, which stands for Accountability Before Custody. This bill ensures that when a juvenile court is in a dependency case already orders a parent or a guardian to undergo drug testing, that that testing includes fentanyl. Fentanyl is one of the deadliest opioids and is rising in crisis for our youth. between 2015 to 2023 fentanyl poisonings increased by 924 percent among children 12 and younger and 1506 percent among teens 13 to 19 according to the american journal of drug and alcohol abuse it's hard enough to protect our youth from illicit drugs on the street but let's protect them by ensuring that we keep fentanyl out of the homes the place where children are cared for and supposed to be kept safe. Senate Bill 1234 has received zero no votes and is heavily supported by law enforcement as well as angel families who have lost children due to fentanyl exposure. I want to thank my co-authors across the aisle and thank the members of this body for ensuring that we continue to fight against the fentanyl epidemic and continue to save lives. With that, I respectfully

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, today I rise to present SCR 161, a legislative women caucus resolution recognizing May 2026 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in California. Maternal mental health conditions are the leading complication of pregnancy, yet far too many cases go undiagnosed and untreated. Postpartum depression and psychosis are also significant contributors to maternal mortality. In California, one in three mothers experiences pregnancy-related depression or anxiety, and despite how common these conditions are, most women do not receive the care they need due to provider shortage and systemic barriers. There are simply just not enough trained professionals, especially in underserved and rural communities, to adequately screen, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. At the same time, women face real obstacles to care, including insurance limitations, high costs, long wait times, and a lack of culturally competent services. Every day, challenges like transportation, child care, and limited postpartum follow-up further restrict access, leaving many women without support during a critical time. When left untreated, these conditions can have serious consequences for both the mother and child, including poor birth outcomes and long-term developmental challenges. Additionally, stigma and lack of awareness continue to keep families from seeking the help that they need. Many women hesitate to speak up out of fear of judgment or as being seen as an unfit parent and may not realizing that they are experiencing is both common and treatable. Families and support systems often lack the tools to recognize the warning signs, delaying care. Cultural expectations and misconceptions about motherhood can also further silence these conversations. And this is why increasing awareness is essential to ensuring early identification, timely intervention, and access to care. By recognizing May as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, SCR 161 helps shine a light on these critical issues and underscores the need for improved screening, timely treatment, and sustained support. I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SCR 161. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. Our Senate rules require members of the Senate Committee on Rules to be elected by this body. Leader Jones has served with distinction on the Rules Committee for the last several years and suggested that it was time to pass the torch to another member of the caucus. Senator Jones served through Pro Tem Limon's transition, and they worked together on this change. Senate Resolution 101 appoints Senator Ochoa Bogue to replace Senator Jones, effective tomorrow. I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would arise and affirm the majority leader's comments and ask for an aye vote. Thank you so very much.

I thank our minority leader for his dedicated service to this body and respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Ashby, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Since 2019, the creation of artificially intelligence-generated deep fakes has risen by over 500%. This alarming statistic leads us to the introduction of SB 1111. More than 9,500 websites have been identified with AI-generated content. Of the videos found on these sites, over 95% are sexually explicit and feature women who did not consent to their creation SB 1111 creates a framework to hold AI users accountable by creating clear legal standing for victims and defending the boundaries of AI technology This bill expands liability for a very specific set of instances when someone uses another person's voice or likeness to create a digital replica without their consent. SB 1111 has no opposition that we are aware of and has received bipartisan support. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise to present SCR 128, which declares April 13th to April 24th, 2026, as high school voter education weeks. Moreover, this resolution encourages local education agencies to include amongst the information provided to students during these two weeks to address the topics including but not limited to the importance of young people voting and civic engagement, political empowerment and policy awareness, using voter education resources, the history of voter suppression and election inclusiveness and access. Ensuring the well-being and longevity of our electoral process is largely dependent on engaging with young people early on, the importance of participating in government so that they become familiar, comfortable, and engaged with the political and electoral process. And fortunately, engagement of young voters has continued to be underrepresented and trended downward in relation to voter turnout, civic participation, and feeling disconnected amongst political movements. While high school institutions educate their students about U.S. history and governance through curriculum courses, it's imperative to provide young students with in-depth knowledge and resources to provoke and inspire them to want to learn more and become engaged in our democracy. Among the challenges inhibiting participation for them is the continued impacts of events like the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as students not feeling prioritized or included in critical decision-making processes. SCR 128 is a call to action to address key topics of interest that can and should be covered during this pivotal time of electoral education to help engage and inspire this essential electoral body to politically active and the future votes and leaders that we need them to be. They are the future of this country, and with their increased interest, they should be welcomed and encouraged to find their voices in these spaces. This resolution will support California's commitment to building civic engagement and increasing youth participation in election cycles. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to remove Senate Bill 1381, file item 133 from the consent calendar.

Mr. President, budget subcommittee number three on health and human services will meet 15 minutes after session in room 1200 in the old building.

Mr. President, budget sub four will meet in room 113, 15 minutes upon adjournment of session.

Thank you, Mr. President. Budget Sub-1 on Education will meet in Room 2100, five minutes after session.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, it's with great sadness that I rise today to ask the Senate to adjourn in memory of disability rights activist Alice Wong, who passed away on November 14th of last year at the age of 51. Alice will be mourned and remembered by San Franciscans for her relentless pursuit of disability justice. She was diagnosed at birth with muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disease that slowly weakened her muscles, and doctors told her parents that she would not live to the age of 18. Growing up with a disability, Alice had to quickly learn to advocate for herself. She used this experience in her professional career to advance the conditions that folks in the disability community face. She founded movements that work to uplift and empower other disabled people, including the Disability Visibility Project and hashtag Crypt the Vote. She served on the National Council on Disability under President Obama from 2013 to 2015. She was also an accomplished writer. She was published in the New York Times, Teen Vogue, and Yes! Magazine. In 2022, Alice released a memoir, Year of the Tiger, An Activist's Life. Friends and family describe Alice as a luminary. She was also a foodie who loved to cook for others. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and with her cats, Bert and Ernie. She was among the awardees for the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2024. for Alice to survive by her parents and her two sisters. Please join me in adjourning the Senate in memory of the life and legacy of Alice Wong. Thank you.