Senate Floor Session

I invite you to join me, each in your own way, as we enter a moment of prayer or mindful presence. Creator, source, hope. We pause in gratitude for the communities of California who entrust their hopes and challenges to this chamber. In this shared work, may we remember the quiet truth that none of us stands alone. The music artist Hezekiah Walker offers a simple and powerful reminder. I pray for you. You pray for me. He continues to, I need you to survive. May that spirit of mutual care guide our conversations today. May our work reflect steadiness, respect, and a commitment to the well-being of our neighbors. Shalom, may it be so, and amen.

Thank you, Madam President. Senators, today I have the pleasure of introducing on our Senate floor the 2026 California Founders of the Year. This ceremony and recognition are all put together by the California Women's Wealth Advisory Council and the F5 Collective to highlight women in California who are known for their contributions to their industries and the positive impact that they have on communities that they work with. The women recognized today have demonstrated and dedicated and care for collaborative solutions in a diverse range of sectors, and we have chosen to bring them to here, the legislature, to recognize the impact they've had on Californians. They are women who have founded their business here in the state, who invest in our state, and who lead in an incredible way for the policy that impacts many across this country and the globe. I am going to introduce some of them who are in this room, and then we will do a group photo, I think, collectively. But I'm going to start by welcoming Andrea Lynette Brimmer, founder and CEO of Revita, an agricultural technology company. So we'll have her come here with her rezo, and we will, one second, grab you a rezo. Next we have Anna Chen CEO and co of Apizar a company that provides advanced work of 3D printing full buildings and robotics Next, we have Beatriz Acevedo, CEO and co-founder of Summa Wealth, a fintech app that focuses on financial inclusion and literacy for the Latino community. Next we have Iman Abouzad, CEO and co-founder of Incredible Health, the largest AI company powering healthcare hiring Next we have Jade Marcus, CEO and co-founder of Mathix, a fertilizer that aims to enhance crop yield and replenish soil health while removing CO2 from our atmosphere Next we have Joanna Strauber, CEO and co-founder of MidiHealth, the virtual healthcare platform for women. Next we have Lisa Curtis, CEO and co-founder of Kwekwe, a food brand that aims to create sustainable income for farming communities while providing organically grown foods. Next we have Lisa Dyson, CEO and co-founder of Air Protein, a company utilizing NASA-tested technology to feed astronauts while in space by transforming elements in the air into protein. Next, we have Michelle Reese, CEO and founder of HiFi, a company that uses refining technology to transform agriculture waste into high-value ingredients. Next, we have Robin Ann McIntosh, CEO and co-founder of Avila Health, a neurodiversity-affirming care company building a new paradigm for autism and ADHD care. And our final awardee is Sharon Healy-Nicosa, CEO of Cyglass Coffee, a brand that provides empowerment opportunities for women, BICOP, and immigrant food entrepreneurs. Members, I present to you 11 founders, CEOs, business leaders who are here doing incredible work in our state. Congratulations to each of them, and thank you on behalf of so many Californians that get to work with you, that use your products, but that also benefit from the incredible investments that you have made to build here, to grow here, and to advance here in the state of California. Members, please join me in congratulating these incredible 11 women CEO and founders.

Thank you so much, Madam President, and happy Monday, colleagues. today a rise in honor to celebrate the incredible career and impact of Caroline Botetta. For three decades, Ms. Botetta has served as the president and chief executive officer of Visit California. She has devoted her entire adult life to making the Golden State one of the most visited in the United States of America. She has helped lead the largest tourism economy in the nation, an industry that supports 1.2 million jobs in communities big and small in every corner of our state. Ms. Peteta has built Visit California into the nation's leading destination marketing organization, uniting tens of thousands of businesses, hundreds of destinations, and millions of visitors in a shared effort, a shared effort to promote the Golden State to the rest of the world. She's done it really damn well. But what's always stood out about Ms. Peteta's leadership is that she understood something fundamental. California's greatest asset isn't a slogan, it's not a logo, it's our people. And Ms. Peteta made sure that people were at the heart of the California story. She highlighted our diversity and the everyday Californians who make this state so special. She lifted them up as ambassadors of the California brand and showed the rest of the world what makes California extraordinary. It isn't where we are. It's who we are. And she's been a strong and steady influence during some of our toughest times, not just here in California, but throughout the nation. From the pandemic to multiple devastating wildfires, she has demonstrated resilience, empathy, and precision as the leader of Visit California, always ensuring that we come out the other side stronger. And this kind of leadership matters because Madam CEO, she doesn't just promote California. She believes in California because it's her lifelong home as well. Ms. Batetta's success is based on strong relationships, deep trust in the communities in which she serves, and her ability to bring all sides together to solve problems. Madam CEO's mission has been to promote the spirit of the Golden State, but her legacy, ladies and gentlemen, she has shown the world that there's no place like the Golden State. So on behalf of the State Senate Madam President I want to say thank you We want to say thank you for three decades of extraordinary service leading Visit California Best wishes for a well-deserved retirement in the California Sierra. Ladies and gentlemen of the California State Senate, can we please give Madam CEO a round of applause and thank her for her incredible commitment to the people of California.

Thank you very much. I want to add my voice, and the pro tem emeritus mentioned fires and pandemics, but conveniently left out floods. And when the highway to Big Sur was closed for three years, Caroline facilitated meetings with the Department of Transportation, the local business people. She recognized that that natural disaster was actually a disaster to our visitor-serving industry, and she worked really hard to bridge it. And I thought of her this weekend, because as the fire broke out this weekend in Big Sur, they have just evacuated the Post Ranch, Nepenthe, Ventana Inn. I half thought I should pick up the phone and call Caroline, because I know she would have been in the middle of it with regard to those businesses and the visitor-serving industry. So thank you to her for her service. This is actually a huge loss for us, but it's a great thing for her to finally be able to retire. Congratulations to her.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm waiting for my guest to come to the floor or to the center of the chamber. Thank you, Madam President. On June 2nd and 3rd in 2026, a dangerous hostage situation unfolded at the Chase Bank building in downtown Bakersfield. What began as a report of a suspect claiming to possess explosive devices quickly became a dangerous and potentially deadly situation with multiple hostages barricaded inside the building with the perpetrator. Today it's a privilege to welcome and recognize the law enforcement officers and public safety partners who responded with extreme courage, professionalism, and work ethic to protect the hostages and bring the crisis to a safe end. Throughout the incident, law enforcement agencies worked together to secure the area, to evacuate all nearby buildings, and to communicate with the suspect to resolve the situation. After hours, long hours going into the next morning of negotiations, the FBI hostage rescue team entered the building and neutralized the suspect, successfully securing all 10 hostages who had suffered no physical injuries. Today we recognize the courage of these law enforcement professionals for their bravery, decisive action and their commitment to protecting the people of Kern County It my great honor to introduce the following leaders who made this happen and thank each of them for their service bravery and dedication to keeping our community safe With us today in the chambers is my sheriff, the longest serving sheriff in Kern County, Donna Youngblood, Larry McCurtin, the Kern County Undersheriff, Brent Stratton, chief of police of Bakersfield, California City PD, Jeremy Blakemore, the assistant police chief, and Brian Tosh with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These truly are heroes that saved lives. It was just something that was unprecedented in Kern County to have a hostage situation like that. These leaders, the people that worked for them were trained, efficient, effective, and they brought this resolution to an end without one of those hostages being physically harmed. Now, emotionally, I'm sure we're still going to be dealing with that, but physically harmed, and they truly are heroes, and I would like you to welcome them to the Senate floor.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of this resolution. I really want to thank each and every one of you for the work that you did that day, but also for the work that you do behind the scenes, for the work that we don't know, that we're not aware of, that keeps us all safe and our families and our communities safe as well. I know that the safety of our communities we all represent will require more collaboration between the different agencies and more intelligence sharing. these should not be scary words they should be something that we embrace that we collaborate because the safety of our communities and of ourselves rely on it and again thank you for your work each and every day the work that we know about and the work that we don't know about as well thank you for being here

Thank you.

for all that you did on that day to keep our community safe and for all that you continue to do every day to keep all of our communities safe.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today to present SR-125, commemorating the Pakistani-American relations and recognizing the enduring friendship between Pakistan and the United States. On August 4, 1947, Pakistan achieved its independence, marking an important milestone in its history and beginning a journey rooted in the ideals of freedom, self-determination, and democracy. California is home to a vibrant and growing Pakistani American community whose members have made remarkable contributions to our state and nation. Pakistani Americans have distinguished themselves in medicine, technology, education, business, public service, the arts, the military, and countless other professions, strengthening our communities through their talent, innovation, and leadership. Their commitment to hard work, family, education, and civic engagement reflects the values that continue to make California stronger and more prosperous. This resolution also recognizes the importance of preserving cultural heritage while encouraging future generations to continue contributing to the rich diversity that defines our state. Today, we celebrate not only the history of Pakistan's independence, but also the lasting friendship between our two nations and the invaluable contributions of Pakistani-Americans throughout California. I respectfully ask for an aye vote and join me in recognizing the Pakistani-American relations and celebrating the many achievements of the Pakistani-American community.

Yeah, and I welcome the Association of Pakistani American Communities here in California to the Senate floor. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise as the author of Senate Resolution 121 relative to the Killed in Action flag. The freedoms that we enjoy in the United States and here in California have been preserved through this courage, sacrifice and devotion of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. An estimated 3,400,000 to 345,000 American service members have been killed in action since World War I. Californians have served in every major conflict in our nation's history, and an estimated 22,000 to 23,000 of our own have made the ultimate sacrifice. Our state suffered approximately 1,932 combat-related fatalities in World War I, more than 17,000 in World War II, 1,743 confirmed killed in actions in the Korean War, thousands more in Vietnam, and more than 500 in the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11th of 2001. In 1993, right here in California, a grassroots effort led by combat veterans and veteran motorcycle riders created the killed in action flag. They recognized that while prisoners of war and those missing in action are honored at the national level recognized by the POW MIA flag, those that are confirmed killed in action have lacked a separate, universally recognized symbol dedicated solely to their sacrifice. The flag bears the words killed in action the brave and the Free and America Remembers It stands as a powerful emblem of our nation enduring obligation to honor the fallen and preserve their memory for future generations It has been embraced by veterans organizations, military families, Gold Star families, patriotic groups, and local governments across the United States. In 2017, New Jersey became the first state to formally recognize and require its display over the state house and municipal buildings. This resolution simply yet powerfully honors the killed in action flag as an emblem of sacrifice, remembrance and respect that every member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in combat deserves recognition. It encourages the voluntary display of the flag at the state capitol, on state and local public buildings, at veteran memorial schools, civic institutions, and private residences throughout California. It encourages Californians to fly the flag on appropriate occasions, including Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day, and other military remembrance ceremonies as a visible expression of gratitude for those who gave their lives in service to the United States. I am grateful to my co-authors who have joined this effort for their strong bipartisan support. This resolution is simple yet important. It is our opportunity to say clearly and publicly that California remembers. It is our chance to honor the thousands of Californians and hundreds of thousands of Americans who gave their last full measure of devotion and to encourage communities across our state to display the killed in action flag with pride, with gratitude, and with remembrance. I respectfully ask my colleagues to join me in voting aye on

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in strong support SR 121 as the chair of the Military and Veterans Committee. Here in California we always honor our veterans. of course on Memorial Day, and we honor our veterans on Veterans Day. But here is the message across the nation that California stands with the families that have lost their loved ones in combat. It is a particular situation that we're looking at, because right now across this nation, people are at the edge of their seats wondering if their sons and daughters and husbands and wives will be killed in action by what's happening in Iran and other places. And when it's all said and done, the numbers will come through. We'll come through men and women killed in action, serving and representing our great nation. So this opportunity we have here in California to support SR-121, it is our time. This small flag, this like the POW-MIA flag that flies over our capital, But now with this recommendation, we can go ahead and encourage schools, hospitals, capital buildings, state houses, all across this nation, across California, to honor these men and women who've sacrificed so much. So you can imagine how the families are feeling right now, that their loved ones are remembered. Because here in California, we never forget those who've given their lives for our great country. And again, I urge an aye vote on SR 121.

Thank you so much. Senators, today we have the privilege of recognizing a remarkable woman whose personal loss has become a lifelong mission to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Robin Ornsby, the mother of Private First Class J.D. Ornsby-Adkins, who was born in Western Australia before moving with his mother to Ione, California, where he grew up. Driven by a desire to serve his country, he proudly called home. Jay enlisted in the United States Army. He completed basic training on his 21st birthday and embraced military service with courage, dedication, and an unwavering sense of duty. On April 28, 2007, while serving in Iraq, Private First Class J.D. Ornsby-Atkins was killed in action. When an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle, claiming the lives of J.D. and two fellow soldiers, he will forever be 21 years of age. Joining us today with Robin Ornsby is her sister Carrie Miller, her stepdaughter Morgan Inchensky and vice mayor of the city I own, Stacey Rhodes. Like every Gold Star family, our community experienced a loss that no parent should ever have to endure. But rather than allowing that tragedy to define her, Robin transformed her grief into purpose and has influenced California cities to take action across our Golden State. For nearly two decades, she has worked tirelessly to ensure that those who were killed in action receive the lasting recognition they deserve. She has become a passionate advocate for the recognition of the Kildan Action flag, a symbol dedicated specifically to honoring the brave Americans who gave their lives defending our nation. Today, through Senate Resolution 121, California recognizes the profound significance of that symbol. It serves as a reminder that while freedom comes at a tremendous cost, the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and the families they leave behind must never be forgotten. Robin, I want to thank you for your courage, your perseverance, and your unwavering commitment to preserving the legacy of our nation's fallen service members. It's been your advocacy that has helped ensure that their sacrifice will continue to be remembered by generations to come. Colleagues, I ask you to welcome Robin Ornsby and her Gold Star family to the California State Senate as we honor both her son, Private First Class J.D. Ornsby-Adkins, and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise today to introduce Cindy Cohn, who after 25 years at the organization has retired as the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Through her career, Cindy has worked tirelessly for a free, fair, and open internet on which users can speak, learn, and thrive without fear of oppression. Her outstanding leadership was largely responsible for EFF's development into the leading nonprofit dedicated to defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation worldwide. She served as a legal director and general counsel for EFF before spending the last decade as executive director. Her exemplary work for the foundation has protected Californians, Americans, and people across the globe against security compromises from government and corporate surveillance. Cindy's accomplishments are numerous and profound. In a landmark challenge, she represented a UC student and helped establish foundational case law that recognized software source code as First Amendment protected free speech and which expanded public access to encryption technologies. She's represented companies in challenges to the federal government's use of, quote, national security letters, which demanded private records without court orders, restricting recipients from informing clients or speaking publicly about the orders. Cindy's tenure, experience, and indelible impact on the digital environment have positioned her as one of the world's foremost authorities at the intersection of law and technology. As she steps down, From her position as Executive Director for EFF, I want to extend my best wishes for her continued success and thank her for her work, which has benefited all of us, and I'm honored to introduce her today.

Thank you, Madam President, members. It is my pleasure to introduce a few incredible public servants on the floor today in observance of Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. Direct Support Professionals, or DSPs, help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live safely in their own homes, hold on to jobs that enrich their lives, and and participate in their communities. Becoming a DSP requires expertise, integrity, and patience as they perform highly technical and intimate work to support clients and their families. Together our state's regional center system of DSPs serves over 500,000 Californians with IDDs every year. From assisting with daily routines and teaching new skills to providing support during difficult times, our DSPs help people live with dignity, independence, and confidence. They deliver on the promise of the Lanterman Act by providing Californians with the invaluable services and supports they need to pursue lives of their own choosing, and it is my honor to recognize a few of them today. Joining us on the floor, on the Senate floor, we have five direct support professionals. Eddie Tucci with Las Trampas. Katie Baker and Samantha Marquez with Creative Living Options. And Haley Powell and Lucas Tai with Hope Services. In the gallery, we also have the Executive Director and advocacy team for the California Disability Services Association, and leadership and program staff for Hope Services and Creative Living Solutions. Colleagues, let's celebrate the professionals who dedicate their lives to serving others by observing Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. Please join me in welcoming them to the Senate today.

Pro Tem Limon, you are recognized for some opening remarks. Thank you. Members, today we have the pleasure of celebrating the 2026 Senate Fellows and congratulating them for their hard work, their contributions, and their time with our California State Senate this year. The Senate Fellows Program was established in 1973 as a hands-on learning experience for college graduates to work in the state capitol, making it one of the oldest legislative fellowship programs in the United States. Each year, a diverse cohort of 18 fellows are selected to serve full-time as legislative staff for 11 months. I know I've had the incredible honor of having a fellow placed in our office while I've been here in the legislature, and it has been an incredible experience knowing that the fellows always contribute to the work that we do here in the legislature. I have personally worked with fellows and have witnessed their curiosity, their dedication, and the growth throughout the experience provided in the legislature. The Senate Fellowship is an opportunity for us to bring people from all over this state into the legislative process and provide them with the tools to advance their careers in public policy and public service. Today, we recognize the accomplishments of the fellows, what they have learned, and what they've contributed over the last 11 months to their work here in the State Senate. Congratulations to all the Senate fellows and also for engaging and being part of this journey. We are grateful for your participation and your work here. To the 2026 fellows, we know that your time here may be short, and we also know that some of you may decide to call the California State Senate home for more time. And we're grateful to all of you for the experience that you've allowed for this group, these senators, to share with you. We hope it has been a rewarding experience, one where you've gotten a chance to learn, and also one where you feel and you see the investment that you have made to the state of California. Congratulations, and thank you for your service.

She is smart, adaptable, hardworking, and quick to offer a helping hand or smile. From her first day, Mariana hit the ground running, eagerly taking on a wide range of issues, simple little things like transportation, human services, privacy, elections, and energy. She has quickly become someone our entire team relies on staffing a number of bills, resolutions, and expertly navigating the complexities of the legislative process. No matter the issue or assignment, Mariana approaches her work with thoughtfulness and professionalism. Most notable, however, is her willingness to step in and help wherever she is needed, which is a mark, we all know, of a true public servant. I'm also happy to say that she is from my district, which she has made me and my community proud with how she has worked so diligently on behalf of representing Senate District 9 this year working in the district. Thank you so very much Mariana for your great work.

Thank you, Madam President. I've had the pleasure of having Alondra Cervantes serve in my office over the past year. She's been such a tremendous asset to the team. She graduated from UCLA last year with a degree in political science as well as in social work, and she's been working on really important bills like SB 1103, 957, and 845. Alondra jumped right into the team and was not shy about wanting to take on very big issues, and particularly issues impacting immigration and issues impacting our fight against the federal government. She has really just been such an asset. So many folks that walk into my office are really surprised to find out she's a fellow because she always holds herself with such professionalism. She's so incredibly talented, and we've just been really, really grateful to be able to work with her. She brings so much passion to this work and really a commitment to wanting to serve the community. She always takes time to make sure that we're connecting with the individuals that are traveling up here from the district to let them know what it means and what it matters to us and to our legislation. so I'm so honored to have her in our office and it's been really tremendous having her as a fellow.

Thank you, Madam President and members. Today I rise to celebrate our wonderful Senate fellow, Renee Fagan. Renee is from Chula Vista and is a proud graduate of the University of California in Riverside I know she tells me you have to say go Highlanders At UCR she earned her bachelor degree in political science with a minor in theater. From the first day in our office, Renee had an eagerness and a dedication that immediately impressed all of us. And of course, her strong spirit that brought a sense of joy and shine through our office all year long. Her attention to critical issues in California, such as access to health care, consumer protection, and socioeconomic justice, has truly been commendable. This year, she staffed me on the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protections, and did a magnificent job. She also staffed several bills in my legislative package, including SB 1271, which will support the midwives profession and build a sustainable workforce to meet our state's maternal health needs. Another bill that Renee and I bonded over was SB 1178. It didn't make it over to the other house, but it was claiming the official state WASP, the Yellow Jacket. We worked hard on that. Although it was put to rest, Renee did spend countless hours researching the California yellow jacket known as the Vespula sulfuria. She approached this bill with resourcefulness and tracked down a professor from UC Davis with expertise on this species. Renee has served the 29th Senate District and the people of California with distinction. She is truly remarkable, and we will miss her authentic and positive energy in our office, but I know she will excel as she begins her career. I thank her for her service, her commitment to reminding us all of the very bright future ahead.

Senator Grove, you are recognized. I know, Madam President, I am out of line, but she neighbors my office. And this beautiful young lady, Renee, is the happiest, joy-filled, kind person, always smiling, always wanting to help, even our office, always super polite. And I just want to congratulate her on a good fellowship because you really have brought a lot of joy to the building.

Senator Laird, you are recognized. Thank you, Madam President. I am pleased to recognize my fellow, Samantha or Sammy Guerrero, for being a great addition to our team and the stellar work that she has done this year. She is one of two Senate fellows I've had who grew up here in Sacramento. and she's been immensely grateful to return to her hometown for this fellowship year. She graduated from Stanford with a degree in comparative studies in race and ethnicity and a minor in linguistics. She is also very proud to be a cardinal or a tree, whichever sounds better to her on a given day. She is particularly passionate about K-12 education and spent a great deal of her time during school teaching. It's her passion for human rights and social justice that drives her incredible work every day. Since being placed in my office last November as my fifth Senate Fellow, she has staffed me on the Senate Committee on Labor. as well as on education, elections, housing, immigration, and public safety issues. She has staffed me on four bills, all of which are still moving, and one of which is actually headed to the governor. And despite being our youngest staffer and the furthest from retirement, she has become my foremost expert on the PERS retirement system. And since she is fluent in Spanish, she has been tasked every day with providing to my office staff a Spanish word of the day. And despite her valiant efforts, they will not understand this next sentence, which is, Ella es la mejor becaria que he tenido. And that was written by a former becaria. So a former Beccaria saying she's the Mehor Beccaria is a significant statement. She has excelled in my office, which requires a certain personality to fit in. Everybody knows my staff is notorious for being nurturing, gentle, and driven. It's been a joy watching her grow and experiencing her diligence, positivity, and enthusiasm for learning. She is excited to continue bringing her passion for social justice and policy to the legislature, and I'm excited to see her pursue her future goals here in the state capitol.

Senator Durazo, you are recognized. Thank you, Madam President. I'm so proud to introduce Stephanie Herrera. Stephanie is from a hardworking family, so she knows who California's policies are supposed to serve. She knows who she's here for. To protect immigrant families from eviction after ICE-related detentions. To give stability to all renters, including their beloved pets. The daughter of a domestic worker and a landscaper, Olivia Villaba and Javier Herrera. Stephanie's work to create affordable homes for hardworking family comes from the heart. Home ownership changed her family's life. My Senate Resolution 132 honors landscapers like her father whose skilled work sustains our homes and neighborhoods. Those aren't abstractions to Stephanie. She approaches this work knowing what's at stake for the families behind every bill. It's been a privilege for me and our team to have her this year. I know as she moves forward, she will serve all Californians with intelligence and heart. Thank you, Stephanie. We love you. Gracias a Stephanie Herrera y su familia. Estamos muy orgullosos de ella.

Thank you, Madam President and members. I am here to recognize Johanna Hibma as our Senate Fellow at the Republican Caucus, where she did a full analysis of over 90 different bills this year for five different committees, agriculture, education, environmental quality, natural resource and wildlife, and labor, public employment, and retirement. She also assisted our Republican Rules Committee consultants doing several research projects, as well as helping our budget and fiscal consultants. Johanna has a great sense of humor and easily makes friends wherever she goes. She hails from a Central Valley family farm in Winton, which is Merced County, and her passion for agriculture is rightly a great sense of pride for her. Johanna already has a great record and growing interest in public service, so it is very possible that her fellowship is just the start of her capital career.

Senator Wiener, you are recognized. Thank you very much, Madam President. I rise to recognize Shantaya Jeans, who we've had the pleasure to have in our office as our Senate fellow this year. Shantaya was born and raised in Porterville. Her upbringing instilled in her passion for public service. She first discovered her interest in public policy after her mother was deported when she was a child. She's since worked to understand the systems that separated her from her mother, and she has been eager to improve the lives of California's immigrant communities.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I am so proud and honored to present our amazing Senate fellow this year, our very own Monaya Jennings who is joined here by her parents Maurice and Julie and I want to say thank you Maurice and Julie for raising such a spectacular young woman who's been a tremendous contribution to our office. Originally from Fresno, Monaya came to UC Riverside, where she was a Division I track athlete and then went on to earn her Master's of Law from McGeorge. From day one, Monea has brought that same determination, fierce energy, and persistence. She will not take no for an answer, and victory is the only word she wants to hear at the end of her assignments. Staffing our Women's Caucus priority bills, advancing our work on equity, and taking on the responsibility of the Health Committee, which was my first year serving on Health Committee, was quite a feat, and she did it in spectacular fashion. But what I appreciate most about Monea is that her impact goes beyond legislation. She's not a person you have to say, this is what we need you to do. She looks and she says, this needs to be done, and I will do it. And she has truly become an integral part of the fabric of our capital community. As the communications director for the Capital Legislative Black Caucus, I'm sorry, Black Staff Association, we want her to be at the Black Caucus, um monia is helping to build that community she was a tremendous volunteer for the black caucuses leadership institute that we do with high school students this summer and she's always brought her energy and her integrity to her job every single day monia we are so grateful for you and for everything that you've brought to our office in this capital we're so proud of you and we know that this is only the beginning, and we hope to be working with you far more in the future. Please give me a round of applause for Manuela Jennings.

Thank you, Madam President. Raised in Hanford, Miles Kelly earned a degree in the history of public policy and law from UC Santa Barbara, my alma mater. Go Gauchos! Every year I enjoy seeing the Senate through the eyes of our fellows. They are eager and excited to experience every part of our work, and Miles is no exception. He was thorough and thoughtful in staffing housing and budget. He shared that one of his favorite memories was introducing his first bill and then learning how to move it through the legislative process. One of the other bills he staffed was recently signed by the governor. I'm happy he got to experience that feeling of accomplishment. I really appreciate that as a Republican. And before his fellow year ends, there are still three moving forward. So we're excited to see how those go. Miles, it's been a pleasure having you in the office this year. Your friendly demeanor is appreciated as is your willingness to help your co constituents and everyone who comes into the office You worked hard and proven you have a heart of service Even after our fellows move on they always part of our extended team In Miles case that connection is especially permanent because he adopted one of my kittens. Percy, a sweet little ball of fur, has found a wonderful home and I hope Miles and Percy have many, many years together, and I'll definitely be expecting plenty of updates and pictures. He couldn't have gone home with any other better person. They're both snugglers. Maybe a little too much to explain here. It's been an honor to be your mentor as you begin your career in the legislature, and I can't wait to see what comes next for you. Thanks for all the laughter you brought to our office. We're going to miss you. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. Leroy Lopez came to our office from the University of Redlands, Redlands being just the southern part of the Napa Valley, and he came ready to change the world. He like so many other folks said, I want to work on to fix immigration. I want to end economic inequality, probably stop Amazon forest deforestation. And so, like so many other fellows, we assigned to work on grizzly bears and capping oil wells and Proposition 98 formulas and the things, the lifeblood of how policy really happens in this building. But he did, don't cry for him, because he did also has been staffing key bills to make sure that the implementation of HR1 hits a lot less hard for those who met all the requirements but don't have data for hours worked to make the Californians who are LGBTQ safe from having their data harvested and taken by the federal government. But each day, Leo came to the office excited to serve the people of California. He quickly got a reputation for just being a nice guy who brought warmth and friendliness to his work, as well as the infamous Gen Z stare. He also then got out in the world and made the most of the geography of where he's at. He got to see Napa for the first time, but also Tahoe and Yosemite, and started to connect them, not just to Redlands, but to the work that he was reviewing as a staffer for the Natural Resources and Water Committee. So, Leo, thank you for all your work serving the constituents of Senate District 3, and also thank you to his mom, Apolonia Hernandez, who dropped him off at the beginning of the fellowship with no small amount of trepidation, and his brother, Ian, both of whom are with us today, could not be any prouder, just as we cannot either. Congratulations to Leo Lopez.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Boy, I'm on a roll. Don't worry, I'll get this right. I'm proud to recognize an exceptional member of my staff, Katie Mano. Katie was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Wellesley College, but served the 15th Senate District with distinction and dedication as if it were her own hometown. She successfully spearheaded multiple legislative and district priorities and was the first staff member in my office to have their bill signed by the governor this session. No small task, as everybody in here knows. Katie's proactive work ethic and intellectual drive, they drive her ambition, while her witty and outgoing personality perfectly fit our office's dynamic. Above all, Katie ensured every meeting, every drop-in, every call felt heard and respected, exemplifying what government service is all about. We're fortunate to have had her as part of the Cortese crew and wish her the best of luck in her next chapter of public service. We will especially miss her dot cupcakes and homemade cookies. I believe her family is up in the gallery. Thank you for being here today, and thank you for your tireless support. We are all very proud. We're sure that you're very proud. We're going to miss her dearly when her service in our office is up. Katie has a bright future ahead of her, and I'm confident she will excel and accomplish all her dreams.

Thank you very much, Madam President. with great pride and a great pleasure to rise and recognize someone who has become an amazing energetic indispensable critical part of our team my fellow Kennedy McIntyre she was born right here in Sacramento and is an accomplished softball player and more than hard-working student she attended UCLA where she was also a California Freedom Summer intern through the Chicano Studies Research Center on campus and through that experience Kennedy got the opportunity to demonstrate her commitment to her community and to public service. She was a part of the Sacramento Kids First team that was able to secure the passage of Measure L here in 2022, developing a dedicated funding source for youth programs designed to give kids a safe place to meet. After its passage, Kennedy even drafted a report on the experience to help others in their own course and journey to success in future efforts and community engagement. Her experience at UCLA, as well as her studies, helped Kennedy develop the skills she has used, most definitely used, in her time in fellowship. She has been at the center of a number of complex governmental organizations, policy discussions, and many others, as well as instrumental in creating a policy which will prevent private vendors in ICE detention facilities from profiteering off of detainees. Kennedy has already made a difference in the lives of Californians We know her dedication to her community will certainly be at the heart of everything she does going forward Most especially I eternally grateful for her eternal optimism and energy, really, that she brings every day. She keeps us up to date, very up to date, on all things with Love Island. Never stops. She greets everyone with a smile and positivity. Her sunny and indomitable optimism brighten up this place. I can tell you she's a walking example of how positivity and attitude are truly force multipliers. Unfortunately, Kennedy's family was not able to attend the ceremony today, but we know they're watching on the live stream, and I want to express to them who are watching how thankful I am and our team are for her time in our office and the incredible work that she has done. We have no doubt, Kennedy that you will continue this journey continue to give and brighten up every room. I am eternally grateful to you. I will always have your back. So it's my great pleasure to recognize Kennedy today.

thank you madam president and colleagues I am privileged and honored to be able to recognize our fellow Brooke McNeil now Brooke she graduated from San Francisco State and being familiar with San Francisco politics she obviously wanted to come to work for an Orange County Democrat. Brooke has been an essential component of the Umberg office. She's been a constant, steadfast force in our office. First one in, last one to leave. She's become an expert in both politics and policy. And she's not just about work. She's also about making sure she's part of the Umberg team and partnership. When it came to work, she staffed four bills, more than anyone else in our office. Wonder what other folks were doing, by the way. And she also staffed me on elections committee, which had some dicey stuff this year, and issues spanning from the LGBTQ plus issues to environmental issues. Now, she's built a reputation around the Capitol as someone that you could come talk to about all kinds of things, including cute animal videos. I didn't know that till just now, but apparently that's your thing. So we appreciate that. We also appreciate the fact that she was a leader, already a leader in our office, mentoring our interns, having spirited discussions with our legislative director, demonstrating her both force of will and her facility with the issues. We got the better end of the deal by having Brooke as a fellow in our office. We are privileged as Californians, we're privileged as members of the Senate, to have Brooke among us because she's going to be sitting right here someday soon. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam President and members. I get the honor of introducing you to James Murray, who came to our office last year as a newcomer to the Senate, but already with a wealth of institutional knowledge from his time as an Assembly intern. Over the course of the year, James established himself as a critical member of our team. James has staffed several pieces of legislation for me, one already passed by the legislature and another that has already made it to the Assembly floor after months of negotiations with stakeholders handled skillfully by Mr. Murray. He's assisted the entire Republican caucus on the Senate floor during session, Always reliable, James has never once come in late, nor left early, or even missed a deadline. Getting into this program alone is a huge achievement, but getting the most out of it is the real goal. And James has certainly made the most of his opportunity this year. His work speaks for itself, and his time in my office will no doubt lead to another fantastic opportunity for him to advance in his career. James, while your work here is not yet done, I want to thank you today for your hard work and dedication to my office and to the people of the 40th Senate District. Ladies and gentlemen, James Murray.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I want to add my voice to the many others today who are recognizing how important and valuable the Senate Fellows Program is, both to this institution and to the future of California, as we mentor and prepare the leaders of tomorrow. I was incredibly fortunate this year to have the very talented and intelligent Annika Olson in my office. She is a quick study who has been heavily invested from day one. And furthermore, I'm delighted that she is from my district, the San Diego area of my district. And I welcome her family, who is here today for this recognition as well. She came to the Senate Fellows Program after interning for Assemblymember Chris Ward, an office which prepared her well for full-time policy work. She has proved adept at all aspects of legislative work, including working with and managing diverse coalition partners, writing fact sheets and talking points, and she's also been very skilled at briefing me on updates, both verbally and over email. Annika has staffed my legislation to restrict the sale of large canisters of nitrous oxide only to legitimate uses in order to help reduce the use of it as a recreational drug and she's done a masterful job. She planned a highly successful press conference with the San Diego District Attorney in San Diego that resulted in a viral social media video on the topic, which I was very grateful for. She's a gem in the office, warm to every soul she interacts with, incredibly professional, and has a wit that will leave you in stitches. She brought a thoughtful and joyful disposition to the office. Thank you for all of your great work, Annika. We are so lucky to have had you on our team

Thank you. I'm pleased to introduce my fellow Trey Quinn, Q-U-I-N-N. Trey was raised right up the road in Roseville and attended William Carey University, a professional dancer for many years. Yes, professional dancer. As Trey shifted to legislature and joined my office, it was a great joy to welcome him. This last 10 months, Trey has staffed me on the education committee and has focused on banking and financial institutions, labor, public employment, and retirement and human services. The highlight of his time in my office has been on two bills, SB 971 on older adult education and SB 1021 on hunting and fishing opportunities for youth with life-threatening illnesses, which are all moving along. Our office is better for having had Trey as part of the team, and as his time comes to the end, we will all miss him dearly. When I first met him, he claimed he knew how to speak Korean. And then I tested him. He didn't go very far. So I gave him a Korean textbook, and now I need to give him the final test if he can graduate from my office. Please join me in thanking him for his service and wishing him all the best in his future endeavors. Thank you.

Senator Jones, you are recognized.

Well, congratulations to the 2526 Senate Fellows. Thank you so much for all that you have done. And as Senator Umberg was stating on the floor, your work is not done yet because we're still in session. But thank you for all that you have done. We will now take a group photo. So if any senators would like to be in the group photo, please go to the rear of the chamber. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Senators, before he sneaks out the back door, you probably noticed some pictures here and in this swing space celebrating a very special individual. So please, can we wish Senator Jones a happy belated birthday? Continuing on, messages from the governor will be deemed read. Messages from the assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted. We are now under motions, resolutions, and notices. Without objection, the Senate journals for August 3rd, 2026 through August 6th, 2026, will be approved as corrected by the minute clerk. And pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10D, the following bills are referred to the Committee on Rules. File Item 43, SB607. Senator Ochoa-Bo, you are recognized.

Senator Strickland.

Senator Grove.

Senator Laird.

Thank you Senator Durazzo Thank you Madam President I rise to pull AB 1615 from consent at the request of the author Thank you Senator Durazo Thank you Madam President I rise to pull AB 1615 from consent at the request of the author Thank you Senator Wahab Thank you. At the request of the author, please pull file item 295, AB 1767 from the consent calendar, please. Thank you. Senator Gonzalez? Thank you, Madam President.

Desk will note. Senator Richardson?

Senator Sayarto, you are recognized.

Understood. Secretary, please call the roll. Senator Sayarto is asking for a no vote. Senator Richardson is asking for an aye. Secretary, please call the roll. Allen. Abrago Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Aragon. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Blakespeare. Aye. Cabaldon. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cervantes. Aye. Choi. no Cortese I dally no to Russell I Gonzalez I Grayson I Grove no I Jones no Laird I lemon McGuire I Mcnerney I'm a bar I Nilo no trouble no Padilla I Perez I Reyes I Richardson I rubio I see our toe no small with Cuevas I Stern I strickland no umber by volunteers no wahab I Weber Pearson I winner I secretary please call the absent members Allen I I'll roll a girl Becker I limon Ayes 29, Nos 9. The motion carries. Are there any other motions that would like to be made? Seeing none, we will now move on to the consideration of the daily file, beginning with second reading file. Secretary, please read. Assembly Bill 2233, 2764, 2780, 2562, Assembly Joint Resolution 9, Assembly Bill 1684, and Assembly Bill 1999. Second reading file will be deemed read. We are now at governor appointments. Starting with file item number 12. Senator Reyes, you are recognized.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Secretary, please call the roll. Allen. Aye. I'm Ronald Gill. Archuleta. Aye. I'd again. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespear. Aye. Cabaldon. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cervantes. Aye. Choi. No. Cortese. Aye. Dally. no Durazo aye Gonzalez aye Grayson Aye. Grove? No. Hurtado? Aye. Jones? No. Laird? Aye. Aye. Limon? McGuire? Aye. Aye. McNerney? Aye. Menjabar? Aye. Nilo? Aye. No. Ochoa Bogue? No. Padilla? Aye. Aye. Perez? Aye. Aye. Reyes? Aye. Aye. Richardson? Aye. Aye. Rubio? Aye. Aye. Sciarto? Aye. No. Smallwood Cuevas? Aye. Aye. Stern? Aye. Aye. Strickland? Aye. No. Umber? Aye. Valadares? No. Wahab? Aye. Weber Pearson? Aye. Weiner? Aye. Ayes 29, noes 9. The appointment is confirmed. We will now move to file item 13. Senator Reyes, you are recognized.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Secretary, please call the roll. Allen. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Aragon. I ashby I Becker I blake spear I cobblestone I calajero I servan says I joy no cortesi high dialy no turasel I gonzález I Grayson I Grove no what other I Jones no Laird I've moon McGuire I'm a journey I'm a bar I Nilo no Ochoa book no podía I Pérez I rayas I Richardson I rubio I see your toe no small work well as I stern I strickland no umber I validators no what I Weber Pearson I I wiener I I's 29, Nose 9. That appointment is confirmed. We are now at file item 14. Senator Reyes, you are

Seeing no further discussion, Senator Smallwood-Cueves, you are recognized.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion or debate, Secretary, please call the roll. Senator Reyes, would you like to close?

Secretary, please call the roll. Allen. Aye. Avarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Aragon. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blake Spear. Aye. Cobaldon. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cervantes. Choi. No. Cortese. Aye. Daly. No. Durazo. Aye. Gonzalez. Aye. Grayson. Aye. Grove. No. Hurtado. Aye. Jones no Laird I limon McGuire I'm a journey I'm a bar I Nilo no trouble no podía I bet as I raise I Richardson I rubio I see our toe no small with Cuevas? Aye. Stern? Aye. Strickland? No. Umber? Aye. Valadez? No. Wahab? Aye. Weber-Pearson? Aye. Aye. Wiener? Aye. Secretary, please call the absent members. Avraudogil? Cervantes? Aye. Limon? Ayes 29, nos 9, that appointment is confirmed. We will now move to file item 15. Senator Reyes, you are recognized.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Secretary, please call the roll. Allen. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Aragon. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespeare. Aye. Cobaldon. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cervantes. Aye. Choi. No. Cortese. Aye. Daly. No. Durazo. Aye. Gonzales. Aye. Grayson. Aye. Grove? No. Hurtado? Aye. Jones? No. Laird Aye Limon McGuire Aye McNerney Aye Menjavar Nilo No Ochoa Boak? No. Menjavar? Aye. Padilla? Aye. Aye. Perez? Aye. Aye. Richardson? Aye. Aye. Ciarto? No. No. Aye. Aye. Weber Pearson? Wahab, aye. Weber Pearson? Aye. Weiner? Aye. Ayes 29, noes 9. That appointment is confirmed. Senators, we will now move to unfinished business, starting with file item 42, SB 575. Secretary, please read. Senate Bill 575 by Senator Laird, an act relating to taxation and making an appropriation, therefore.

Seeing no further discussion or debate. Senators, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Seeing no objection, ayes 38, noes 0. The amendments are concurred in. We will now move to file item 45, SB 922. Secretary, please read. Senate Bill 922 by Senator Laird, an act relating to vehicles.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Secretary, please call the roll. Allen. Aye. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Aragon. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespeare. Aye. Cabaldon. Caballero. Aye. Cervantes. Aye. Choi. Cortese. Aye. Daly. Aye. Durazo. Aye. Gonzalez. Aye. Grayson. Aye. Grove. I Jones, Laird, I Limon, McGuire, I McNerney, I Menjivar, I Nilo, Ochoa Bogue, Padilla, Aye, Perez Aye, Reyes Aye, Richardson Aye, Rubio Aye, Ciaro Smallwood Cuevas Aye, Stern Aye, Strickland No, Umber Aye, Valaderos Wahab Aye, Weber Pearson Aye, Weiner Aye Secretary, please call the absent members Abraud Aguilar Cabaldon Aye Ayes 30 nos 1 The amendments are concurred in We are now at file item 47 SB 992 Secretary please read Senate Bill 992 by Senator Nilo, an act relating to local government.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senators, this item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Seeing no objection, ayes 38, noes 0. The amendments are concurred in. We will move back to motions, resolutions, and notices. And pursuant to Senate Rule 2910B, the following bills are referred to the Committee on Rules, File Item A-91AB-1447. Senator Stern, you are recognized.

We were still under motions, resolutions, and notices. Are there no other motions? We will now move to Senate third reading, file item 56, SCR 192. Secretary, please read. Senate Concurrent Resolution 192 by Senator Stern relative to open waters lifeguards.

to say thank you to my um colleague from los angeles and the chair of m emergency management for bringing this forward. I am really thrilled by this because I had no idea that we did not recognize them as the emergency personnel and the unsung heroes that they currently are. In Long Beach, we have 27 full-time lifeguards and 140 seasonal lifeguards. In fact, two of the lifeguards back home just last year received the Medal of Valor through the United Lifesaving Association, the first ever in Long Beach to receive that validation. They did that, this was Captain Aaron Fletcher as well as Devin Beebe, who's the president of our Long Beach Life Guards Association, for rescuing people that were on a 50-foot boat that hit a jetty in Alamitos Bay. They went into the water, were able to get as many folks as possible. One person unfortunately lost their life, but 10 other people even seriously injured on that were able to continue on with their life thanks to their heroic efforts. It's instances like this is why we need to be able to lift up their lives and ensure that we thank them for everything that they're doing

Thank you, Madam President and members. I rise in support of SCR 192. I want to thank the author for bringing this important measure forward. This recognition of Ocean lifeguards as first responders is long overdue. I have many friends that are lifeguards over in Huntington Beach, and really there's not a day that goes by where they don't perform either themselves or a colleague, not helping folks getting their lives saved. And I already thought that these were on that list. So, again, I want to thank the author for bringing this important measure forward. And these are real heroes in our community. And for those reasons, I support SCR 192. Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Madam President. I rise in proud support as a co-author of this, and I want to thank the good senator for bringing this forward, this resolution forward. Recognizing open water lifeguards as first responders, it's literally in the name that they are first responders on scene. Our 18-year-old daughter is a California State Ocean lifeguard, And I've spent much time with her at her workplace, observing her, because there's no better place to visit your kid at work than at the beach. And the reality is that they are doing life-saving work. And they are doing it in the ocean, where there's not a police officer or a firefighter who is swimming out to rescue someone who needs help. And also helping with all sorts of other smaller but first-response medical emergencies. And there's a hierarchy to law enforcement, and being recognized as a first responder would make it clear that what they are doing is on par with police and fire in terms of the response. And it's important that we recognize this good work that's being done on our beaches and the interface between our ocean and our coastline. And so I appreciate this resolution and am a grateful co-author today. Thank you.

Thank you Madam President If any of you want to see an argument for this resolution I suggest you Google the name Ryder Williams who was the 16 lifeguard off the coast of Santa Cruz that just a couple of weeks ago rescued a 10 who was dead white who was nonresponsive He had to talk good Samaritans out of going into the water. He had to put fins on each arm and go out. Once he grabbed him, he was swamped twice. The video shows him completely underwater, swamped with this 10-year-old, and he pulled him out and he saved him. That is what this is about. And he's got national recognition. He's going to the Capitol. He's going to the White House. And he has made his singular point that lifeguards need to be designated first responders. So in his name, I support this resolution. Thank you.

I will. The good senator from Santa Cruz said it best for Ryder, but also those who we've lost through these rescues, people like Ben Carlson who've lost their lives saving people. It might, the heroism of jumping into a burning building or dealing with a car chase at 120 miles an hour, These are the type of harrowing feats that our first responders have to go to, but jumping into 10-foot waves and trying to save the life of another person deserves to be on par with all that, and with that, respectfully, I ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, today I rise to present Senate Resolution 122, recognizing November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. For me, this is not simply a resolution. This is my family's story. In 2012, my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, almost by fluke. We were extraordinarily fortunate that it was caught early enough for her to undergo the Whipple procedure, a very painful and complex procedure. She went on to receive chemotherapy, and then we received the gift every family facing cancer prays for, remission. We got nearly six more years with my mom, six more years of birthdays, holidays, and ordinary days you don't realize are extraordinary until someone tells you they may be coming to an end. In 2018, the cancer came back. I will never forget sitting in her onocologist's office with my brother, with my dad, with my one-year-old daughter when we heard the words, stage four, six to 18 months. From that point forward, I became my mom's full-time caregiver and her advocate. I fought for treatment options and pain management. I was responsible for her advance directive, and eventually I found myself fighting with hospital bureaucrats on my mother's deathbed because after everything she had endured, she deserved dignity in her final days That experience taught me something I have never forgotten Cancer may not discriminate but access to care still can Families without resources or someone to advocate for them can face enormous barriers to specialists, clinical trials, palliative care, hospice, and pain management. And with pancreatic cancer, time matters enormously. This year, nearly 70,000 Americans will be diagnosed, and more than 52,000 will die from this disease. The five-year survival rate remains only about 13%. But there is reason for hope. When I first introduced this resolution back in 2022, there had been no major breakthrough in pancreatic cancer research. But researchers now are making progress toward blood tests that could help detect pancreatic cancer early. New treatments are targeting mutations commonly found in pancreatic tumors. and researchers are exploring personalized vaccines that could teach a patient's own immune system how to attack their cancer. These are not cures yet, but they are hope. And they remind us why research and early detection matter because I cannot help but wonder what my mother's journey might have looked like if the science we are developing today had existed when she was diagnosed. So while this resolution is about awareness, our commitment must go further. We must continue supporting early detection and better treatments, connect more patients to specialists and clinical trials, and make sure every family has access to compassionate, palliative, and end-of-life care. My mom fought pancreatic cancer for nearly six years after her original diagnosis, and I thank God for every one of those years. But I want the next daughter, sitting in an oncologist's office with her mother, to hear something different than what my family heard. I want her to hear, we got it early, we have options, there is hope. because awareness leads to advocacy, advocacy leads to action, and action can give families something. Pancreatic cancer has taken from far too many time. Another birthday, another Christmas, another ordinary Tuesday around the dinner table. More time with the people that they love. colleagues in memory of my mom and for every family fighting this disease today I respectfully ask for your aye vote

Thank you, Madam President. Members today I rise to present SR a Legislative Women Caucus Resolution recognizing September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month As an OB-GYN, I know firsthand the devastation this disease brings. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer. This year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 21,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and more than 12,000 will lose their lives to this disease. Early detection can make all the difference. When ovarian cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stages, approximately 93% of women survive at least five years. That survival rate falls to about 75% when diagnosed at an intermediate stage. But once the disease has advanced, the five-year survival rate drops dramatically to just 31%. And yet, despite the importance of early detection, only one in five cases is found early. By the time many women seek medical care, 70 to 80% have already reached stage 3 or beyond. This is when treatment becomes far more difficult as the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and outside of the pelvis. One of the greatest challenges is that there is no simple or reliable screening test for ovarian cancer. And symptoms such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or urinary urgency are often subtle, easily mistaken for less serious conditions and often dismissed. And the human cost cannot be measured. Ovarian cancer steals mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends far too soon, leaving families and communities to carry the profound weight of loss and grief. This September, we must recommit ourselves to remembering those we have lost, honoring those still fighting, supporting survivors, caregivers, families, and recognizing the researchers, physicians, advocates, and organizations working tireless to raise awareness and improve early detection and advance research. We must also empower women to know the signs, trust their instincts, and seek medical care when something doesn't feel right. Awareness saves lives, and education remains one of our most powerful tools. Ovarian cancer is more than a medical crisis. It is an emotional, physical, and financial burden on women's families and communities across California. In September, we honor those who are impacted by ovarian cancer and renew our commitment to advancing awareness, improving outcomes, and working towards a future free from this devastating disease. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote on SR 124.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise to present SCA 5, the Education Equalization Act. SCA 5 builds on the policy, originally developed through SB 743 last year with refinements based on feedback from stakeholders and many of you over the last year and a half. I'm committed to ensuring that equalization funding works for community college districts and public schools. To provide that certainty, I will amend SCA 5 to specify that the legislature shall allocate that funding. SCA 5 addresses a funding disparity that has persisted and grown for more than 40 years and that funding disparity in aggregate is in the billions of dollars growing year over year today students attending schools only minutes apart can benefit from dramatically different levels of per people funding in some cases differences of tens of thousands of dollars per student in each year SCA 5 establishes the equalization reserve account in the down and sell interest bearing account designed to provide additional funding over time to the lowest funded school districts in the state, non-basic aid school districts. The account would be funded with one-time non-Prop 98 general fund dollars in strong budget years, never in deficit years, and that is modeled after the current education stabilization account. The formula is mimicked in this bill and would be in the Constitution. SCA 5 does not reduce or redirect existing Prop 98 funding and does not change the local control funding formula. Instead, it creates a separate long-term mechanism to narrow disparities in per-people funding while preserving California's existing education funding guarantees. Your aye vote today gives California voters the opportunity to decide whether to establish this equalization framework. SCA 5 is intended for the 2028 general election ballot. Again, I want to emphasize this started off as a 2026 general election item. It is a 2028 general election ballot item that we are proposing. I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to thank the author for his diligence and hard work on SCA 5 and given the proposed amendments, which I believe the author indicated he would be taking in the next House, I would also like to congratulate him on the now broad education group support that SCA 5 currently enjoys. I will be voting aye. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to get a quick question of the author for some clarification, if I could, please. Will the author accept a question? Yes.

Is the bill today amended, or you plan to amend it after it leaves the floor?

earlier. Okay. I didn't get a chance to see the floor alert. So today I'm going to vote no, but obviously it'll come back for concurrence and hopefully have an opportunity to reconsider Thank you Seeing no further discussion or debate Senator Cortese would you like to close Thank you again Madam President

as a good minority leader just indicated and it should be reassert assurance to every one of you it would be to me as a voting member of the Senate were I not the author that obviously these amendments that we have put in print will be crossed but will also force a concurrence vote back here in the Senate It's possible that there could be additional changes in the Assembly. All of that will come back to a final vote here in this House. And again, with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Madam Presiding Officer. I am rising today to adjourn in memory of Joaquin Razo, who passed away on May 19th at the age of just 39. Joaquin was a proud Sacramento native. He embodied what it meant to live a life of service, doing more in his 39 years than most do with twice as much. He served more than a decade at the United Way Capital Region, most recently as chair of the board of directors, where he worked to reduce poverty through direct services and engagement with community organizations across the greater Sacramento region. Joaquin offered his time and his talents to volunteer at various organizations and nonprofits all around the greater Sacramento. area, including St. Ignatius, Loyola Church, USF Pride Alumni Board, Sacramento Metro Edge, and many, many more. In 2024, Joaquin was recognized as the Sacramento Metro Chamber's Young Professional of the Year for his work and his dedication to the broader community.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. Today I rise with sadness to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Douglas Whitmer Hershey, longstanding member of the Sacramento community. Doug was born on April 16, 1942 and raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Yale in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy. Doug would graduate from Cornell Medical School and complete his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southern California, and then would start his medical practice in Aspen, Colorado as a practicing gynecologist from 1971 to 1980. While he lived in Colorado, he learned to love the outdoors, the Rocky Mountains, and become an experienced climber, biker, and skier, hobbies and interests that he would pass down to his children. This would lead to many great climbing adventures, summiting mountains in the Pacific Northwest, on Mount Rainier, Nepal, even Denali, sometimes called Mount McKinley in Alaska. After almost a decade of practice in Colorado, Douglas decided to undertake a fellowship and two years of advanced training studying genetics at UCLA, just as major developments were being developed and prenatal diagnosis, fetal ultrasounds, those were all occurring. He participated in the introduction of molecular testing of fetal cells, new diagnostic techniques, and ever-improving ultrasound resolution of the unborn baby. He became a triple board certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology and both clinical genetics and cytogenetics, an uncommon accomplishment. It was at UCLA where he met his wife, physician and faculty member Bronwyn Bateman, and they would marry in 1991. Doug would then finally settle down in Sacramento in 1987 and would start his own clinical medical practice and genetics lab, practicing prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. Over the course of 30 years in five separate office locations Doug helped thousands of pregnant patients in the Sacramento area Doug Hershey passed away on July 18 2026 in his home watching the American River and surrounded by family after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He'll remember for his gentle spirit, his keen sense of humor, his insatiable love of chocolate, and his fanatical devotion to the Sacramento Kings. He was a loving father and caring husband. And on a personal note, I did not know Dr. Hershey, but I knew his son, and I know his son, and I know he must be a great man because I do know his son. Doug is survived by his wife, Jane Bronwyn Bateman, his twin sons, Reese and Walker, his grandchildren, Emery and Everett Hershey, his sister, Suzanne Hershey, his niece, Courtney Bress, and his nephew, Harley Bress. And today we're joined in the chamber by family members, including Walker Hershey, a member of my staff, and also Dr. Jane Bronwyn Bateman. Thank you, members, for honoring Dr. Hershey. We ask that you adjourn. We all adjourn in his memory.

And if there is no other business, Pro Tem Limon, the desk is clear.