CAN EVERYONE PLEASE TAKE THEIR
SEATS? GOOD AFTERNOON. WE WILL
BEGIN SHORTLY.
SO GOOD AFTERNOON. THE HOUR OF
NOON HAVING ARRIVED. AND
PURSUANT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THE
ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION FOR THE
20 2526 REGULAR SESSION OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY WILL BE
CALLED TO ORDER. I AM SUE
PARKER, THE ASSEMBLY CHIEF CLERK
PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNMENT CODE,
I WILL BE PRESIDING OVER THIS
PORTION OF THE SESSION. PLEASE
SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES AND
ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING
TODAY'S SESSION. ALSO, WE WILL
DEFER THE INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION OF A
SPEAKER. THE FIRST ORDER OF
BUSINESS IS THE ROLL CALL OF THE
ASSEMBLY. MEMBERS ELECT THE
CLERK WILL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
AT THIS AGUIAR-CURRY AARONS,
ALANIZ, ALVAREZ. ARAMBULA. AVILA.
FARIAS. BAINES. BAUER-KAHAN.
BENNETT. BERMAN. BERNER. BONTA.
BRIAN. CALDERON. CARDOZA.
CARRILLO. CASTILLO. CHEN.
CONNOLLY. DAVIES. DE MAYO. DIXON.
EL-HAWARY. EASILY. FLORA. FONG.
GABRIEL. GALLAGHER. GARCIA.
GIBSON. JEFF. GONZALEZ. MARK.
GONZALEZ. HARDWICK. HANEY.
HAIRABEDIAN. HEART. HOOVER.
IRWIN. JACKSON. CORRE. KRELL.
LACKEY. LEE. LOWENTHAL. MACEDO.
MCKENNA. MURATSUCHI. NGUYEN.
ORTEGA. PACHECO. PAPIN. PATEL.
PATTERSON. PELLERIN.
PETRIE-NORRIS. QUIRK-SILVA.
RAMOS. RANSOME. RIVAS. CELESTE.
RODRIGUEZ, MICHELLE. RODRIGUEZ.
ROGERS. RUBIO. SANCHEZ. SCHIAVO.
SCHULZ. SHARP. COLLINS. SOLIS.
SORIA, STEPHANIE. TO TAGHIPOUR.
VALENCIA. WALLACE. WARD. WICKS.
WILSON. ZUBER. A QUORUM IS
PRESENT. WITHOUT OBJECTION, A
REQUEST FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ELECT RIVAS TO SUSPEND ASSEMBLY
RULE 118 TO ALLOW GUESTS,
DESIGNATED STAFF AND
PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THE FLOOR,
SHALL BE GRANTED WITHOUT
OBJECTION, A REQUEST FROM
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ELECT AGUILAR
CURRY TO SUSPEND ASSEMBLY RULE
45.5 TO ALLOW HER AND ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ELECT ROGERS TO SPEAK ON
AN ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY. TODAY
SHALL BE GRANTED. WE ASK THE
MEMBERS ELECT AND GUESTS TO
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRAYER AND
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THE
AFTERNOON'S PRAYER WILL BE GIVEN
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER ELECT
RHODESIA RANSOME, REPRESENTING
THE 13TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ELECT RANSOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON. PLEASE CENTER
YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND JOIN
ME IN PRAYER. HEAVENLY FATHER,
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE
COME BEFORE YOU WITH GRATITUDE
FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE
PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR THE HEARTS OF THOSE
CALLED TO SERVE AND FOR THEIR
DEDICATION TO THE BETTERMENT OF
OUR STATE. LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU
BLESS EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY,
BOTH OLD AND NEW, WITH WISDOM TO
DISCERN COURAGE, TO ACT WITH
INTEGRITY AND STRENGTH, TO
PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF
CHALLENGES. GUARD. GUIDE OUR
DECISIONS AND GUARD OUR HEARTS
AND MINDS. KEEP US FOCUSED ON
THE WELL-BEING OF THOSE WE
REPRESENT. GRANT STRENGTH TO OUR
LEADERSHIP AS THEY GUIDE US
TOWARD SUCCESS AND HELP US
REMAIN JOYFUL AND STEADFAST IN
OUR SHARED PURPOSE. WE LIFT THE
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO SUPPORT
US, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR
UNWAVERING ENCOURAGEMENT,
PATIENCE, AND LOVE AS THEY WALK
ALONGSIDE US ON THIS JOURNEY.
BLESS THEM WITH PEACE, STRENGTH,
AND THE ASSURANCE THAT WE SEE
AND APPRECIATE THEIR SACRIFICES
AND CARE. WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE
MENTORS, STAFF AND COLLEAGUES
WHO EQUIP US TO LEAD WITH IMPACT
AND EFFECTIVENESS. MAY WE NEVER
TAKE THEIR EFFORTS FOR GRANTED,
AND MAY THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS BE A
TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF UNITY
AND SHARED PURPOSE. LORD, AS WE
TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES FACING
OUR STATE, INSTILL IN US A
SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND A
RESOLVE TO FIND MEANINGFUL
SOLUTIONS. SETTING ASIDE
DIVISIONS AND LABELS REMIND US
THAT NO TASK IS TOO GREAT WHEN
WE LOOK TO YOU. GIVE US THE
HUMILITY TO LISTEN, EMPATHY TO
UNDERSTAND, AND PERSEVERANCE TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES
OF THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO
SERVE. LET US NOT GROW WEARY IN
OUR WORK. GIVE US DAILY STRENGTH
AND PASSION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
OUR COMMUNITIES. AND FINALLY,
MAY THE WORK THAT WE DO AND ALL
THAT WE ACCOMPLISH BE ACCEPTABLE
IN YOUR SIGHT. AMEN. THANK YOU.
PLEASE CONTINUE STANDING FOR THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THE PLEDGE
WILL BE LED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ELECT PATRICK AHRENS OF THE 26TH
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER AHRENS, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. MEMBERS
AND GUESTS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. READY?
BEGIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR
WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PLEASE BE SEATED.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ELECT VINCE FONG
HAS INDICATED HE WILL NOT BE
TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 32. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ELECT MURATSUCHI IS
ABSENT AND WILL AND WILL BE
NOTED IN THE JOURNAL AND WILL
ALSO NOT BE TAKING THE OATH AT
THIS MOMENT. AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE ABSENCE WILL BE
PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL.
HELLO. THANK YOU.
THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS A
CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION FROM THE
SECRETARY OF STATE. THERE IS A
LETTER AT THE DESK FROM THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S CHIEF OF
ELECTIONS. AND A REPORT LISTING
THE CANDIDATES AND VOTE TOTALS
FOR EACH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE LETTER
SHALL BE DEEMED READ AND PRINTED
IN THE JOURNAL. WE WILL NOW MOVE
TO ADMINISTERING THE OATH OF
OFFICE TO THE ASSEMBLY. MEMBERS
ELECT. THE PROCESS FOR
ADMINISTERING THE OATH IS
REFERRED TO AS ROLE BY COUNTIES.
IT'S A PROCESS THAT DATES BACK
TO 1852. THE READING CLERK WILL
READ A LIST OF ALL 58 COUNTIES
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ELECT,
REPRESENTING THAT COUNTY OR
COUNTIES SHOULD STAND AND REMAIN
STANDING UNTIL THE ROLL IS
COMPLETED. THE CLERK WILL NOW
CALL THE ROLL BY. COUNTIES.
ALAMEDA. ALPINE. AMADOR. BUTTE.
CALAVERAS. COLUSA. CONTRA COSTA.
DEL NORTE. EL DORADO FRESNO.
GLENN. HUMBOLDT. IMPERIAL. INYO.
KERN. KINGS LAKE. LASSEN. LOS
ANGELES. MADERA. MARIN. MARIPOSA.
MENDOCINO. MERCED. MODOC. MONO.
MONTEREY. NAPA, NEVADA. ORANGE.
PLACER. PLUMAS. RIVERSIDE.
SACRAMENTO. SAN BENITO. SAN
BERNARDINO. SAN DIEGO. SAN
FRANCISCO. SAN JOAQUIN, SAN LUIS
OBISPO, SAN MATEO, SANTA
BARBARA, SANTA CLARA. SANTA CRUZ.
SHASTA, SIERRA. SISKIYOU. SOLANO,
SONOMA, STANISLAUS. SUTTER.
TEHAMA. TRINITY. TULARE.
TUOLUMNE. VENTURA. YOLO. YUBA.
THE OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE
ADMINISTERED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO
ALL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ELECT BY ME.
SO MEMBERS ELECT FOR THE OFFICE
OF MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. RAISE
YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER
ME. I STATE YOUR NAME. DO
SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND
DEFEND. SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES. CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. CONSTITUTION AGAINST
ALL ENEMIES. FOREIGN AND
DOMESTIC. AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. THAT I
WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND
ALLEGIANCE. TRUE FAITH AND
ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES. THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND I
TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY.
TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY,
WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION
OR PURPOSE OF EVASION. OR
PURPOSE OF EVASION. AND THAT I
WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. UPON WHICH
I'M ABOUT TO ENTER.
CONGRATULATIONS, MEMBERS. CHIEF
JUSTICE IS.
VIDAK.
MEMBERS. MEMBERS, PLEASE SIGN
THE OATHS THAT WERE JUST PASSED
OUT TO YOU AND LEAVE THEM IN THE
FOLDERS THAT ARE ON YOUR DESK.
WE WILL COLLECT THEM UPON
ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION. SO ONCE
AGAIN, PLEASE SIGN THE OATH THAT
WERE JUST DISTRIBUTED AND HANDED
OUT TO YOU AND THEN LEAVE THEM
IN THE GREEN FOLDERS ON YOUR
DESK AND WE WILL PICK THEM UP
AFTER SESSION.
THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS. THE
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF THE
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE
20 2526 REGULAR SESSION. MEMBERS
GIVING THE NOMINATING AND
SECONDING SPEECHES SHOULD RAISE
THEIR MICROPHONES AT THIS TIME.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER SORIA, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. I RISE
TODAY TO PROUDLY NOMINATE ROBERT
RIVAS AS SPEAKER FOR THE 2025
2026 REGULAR SESSION. ROBERT'S
STORY REFLECTS THE VERY BEST OF
CALIFORNIA. HE WAS RAISED IN A
SMALL AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY BY
A SINGLE MOM AND GRANDPARENTS,
WHO WERE FARM WORKERS WHO DID
NOT HAVE A LOT FINANCIALLY, BUT
WORKED HARD AND BELIEVED IN THE
CALIFORNIA DREAM. HIS STORY IS
THE STORY OF MANY OF US HERE ON
THE FLOOR AND THE STORY OF
FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE. IT IS
NO WONDER WHY, WHEN I FIRST MET
HIM, WE HAD AN INSTANT
CONNECTION AND I WAS EXCITED
THAT WE WOULD FINALLY, 25 YEARS
LATER, AGAIN, HAVE A SPEAKER
FROM A RURAL PART OF THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA REPRESENTING
REGIONS THAT HISTORICALLY HAD
BEEN UNDERSERVED AND OVERLOOKED.
HIS TRACK RECORD OF ADVOCATING
FOR HIS COMMUNITY AND HIS
ABILITY TO BUILD BROAD
COALITIONS PROVED TO ME THAT NOT
ONLY WAS HE THE RIGHT PERSON TO
LEAD THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY, BUT
HE HAD WHAT IT TOOK TO LEAD US
WITH PURPOSE, CONVICTION, AND
INTEGRITY. I SAW HIS LEADERSHIP
FIRSTHAND WHEN HE HELPED ENSURE
THE PASSAGE OF THE DISTRESSED
HOSPITAL LOAN PROGRAM TO SAVE
HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE,
INCLUDING MADERA COMMUNITY
HOSPITAL, OR WHEN WE WORKED
TOGETHER TO SECURE, SECURE $40
MILLION TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY
RELIEF TO FARMWORKER COMMUNITIES
IMPACTED BY FLOODING THAT
OTHERWISE WOULD NOT GET ANY
FEDERAL RELIEF MONEY BECAUSE OF
THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. HE DID
ALL OF THIS AND MORE WITHOUT
EXPECTING ANY RECOGNITION. HE
DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO. IN HIS FIRST TERM
AS SPEAKER, HE EARNED OUR TRUST
AND PROVED HIMSELF TO BE A
LEADER THAT LISTENS, KNOWS HOW
TO COMPROMISE, AND WHO CAN BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE AND FROM ALL
CORNERS OF OUR STATE TO MOVE
CALIFORNIA FORWARD. HE DID NOT
SHY AWAY FROM SOLVING TOUGH
ISSUES FOR EXAMPLE, MAKING SURE
THAT THIS BODY PASSED BOTH A
BIPARTISAN RETAIL THEFT PACKAGE
AND A BIPARTISAN CLIMATE BOND
THAT INCLUDED INVESTMENTS FOR
AG. AND HE MADE SURE DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE NOT ONLY
BALANCE THE BUDGET, BUT WE
PROTECTED CRITICAL INVESTMENTS
THAT WERE A PRIORITY TO THIS
BODY. HE DOESN'T BACK DOWN AND
ALWAYS HAS OUR BACK. NOW, MORE
THAN EVER, WE MUST BE LASER
FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE OUR
FAMILIES CAN ACHIEVE THE
AMERICAN, THE CALIFORNIA DREAM
AND THE AMERICAN DREAM. THIS IS
WHY WE NEED STRONG AND
PRINCIPLED AND A PRINCIPLED
LEADER THAT HAS PROVED HE WILL
DO THE WORK TO FIND COMMON SENSE
SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT IS
MAKING IT TOUGH TO ACHIEVE THAT.
CALIFORNIA DREAM. BUT WE ALSO
NEED SOMEONE THAT WILL NOT
HESITATE TO PUT UP A FIGHT WHEN
WE NEED IT. I KNOW ROBERT WILL
NOT HESITATE WHEN IT COMES TO
OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, OUR
LGBTQ BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND
OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
I BELIEVE ROBERT EMBODIES THE
VALUES, VISION, AND LEADERSHIP
WE NEED TODAY, ESPECIALLY WITH
CHANGES IN WASHINGTON THAT WILL
PUT TO TEST OUR SHARED
CALIFORNIA VALUES. AND FOR THESE
REASONS, I NOMINATE MY FRIEND
AND TEAMMATE ROBERT RIVAS TO
LEAD US AND CONTINUE TO SERVE AS
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY. I ASK
FOR YOUR AYE AVOID TODAY. YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER SORIA, IS THERE
A SECOND ASSEMBLY MEMBER?
JACKSON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
SECOND THE NOMINATION. MADAM
CLERK, I RISE TO SECOND THIS
NOMINATION. ROBERT RIVAS IS THE
RIGHT LEADER FOR SUCH A TIME AS
THIS. A TIME WHEN CALIFORNIA
FACES MULTIPLE ISSUES AT THE
SAME TIME. A TIME WHEN FAR TOO
MANY CALIFORNIA'S CALIFORNIANS
ARE IN SURVIVAL MODE. A TIME
WHEN FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL NOT
DO BETTER THAN THEIR PARENTS FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, THIS IS A TIME WHEN
THIS BODY, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE,
IS IN NEED OF A THOUGHTFUL
LEADER, A LEADER WHO IS A GREAT
LISTENER, A LEADER WITH VISION,
AND IS CLEAR EYED ON THE
DIRECTION THIS STATE NEEDS TO GO,
AND A LEADER WHO CAN NAVIGATE
THE MULTIPLE TYPE A
PERSONALITIES ON THIS FLOOR WHO
ALL THINK THEIR ANSWER IS THE
RIGHT ANSWER, SUCH AS MYSELF.
MR. SPEAKER, I'M ALWAYS RIGHT,
BUT YET CAN UNITE US FOR A
COMMON PURPOSE. THAT LEADER IS
ROBERT RIVAS, ALREADY WITH ONLY
JUST OVER A YEAR AS OUR SPEAKER,
HE HAS RETURNED THE ASSEMBLY TO
HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS A CO-EQUAL
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT IN
CALIFORNIA, BECAUSE HE
UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR DEMOCRACY
SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK TO ITS
FULLEST POTENTIAL UNLESS ALL OF
OUR INSTITUTIONS FULFILL ITS
FULL CONSTITUTIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY OF CHECKS AND
BALANCES. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
MR. RIVAS IS LASER FOCUSED ON
THE ISSUES FACING EVERYDAY
CALIFORNIANS WHO MAKE THIS STATE
A GLOBAL LEADER. THROUGHOUT MY
FIRST TERM, WHETHER IT'S BEEN
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, POLICY
DEBATES, FLOOR VOTES, OR ANY
NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT COME
BEFORE US, ROBERT HAS SHOWN THE
HUMILITY AND LEADERSHIP ONLY
RESERVED FOR A FEW WHO HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO SERVE THIS BODY AS ITS
SPEAKER. THEREFORE, I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE LEADERSHIP OF Ã.
SPEAKER RIVAS, AS OUR COUNTRY
CONTINUES TO BE DIVIDED, BECAUSE
I BELIEVE OUR NATION'S CITIZENS
WILL BE LOOKING TOWARDS THEIR
OWN STATE CAPITOLS FOR
ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP ASSISTANCE
AND PROTECTION. WHICH IS WHY
THIS NOMINATION IS SO IMPORTANT.
ROBERT RIVAS UNDERSTANDS THAT
CALIFORNIA IS A PLACE WHERE WE
PUSH FOR THE EQUALITY, FOR EQUAL
PROTECTION OF ALL PEOPLE, WHERE
WE LOOK TO REPAIR THE WRONGS OF
OUR PAST. THAT WE TEACH ALL OF
OUR HISTORY, AND WE STAND UP AND
GET IN THE WAY EVERY TIME ANYONE
USES THE DARK FORCES OF POLITICS
TO DELAY THE ARC OF JUSTICE. IT
IS WITH THIS CONVICTION THAT I'M
PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY TO
SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF ROBERT
RIVAS, TO CONTINUE SERVING AS
THE LEADER OF ONE OF THE MOST
DIVERSE AND DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTIONS, NOT JUST IN THIS
COUNTRY, BUT IN THE WORLD. THANK
YOU, MADAM CLERK. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JACKSON,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PATEL, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SECOND THE
NOMINATION. THANK YOU, MADAM
CLERK. TODAY I RISE TO SECOND
THE MOTION PRESENTED BY MY
COLLEAGUE FROM MERCED IN SUPPORT
OF MY COLLEAGUE FROM SALINAS,
ROBERT RIVAS, AS SPEAKER OF THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE, OUR CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSEMBLY. OVER THE PAST
YEAR, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
GETTING TO KNOW ROBERT RIVAS.
I'VE WITNESSED HIS THOUGHTFUL,
STRATEGIC, AND COMPASSIONATE
APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE
DIVERSE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE STATE. HE EMBODIES
THE QUALITIES OF A UNIFYING
LEADER, THE LEADER WE NEED AS WE
FACE BUDGETARY CHALLENGES HERE
IN SACRAMENTO AND ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES IN OUR OWN DISTRICTS.
I'VE SAT BESIDE HIM IN MEETINGS
IN MY COMMUNITY AND SEEING HOW
HE SKILLFULLY BRINGS TOGETHER
PEOPLE ON OPPOSING SIDES OF AN
ISSUE, ALL WHILE REMAINING
STEADFAST IN UPHOLDING OUR
SHARED DEMOCRATIC VALUES. WHILE
I MAY BE NEW TO MY ROLE HERE,
I'M NOT NEW TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
LIKE MY COLLEAGUE FROM SALINAS,
I SERVED IN LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT BEFORE WALKING IN
THESE HALLOWED HALLS, OVERCOMING
PERSONAL HARDSHIPS AND
DELIVERING RESULTS FOR THOSE IN
NEED. THOSE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF
A GREAT LEADER. MY COLLEAGUE NOT
ONLY BRINGS THE EXPERIENCE AND
PERSPECTIVE REQUIRED TO LEAD
THIS BODY THROUGH COMPLEX POLICY
DECISIONS, BUT HE ALSO
DEMONSTRATES THE CHARACTER AND
MINDSET TO DO SO WITH GRACE. THE
PEOPLE OF THE 76TH ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT HAVE ENTRUSTED ME WITH
THE HONOR OF SERVING THEM, AND I
SEEK A LEADER WHO WILL EMPOWER
ME TO FULFILL THAT
RESPONSIBILITY. I'M CONFIDENT
THAT HE WILL EMPOWER ALL OF US
TO CRAFT HIGH QUALITY
LEGISLATION AND ENSURE THAT THE
POLICIES WE ADVANCE IN THIS BODY
ARE WELL RESOURCED FOR EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION. WITH OUR
COLLEAGUE ROBERT RIVAS, AS
SPEAKER, I BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER
WE CAN ACHIEVE MORE REACH
FURTHER AND SERVE BETTER FOR
THESE STATED REASONS AND MORE, I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU TO JOIN
ME IN SUPPORTING THE NOMINATION
OF ROBERT RIVAS AS SPEAKER OF
OUR ASSEMBLY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER PATEL,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BERMAN, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR SECOND. I
RISE TO SECOND. THE NOMINATION
OF ROBERT RIVAS TO SERVE AS
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE
2025 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING
WITH SPEAKER RIVAS SINCE HE WAS
FIRST ELECTED TO THE ASSEMBLY
SIX YEARS AGO, AND I AND I, AND
AS I HAVE WATCHED HIM INTERACT
WITH HIS COLLEAGUES, FIRST AS A
PEER AND LATELY AS A LEADER,
I'VE COME TO APPRECIATE HIS
LEADERSHIP STYLE MORE AND MORE.
I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN SPEAKER
RIVAS PUT THE GOOD OF HIS CAUCUS
AND THE GOOD OF THIS ASSEMBLY
AHEAD OF HIS OWN PERSONAL
SELF-INTEREST. I HAVE SEEN HIM
SEEK COMPROMISE AND CONSENSUS
WHEN HE NO LONGER NEEDED TO,
BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT WOULD BE
BETTER FOR THE GREATER GOOD. I
HAVE SEEN HIM LEAN IN DURING
DIFFICULT AND PASSIONATE POLICY
DEBATES, BRINGING OPPOSING SIDES
TOGETHER TO FIND COMMON GROUND
AND COME TO AGREEMENT ON A PATH
FORWARD. SPEAKER RIVAS HAS MADE
IT A PRIORITY TO DEVELOP
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF HIS
COLLEAGUES FROM BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE AND LOOK FOR
BIPARTISAN OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SUCCESS. IN AN ERA WHEN SO MANY
ARE MORE INTERESTED IN SOCIAL
MEDIA STARDOM THAN THEY ARE
SUBSTANTIVE SUCCESS FOR THEIR
CONSTITUENTS. SPEAKER RIVAS IS
FOCUSED ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS
IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL
CALIFORNIANS. HE DOESN'T MEASURE
SUCCESS BY THE NUMBER OF
FOLLOWERS HE HAS OR RETWEETS. HE
GETS, BUT BY THE NUMBER OF
HOUSES WE BUILD AND PEOPLE WE
HELP, YOU WON'T SEE HIM GETTING
THE QUOTE OF THE DAY FOR A HOT
TAKE ON A PARTIZAN ISSUE THAT
EVERYONE WILL FORGET ABOUT
TOMORROW YOU WILL SEE A MEETING
WITH FARM WORKERS AND TEACHERS
AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
SEEKING OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN
IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. I'M
ENTERING MY NINTH YEAR IN THE
ASSEMBLY. ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M
ONE OF THE OLD TIMERS. I'VE SEEN
THE FLASHY EFFORTS THAT GET ALL
THE ATTENTION BUT QUICKLY FIZZLE
OUT, AND I'VE SEEN THE WORK THAT
HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT
GETS VERY LITTLE ATTENTION, BUT
THAT MAKES A REAL AND POSITIVE
DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SPEAKER RIVAS IS FOCUSED ON
SUBSTANCE, ON RAISING PEOPLE UP,
AND IT IS MY HONOR TO SUPPORT
HIS NOMINATION TO CONTINUE BEING
OUR SPEAKER. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BERMAN ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE
OFFICE OF SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY? ASSEMBLY MEMBER
LACKEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU. MA'AM. MEMBERS. WE'RE
LIVING IN A VERY EXCITING AND
UNIQUE PERIOD OF TIME. DO WE
HAVE THE COURAGE TO GIVE A
UNIQUE VOICE TO UNITY BY
CONSIDERING LEADERSHIP FROM A
MEMBER OF THE SUPER MINORITY
COLLEAGUES, I RISE TO NOMINATE A
SPEAKER, A LEADER WHO EMBODIES
THE PRINCIPLES AND VISION OUR
STATE IS ABSOLUTELY CRYING FOR
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, REPUBLICAN
LEADER JAMES GALLAGHER.
CALIFORNIA IS AT A CROSSROADS.
WE FACE UNPRECEDENTED ISSUES
THAT DEMAND NOT JUST ANY
LEADERSHIP, BUT COURAGEOUS,
PRINCIPLED AND VISIONARY
LEADERSHIP. I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT
ASSEMBLY GALLAGHER IS THAT
LEADER IN THIS CHAMBER.
LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE MEASURED BY
OUTCOMES, AND LEADER GALLAGHER
HAS DELIVERED TIME AND TIME
AGAIN WITH OUTCOMES WHEN IT
COMES TO PROTECTING PUBLIC
SAFETY. LEADER GALLAGHER HAS
BEEN A RELENTLESS ADVOCATE FOR
COMMON SENSE REFORMS THAT KEEPS
OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE. WHILE ALSO
ENSURING THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED.
HE HAS STOOD UP TO EFFORTS TO
SABOTAGE PROP 36 BY DEFENDING
THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND THE
CRITICAL REFORMS. IT ABSOLUTELY
REPRESENTS. LEADER GALLAGHER
UNDERSTANDS THAT REAL PUBLIC
SAFETY IS REQUIRED. ACTUALLY,
EXCUSE ME, REQUIRES A BALANCED
APPROACH, ONE THAT HOLDS
CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE WHILE
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES AND
REDUCING RECIDIVISM. LEADER
GALLAGHER HAS ALSO STOOD AS A
STEADFAST DEFENDER OF THE
BALANCE OF POWER IN OUR STATE. I
KNOW THAT'S HARD TO THINK OF
BALANCE WHEN THERE'S A
SUPERMAJORITY IN THE FACE OF
EXECUTIVE OUTREACH. HE'S FOUGHT
TO RESTORE THE LEGISLATURE'S
ROLE AS A CO-EQUAL, AGAIN
CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT,
NOT A RUBBER STAMP FOR THE
GOVERNOR'S EDICTS. SORRY, SIR. I
KNOW YOU'RE BACK THERE. WHEN IT
WAS PUSHING BACK AGAINST
UNILATERAL MANDATES OR DEMANDING
ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE
GOVERNOR. LEADER GALLAGHER HAS
PROVEN HE WILL FIGHT FOR THE
RIGHTS OF EVERY CALIFORNIAN.
LEADER GALLAGHER HAS LED THE
FIGHT TO BRING DOWN THE COSTS
THAT ARE CRUSHING WORKING
FAMILIES IN THIS GREAT STATE.
FROM ADDRESSING THE HOUSING
CRISIS TO BRINGING DOWN GAS AND
UTILITY PRICES, TO REDUCING
TAXES AND FEES. LEADER GALLAGHER
UNDERSTANDS THAT GOVERNMENT
SHOULD ENCOURAGE OPPORTUNITY,
NOT STAND IN THE WAY. HE'S
CONSISTENTLY EVOLVED, I'M SORRY,
ADVANCED SOLUTIONS TO EASE THE
FINANCIAL BURDENS ON
CALIFORNIANS AND ENSURE THAT
PROSPERITY IS WITHIN REACH FOR
ALL OF US. GOOD GOVERNMENT
REFORMS ARE ANOTHER HALLMARK OF
LEADER GALLAGHER'S LEADERSHIP.
HE'S ADVOCATED FOR GREATER
TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ON HOW WE GOVERN.
HE KNOWS THAT TRUST IN
GOVERNMENT MUST BE EARNED, AND
HE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO
ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE
SPENT WISELY AND ETHICALLY.
LEADER GALLAGHER'S LEADERSHIP
WAS TESTED DURING AND AFTER THE
CAMPFIRE, ONE OF THE MOST
DEVASTATING WILDFIRES IN
CALIFORNIA HISTORY. IN THE FACE
OF UNIMAGINABLE LOSS AND
DESTRUCTION, HE ROSE TO THAT
OCCASION, OFFERING STEADY
LEADERSHIP, COMPASSION AND
UNWAVERING ADVOCACY FOR HIS
CONSTITUENTS. HE FOUGHT
TIRELESSLY FOR RESOURCES TO
REBUILD HOMES, INFRASTRUCTURE
AND LIVELIHOODS. LEADER
GALLAGHER'S STRENGTH AND EMPATHY
DURING THIS CRISIS ARE A
TESTAMENT TO HIS CHARACTER AND
DEDICATION TO THE PEOPLE HE
SERVES. COLLEAGUES. LEADERSHIP
REQUIRES BOLD ACTION, PRINCIPLED
VISION AND A RELENTLESS
COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE
SERVE AND I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT
LEADER GALLAGHER HOLDS ALL THOSE
QUALITIES. HE HAS DELIVERED
RESULTS FOR OUR CAUCUS AND FOR
ALL CALIFORNIANS. HE'S READY TO
LEAD US FORWARD IN THIS CRITICAL
MOMENT. IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE
THAT I NOMINATE OUR REPUBLICAN
LEADER, JAMES GALLAGHER, FOR
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND I
ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER
SENDING A SHOCKING, UNIFYING
MESSAGE TO CALIFORNIANS THAT
EVEN A SUPER MINORITY MEMBER
DESERVES A CHANCE TO LEAD THIS
DISTINGUISHED BODY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
LACKEY, IS THERE A SECOND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, FLORA, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED TO SECOND THE
NOMINATION. THANK YOU. MADAM, I
RISE AND SIMPLY TO SUPPORT OUR
FRIEND, OUR REPUBLICAN LEADER,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JAMES GALLAGHER.
FOR SPEAKER OF THIS BODY. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER FLORA, ARE
THERE FURTHER NOMINATIONS?
HEARING NONE. NOMINATIONS ARE
CLOSED FOR THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER
OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE LONG
STANDING CUSTOM AND PRACTICE OF
THE HOUSE IS TO CONDUCT AN ORAL
ROLL CALL. VOTE FOR THE OFFICE
OF SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY. I
WILL DIRECT THE READING CLERK TO
CALL THE ROLL, AND WHEN YOUR
NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE SIGNIFY
BY LOUDLY SAYING THE NAME OF THE
MEMBER YOU ARE VOTING FOR AS
SPEAKER. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE
ROLL FOR THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER.
ADDIS. ADDIS RIVAS AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY RIVAS ARENS RIVAS
AARONS RIVAS ALANIS ALANIS
GALLAGHER ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ RIVAS
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA RIVAS AVILA
FARIAS, AVILA. FARIAS, RIVAS
BAINES, BAINES RIVAS BAUER-KAHAN
BAUER-KAHAN. RIVAS. BENNETT.
BENNETT RIVAS BERMAN. BERMAN
RIVAS. BURNER. BURNER RIVAS.
BONTA. BONTA. RIVAS BRIAN. BRIAN
RIVAS. CALDERON. CALDERON RIVAS
CARDOZA. KALUZA. RIVAS. CARRILLO.
CARILLO. RIVAS. CASTILLO.
CASTILLO. GALLAGHER. CHEN.
GALLAGHER. CHIN. GALLAGHER.
CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY. RIVAS DAVIES.
DAVIES. GALLAGHER. DIMAIO.
DIMAIO. GALLAGHER. DIXON. DIXON.
GALLAGHER. EL. HARARI. EL.
HARARI. RIVAS. ISOLE. EASILY.
GALLAGHER. FLORA. FLORA.
GALLAGHER. FONG. FONG. RIVAS.
GABRIEL. GABRIEL. RIVAS.
GALLAGHER. GALLAGHER. GALLAGHER.
GALLAGHER. GARCIA. GARCIA.
RIVAS. GIBSON, ROBERT. RIVAS.
GIBSON. RIVAS. JEFF. GONZALEZ,
JAMES. GALLAGHER, JEFF.
GONZALEZ. GALLAGHER, MARK.
GONZALEZ, MARK. GONZALEZ RIVAS.
HARDWICK. HARDWICK. GALLAGHER.
HANEY. HANEY. RIVAS. HAIRABEDIAN.
HAIRABEDIAN. RIVAS. HART. HART.
RIVAS. HOOVER. HOOVER.
GALLAGHER. IRWIN. IRWIN. RIVAS.
JACKSON. JACKSON. RIVAS. CORRE.
CORRE. RIVAS. KRELL. KRELL.
RIVAS. LACKEY. RESPECTFULLY.
JAMES GALLAGHER. LACKEY.
GALLAGHER. LEE. LEE. RIVAS
LOWENTHAL. LOWENTHAL. RIVAS
MACEDO. GALLAGHER. MACEDO.
GALLAGHER. MCKENNA. MCKENNA.
RIVAS. MURATSUCHI. MURATSUCHI.
HIÆN. WEN. RIVAS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA.
RIVAS. PACHECO. PACHECO. RIVAS.
PAPIN. PAPIN. RIVAS PATEL. PATEL.
RIVAS. PATTERSON. PATTERSON.
GALLAGHER. PELLERIN. PELLERIN.
RIVAS. PETRIE-NORRIS.
PETRIE-NORRIS. RIVAS.
QUIRK-SILVA. QUIRK-SILVA. RIVAS.
RAMOS. RAMOS. RIVAS. RANSOM.
RANSOM. RIVAS. RIVAS. RIVAS.
RIVAS. CELESTE. RODRIGUEZ.
CELESTE. RODRIGUEZ. RIVAS.
MICHELLE. RODRIGUEZ, MICHELLE.
RODRIGUEZ. RIVAS. ROGERS. ROGERS.
RIVAS. RUBIO. RUBIO. RIVAS.
SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ. GALLAGHER.
SCHIAVO. SCHIAVO. RIVAS. SCHULTZ.
RIVAS. SCHULTZ. RIVAS. SHARP.
COLLINS. SHARP. COLLINS. RIVAS.
SALAS. ROBERT RIVAS. SALAS.
RIVAS. SORIA. SORIA. RIVAS.
STEPHANIE. STEPHANIE. RIVAS TO.
TO. GALLAGHER. TAGHIPOUR.
TAGHIPOUR. GALLAGHER. VALENCIA.
VALENCIA. RIVAS WALLACE. WALLACE.
GALLAGHER. WARD. WARD. RIVAS
WICKS. WICKS. RIVAS WILSON.
WILSON. RIVAS. ZUBIATE. ZUBER.
RIVAS. THE ROLL IS NOW CLOSED.
THE CLERK HAS TALLIED THE VOTE
FOR ROBERT RIVAS, 59 VOTES FOR
JAMES GALLAGHER. 19 VOTES.
ROBERT RIVAS IS ELECTED SPEAKER
FOR THE 20 2526 SESSION.
CONGRATULATIONS. SPEAKER RIVAS
I'M APPOINTING THE FOLLOWING
MEMBERS TO ESCORT SPEAKER ELECT
RIVAS ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY TO
THE ROSTRUM FOR THE OATH OF
OFFICE. PLEASE RETIRE TO THE
REAR OF THE CHAMBER AS YOUR NAME
IS CALLED. ASSEMBLY MEMBERS MARK
GONZALEZ SHARPE COLLINS, CARLOS
SOLIS. EL-HAWARY AND CHADWICK.
I ASKED THE CHIEF JUSTICE
GUERRERO TO STEP FORWARD TO
ADMINISTER THE OATH.
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, PLEASE
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU
SOLEMNLY SWEAR I WILL SUPPORT
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES,
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I
WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND
ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THAT YOU TAKE THIS
OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY
MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF
EVASION, AND THAT YOU WILL WELL
AND FAITHFULLY SERVE THE DUTY
UPON WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO
ENTER. IF SO, PLEASE CONFIRM
YOUR OATH BY STATING, I DO.
CONGRATULATIONS.
AND. WELL, WELCOME EVERYBODY.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE WITH
YOU ALL. AND I WANT TO WELCOME
THE MANY LEADERS AND THE
DIGNITARIES THAT ARE HERE WITH
US TODAY, BEGINNING WITH OUR
GOVERNOR, MR. GAVIN NEWSOM. OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL, ROB BONTA. OUR
SECRETARY OF STATE, SHIRLEY
WEBER. OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, MR. TONY
THURMOND. WE HAVE TREASURER
FIONA MA. AND STATE COMPTROLLER
MALIA COHEN. ALSO WITH US ARE A
COUPLE OF FORMER SPEAKERS, MR.
JOHN PEREZ. AND I KNOW ANTONIO
VILLARAIGOSA IS HERE AS WELL. WE
HAVE A COUPLE FORMER MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, MISS CONNIE CONWAY.
AND OF COURSE, MY OWN MEMBER OF
CONGRESS. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,
MR. SAM FARR, FORMER MEMBER OF
THIS INSTITUTION. AND WE ALSO
HAVE SO MANY FORMER MEMBERS OF
THIS BODY OF THIS ASSEMBLY. WE
HAVE MAYORS FROM THROUGHOUT OUR
STATE, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
CERTAINLY, WE ARE ALL VERY
HONORED THAT YOU ARE HERE. SO
THANK YOU. AND COLLEAGUES, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND FOR YOUR
FAITH IN ME. LAST YEAR IT WAS MY
DEEP HONOR TO UNDERTAKE THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF SPEAKER OF
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY.
AND NOW, AS THEN, I AM FILLED
WITH GRATITUDE, WITH PRIDE. AND
I'M PROUD OF PROUD TO LEAD AN
ASSEMBLY THAT IS THE MOST
DIVERSE LEGISLATIVE BODY IN
AMERICA. WE'RE DIVERSE IN OUR
IDEAS, OUR PRIORITIES, AND IN
OUR LIVED EXPERIENCES. I'M PROUD
THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE CLASS
BOASTS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF
WOMEN LEGISLATORS IN THE HISTORY
OF OUR STATE.
AND I'M PROUD TO SEE SO MANY
FAMILIAR FACES HERE TODAY. TO
ALL OUR INCUMBENTS. WELCOME
BACK. BREAK IS NEVER AS LONG AS
WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE, BUT
WELCOME BACK. IT IS ALWAYS AN
HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU AND
CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AGAIN AND
JOINING US THIS SESSION. THERE
ARE 23 NEW ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, SO
PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING THEM A
VERY, VERY WARM WELCOME TO THIS
ASSEMBLY. I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR WONDERFUL
FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN AND LOVED
ONES HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.
EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND TO MY OWN
FAMILY, MY WIFE, MY KIDS, MY
MOM. THANK YOU ALL. EVERY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER OWES A GREAT
DEBT TO OUR FAMILIES, A GREAT
DEBT FOR THEIR CARE, THEIR
PATIENCE, THEIR SACRIFICE, AND
FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU. WE COULDN'T DO
THIS JOB WITHOUT YOU. MY
COLLEAGUES, OUR CONSTITUENTS,
TOLD US TWO VERY IMPORTANT
THINGS IN NOVEMBER. FIRST, THEY
CONTINUE TO BELIEVE DEEPLY IN
CALIFORNIA'S VALUES OF
TOLERANCE, OF EQUALITY AND OF
HUMAN RIGHTS BY ENSHRINING
ABORTION RIGHTS IN OUR LAST
ELECTION AND SAME SEX MARRIAGE
IN THIS ONE. BUT SECOND, SECOND,
OUR CONSTITUENTS, THEY DON'T
FEEL THAT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA IS WORKING FOR THEM.
THAT'S THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE IN
THIS MOMENT. CALIFORNIANS ARE
DEEPLY ANXIOUS. THEY'RE ANXIOUS
ABOUT OUR STATE'S COST OF
LIVING. THEY'RE ANXIOUS ABOUT
THE CHALLENGES OF DOING BUSINESS
HERE. AND THEY'RE ANXIOUS
BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT. THEY FEEL
IT AT THE GROCERY STORE WHEN
THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR BILLS.
THEY FEEL IT EVERY TIME THEY
FILL UP THEIR GAS TANK FOR THEIR
LONG COMMUTES FROM WORK TO HOME.
AND THEY ABSOLUTELY FEEL IT WHEN
TRYING TO IMAGINE BUYING AND
OWNING A HOME RIGHT HERE IN THE
STATE THAT THEY LOVE. SO OUR
TASK THIS SESSION IS URGENT AND
IT'S CLEAR WE MUST CHART A NEW
PATH FORWARD AND RENEW THE
CALIFORNIA DREAM BY FOCUSING ON
AFFORDABILITY. LET'S NOT FORGET
THAT CALIFORNIA IS UNLIKE
ANYWHERE ELSE WE ARE AND ALWAYS
WILL BE. AMERICA'S DESTINATION
FOR DREAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S CALIFORNIA WE EMBODY THE
SPIRIT OF POSSIBILITY, OF
RESILIENCY AND OF INNOVATION.
THAT'S WHY 1 IN 8 AMERICANS, 1
IN 8, CALLS CALIFORNIA HOME.
IT'S WHY WE HAVE ONE OF THE
WORLD'S LARGEST AND STRONGEST
ECONOMIES. IT'S WHY THE GREATEST
TALENTS, THE BIGGEST THINKERS,
MAKE THEIR HOMES AND BUILD THEIR
BUSINESSES RIGHT HERE. IT'S WHY
MY OWN FAMILY IS WRITING OUR
STORY HERE IN CALIFORNIA. MOST
OF YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN
FARMWORKER HOUSING, RAISED BY MY
MOM, WHO WAS A SINGLE PARENT,
AND MY GRANDPARENTS. THEY WORKED
THE FIELDS IN A CANNERY TO MAKE
ENDS MEET. THE ANXIETY THAT MANY
CALIFORNIANS ARE FEELING RIGHT
NOW ASKING THEMSELVES, CAN I PAY
THE RENT NEXT MONTH? DO I HAVE
TO CUT BACK ON GROCERIES? CAN I
AFFORD TO PAY MY ELECTRIC BILL?
I KNOW THAT ANXIOUS FEELING
BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER IT IN THE
PIT OF MY STOMACH FROM MY OWN
CHILDHOOD GROWING UP IN PISCINES,
AND THERE ARE OTHERS IN THIS
ROOM WHO I KNOW REMEMBER THAT
FEELING TOO. CALIFORNIA WILL
ALWAYS BE A PLACE OF
OPPORTUNITY. ALWAYS. BUT THAT
OPPORTUNITY, IT MUST SHINE
EQUALLY FOR EVERYONE IN EVERY
CORNER OF THIS GREAT STATE. AND
FOR CALIFORNIANS LIKE JONATHAN
LAMB, WHO RUNS PEGASUS BAKERY IN
SOUTH SACRAMENTO WITH HIS WIFE
CYNTHIA, WHO I BELIEVE ARE HERE
TODAY IN THE GALLERY THAT THAT
OPPORTUNITY, THAT OPPORTUNITY
CAN FEEL OUT OF REACH. THEY WORK
TIRELESSLY TO KEEP PRICES
AFFORDABLE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS,
EVEN AS THE COST OF DOING
BUSINESS, EVEN AS THE ESSENTIAL
BAKING INGREDIENTS THAT THEY
NEED, CONTINUES TO RISE. IT'S
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE
JONATHAN AND CYNTHIA WHO NEED
OUR SUPPORT. IT'S CALIFORNIANS,
IT'S CALIFORNIANS LIKE SALVADOR
AND OFELIA SANCHEZ, FARMWORKERS
FROM THE CENTRAL COAST WHO SPENT
DECADES IN THE FIELDS BEFORE
BECOMING SCHOOL JANITORS. NOW
THEY'RE IN THEIR 70S, AND THEY
FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO AFFORD
THE COST OF HOUSING AND TO MAKE
ENDS MEET. SALVADOR, HE HAS
RETURNED TO WORK, THIS TIME AT A
LOCAL JACK IN THE BOX. JONATHAN
AND CYNTHIA SALVADOR AND OFELIA.
THEY REPRESENT MILLIONS OF
CALIFORNIANS IN EVERY ONE OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. PEOPLE WHO WORK
HARD, WHO GIVE BACK, AND WHO
DREAM OF A BETTER FUTURE RIGHT
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. AND THAT'S
WHY I'M CALLING ON US TO
CONSIDER EVERY BILL THIS SESSION
THROUGH THEIR LENS. DOES IT
LOWER DAY TO DAY COSTS FOR
FAMILIES? DOES IT BUILD MORE
HOUSING QUICKLY? DOES IT IMPROVE
PUBLIC SERVICES IN WAYS THAT
PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY SEE AND FEEL?
DOES IT HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
START AND THRIVE? YOU KNOW,
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS GOOD
AND IMPORTANT IDEAS. WE'RE ALL
PASSIONATE AND COMMITTED, AND I
HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR
YOU. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT OUR
TIME AND ENERGY HERE ARE
LIMITED. AND SO THIS SESSION, WE
ARE LOWERING THE NUMBER OF BILLS
LEGISLATORS CAN CARRY AND
INTRODUCE FROM 50 TO 35. AND
WE'RE DOING SO WE'RE DOING SO
BECAUSE WE WANT EVERY LEADER IN
THIS ROOM TO HAVE THE GREATEST
POSSIBLE BANDWIDTH TO FOCUS ON
LAWS THAT UPLIFT AFFORDABILITY
AND PROSPERITY. NOW, MAKE NO
MISTAKE, THIS WILL NOT PREVENT
US FROM STANDING UP FOR
CALIFORNIA'S VALUES. IF LGBTQ
PEOPLE COME UNDER ATTACK, IF
HARD WORKING IMMIGRANTS ARE
TARGETED, IF WOMEN'S
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IS
THREATENED, WE WILL FIGHT BACK
WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE. THE
COUNTRY, THE COUNTRY LOOKS TO
CALIFORNIA FOR LEADERSHIP AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD. BUT OUR
ABILITY TO PROTECT, TO PROTECT
THESE ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA
VALUES, VALUES OF EQUALITY, OF
DIVERSITY, OF OPPORTUNITY,
DEPENDS ON DELIVERING FOR
CONSTITUENTS IN PRACTICAL AND
PRACTICAL, CONCRETE WAYS.
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS LIKE
BUILDING MORE HOUSING FOR LOWER
AND MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES.
AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE, DECENT
HOUSING ISN'T A POLICY
CHALLENGE. IT'S NOT JUST A
POLICY CHALLENGE. IT'S THE CIVIL
RIGHTS STRUGGLE OF OUR TIME.
EVERY WORKER, EVERY WORKER HAS
THE RIGHT TO LIVE NEAR THEIR
JOBS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT
THEY HELP BUILD, SERVE, AND
ENRICH. AND WE HAVE WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THAT A
REALITY. SO TO EVERY SCHOOL
TEACHER, LANDSCAPER, FIREFIGHTER
AND HOUSEKEEPER, I SAY THIS
WHETHER YOU WORK IN PEBBLE BEACH
OR DAVIS, IN OCEANSIDE OR SAN
JOSE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE
WHERE YOU WORK SO THAT YOU CAN
SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR
FAMILIES AND NOT ON THE ROAD
COMMUTING. AND WE I WILL DO
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING IN MY
POWER TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. WE
MUST DO MORE TO LOWER ENERGY
COSTS. YOU KNOW, HIGH ENERGY
PRICES HIT LOW. CALIFORNIANS THE
HARDEST. WE KNOW THAT LOOK,
CALIFORNIA HAS ALWAYS LED THE
WAY ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD ON
CLIMATE, BUT NOT ON THE BACKS OF
POOR AND WORKING PEOPLE. NOT NOT
NOT WITH TAXES OR FEES FOR
PROGRAMS THAT DON'T WORK. AND
NOT NOT BY BLOCKING HOUSING AND
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
IT'S WHY WE MUST CONTINUE HERE
IN THE ASSEMBLY TO BECOME TO BE
OUTCOME DRIVEN. WE CAN'T BLINDLY
DEFEND THE INSTITUTIONS
CONTRIBUTING TO THESE ISSUES.
NOW, THIS SESSION, I WANT OUR
ASSEMBLY, UTILITIES AND ENERGY
COMMITTEE TO DOUBLE DOWN, DOUBLE
DOWN ON INVESTIGATING ENERGY
COSTS AND I'D LIKE OUR HOUSING
AND BUDGET COMMITTEES TO
INVESTIGATE AND REVIEW EVERY
STATE AGENCY THAT HAS OVERSIGHT
OVER CALIFORNIA'S HOUSING SUPPLY.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WORKING AND
WHAT'S OBSTRUCTING REAL PROGRESS
RIGHT HERE IN CALIFORNIA. IT'S
OUR RESPONSIBILITY. AND FINALLY,
WE MUST ALSO ENSURE WE MUST ALSO
ENSURE THAT EXISTING STATE
PROGRAMS ARE WORKING FULL SPEED
AHEAD. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, OUR
JOB IS NOT JUST MAKING NEW LAWS,
IT'S LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW
MIRROR. AND FOR EXAMPLE, YOU
LOOK AT CALWORKS. ROUGHLY 60% OF
THE FAMILIES ELIGIBLE FOR THIS
IMPORTANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ARE
ENROLLED. AND THEN THERE'S
CALFRESH. ABOUT 70% OF ELIGIBLE
FAMILIES ARE ENROLLED. THAT
MEANS MILLIONS, MILLIONS OF
ELIGIBLE FAMILIES, MILLIONS OF
ELIGIBLE CHILDREN ARE MISSING
OUT ON CRITICAL FINANCIAL
SUPPORT AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE ALREADY
BUILT. WE HAVE DONE THIS GOOD
WORK. NOW LET'S MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE DELIVERING FOR
CALIFORNIANS. IT'S MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES. I AM ALWAYS OPEN,
ALWAYS, ALWAYS OPEN TO EVERY
GOOD IDEA THAT WILL IMPROVE LIFE
FOR CALIFORNIANS. LET'S WORK
TOGETHER. TO MY DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES. TO MY DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES, THIS ELECTION WAS A
CLARIFYING MOMENT, BUT I DON'T
FEEL DISCOURAGED. AND I HOPE YOU
DON'T EITHER. CLARITY GIVES US A
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE,
AND I WANT TO STRESS SOMETHING
IMPORTANT FOCUSING ON
AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY,
SOLUTIONS. THEY ARE SOCIAL
JUSTICE SOLUTIONS. AND TO THIS
POINT, I THINK OF MY OWN STORY.
I GREW UP WITH EIGHT FAMILY
MEMBERS LIVING IN A TWO ROOM
HOUSE RIGHT NEXT TO ROWS OF
VINEYARDS, WHERE MY GRANDFATHER
WOULD GO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
MY GRANDFATHER, HE OFTEN WORKED
18 HOUR DAYS HARD, HARD WORK. IT
WAS WORK THAT BROKE HIS BODY
DOWN. MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER,
THEY DID EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING
THEY COULD TO SAVE A LITTLE
MONEY. THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY
COULD TO MAKE SURE THAT I MADE
IT TO SCHOOL ON TIME. EACH DAY
THAT I MADE IT TO THE DOCTOR
WHEN I WAS SICK, THEY MADE SURE
THAT I MADE IT TO COLLEGE AND
THAT I MADE IT HERE. THE
CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL. ALL OF
THESE ADULTS, THEY JUST WANTED
ME TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE. THEY
WORKED. THEY SAVED, THEY
WORRIED, AND THEY DID IT FOR MY
FUTURE. WE ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE
THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE US
OPENED A DOOR, AND NOW WE ARE
THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM. NOW THAT
IS OUR JOB. IT'S OUR JOB TO OPEN
THE DOOR FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
WHO FEAR THAT IT MAY BE CLOSING
THIS TASK IS AN URGENT ONE
BECAUSE CALIFORNIANS HAVE TOLD
US SO. THIS TASK IS URGENT
BECAUSE THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION
IN WASHINGTON, THEY'RE GOING TO
TELL US, THEY'RE GOING TO CLAIM
THAT YOU CAN ONLY LIFT PEOPLE UP
BY TEARING OTHERS DOWN. WE KNOW
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A BETTER
WAY. IT'S CALLED THE CALIFORNIA
DREAM. OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS,
WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR
POWER COLLECTIVELY TO RENEW IT.
MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS HAVE
PUT THEIR FAITH IN US. LET'S GET
IT DONE AND LET'S GET TO WORK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
MEMBERS. OUR NEXT ORDER OF
BUSINESS IS THE APPOINTMENT OF
THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PRO TEM. SO
I'M PROUD TO APPOINT JOSH
LOWENTHAL OF THE 69TH ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT TO THIS POSITION.
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PRO TEM, MR.
DESIGNEE. LOWENTHAL SHOULD
RETIRE TO THE REAR OF THE
CHAMBER AND THE FOLLOWING
MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO MOVE TO THE
REAR CHAMBER TO ESCORT MR.
LOWENTHAL, ITS ASSEMBLY MEMBERS,
CAROL CELESTE RODRIGUEZ SCHULTZ
AND AVILA FARIAS.
ESCORT COMMITTEE, PLEASE WALK
MR. LOWENTHAL TO THE ROSTRUM.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE WILL
ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.
THANK YOU. CAN I KICK THIS OUT?
CONGRATULATIONS. I'M READY. OKAY.
JOSH LOWENTHAL FOR THE OFFICE OF
SPEAKER PRO TEM OF THE ASSEMBLY,
PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO
YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU WILL
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST
ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND
DOMESTIC, THAT YOU WILL BEAR
TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THAT
YOU TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY,
WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION
OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, AND THAT
YOU WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH
YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER. IF SO,
PLEASE AFFIRM YOUR OATH BY
STATING, I DO. I DO.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. YOU.
THANK YOU. IS THIS TONIGHT? IS
THIS MY BINDER? IS THIS ME OR
THE ONE THAT. THANK YOU. BYE
BYE. CONGRATS, EVERYBODY. THANK
YOU BROTHER. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, SURE.
OH. LET'S GO. LOVE YOU MOM. LOVE
YOU. DAD. OLIVIA. RAQUEL.
VIOLET. ERICA. MY BROTHER DANNY
IS HERE. HE'S A JUDGE. HE KNOWS
A THING OR TWO ABOUT PRESIDING.
I ASKED HIM EARLIER. DO YOU HAVE
ANY ADVICE FOR ME? HE SAID,
YEAH. REALLY IMPORTANT. DO NOT
SCREW IT UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FAITH IN ME. SPEAKER RIVAS I AM
SO PROUD TO SERVE IN THIS
CAPACITY ON YOUR LEADERSHIP
TEAM, MR. GOVERNOR. MADAM
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GENERAL
BONTA, SECRETARY. WEBER,
TREASURER. MÀ. COMPTROLLER.
COHEN. COMMISSIONER. LARA.
SUPERINTENDENT. THURMOND.
ELECTED LEADERS, PAST AND
PRESENT, FROM EVERY LEVEL UP AND
DOWN OUR GREAT STATE. WELCOME.
WELCOME TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. AND
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT BE
NEW, AND EVEN FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, THERE
IS THIS VERY SPECIAL FEELING.
THIS MOMENT THAT WE'RE FEELING
RIGHT NOW. WE'RE LIVING IN THE
MOMENT. WE HAVE A WORLD OF
POSSIBILITIES WITH THE SPOTLIGHT
ON AND THIS FEELING, THIS IS THE
EXACT FEELING THAT YOU WILL
HAVE. I PROMISE, WHEN YOU GET TO
WORK ON TIME ON THURSDAY
MORNINGS. MEMBERS, I AM DEEPLY
HONORED AND HUMBLED AND MAYBE A
TINY BIT TERRIFIED TO SHARE THE
WORK OF OUR HOUSE. I FIRST STOOD
HERE EXACTLY 37 YEARS AGO, AND
THIS SPOT IS A 17 YEAR OLD. I
WAS IN THE YMCA YOUTH AND
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, AND I WAS
ELECTED BY TO PRESIDE BY MY HIGH
SCHOOL PEERS FROM ACROSS THIS
GREAT STATE, OVERSEEING THE
PASSAGE OF MOCK LEGISLATION IN
THIS VERY CHAMBER. AND I
REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS
YESTERDAY. THERE'S THIS SPECIAL
ENERGY ON THE GREEN CARPET. IT'S
A MAGIC. IT'S A MAGIC CREATED BY
ALL OF US. AND IT CALLED ME THE
SAME WAY THAT IS CALLING ALL OF
US NOW, MR. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS,
I THANK YOU TODAY AND EVERY DAY
FOR HELPING ME LIVE OUT MY
LIFE'S DREAM. IT HAS NOW COME
TIME TO REFLECT AND ENGAGE ON
THE WORK WE MUST ACHIEVE ON THIS
FLOOR. AND IN THIS SESSION, WE
HAVE A FATIGUED ELECTORATE WHO
ARE CLEAR IN THEIR SIMPLE
DIRECTIVE OF US. WE MUST AND WE
SHOULD WORK TOGETHER. WE'RE
EXPECTED TO TRY AND BUILD
CONSENSUS AND COLLABORATE WITH
ANYONE AND EVERYONE ACROSS ANY
DIVIDE TO SOLVE OUR STATE'S MOST
INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS. AND ON THE
GREEN CARPET, WE SHOULD BE
REMARKABLE NOT ONLY FOR OUR
FLOOR SPEECHES, BUT FOR OUR
CIVILITY, OUR ABILITY TO LISTEN
TO EACH OTHER, HEAR EACH OTHER,
EMPATHIZE, SYMPATHIZE,
SYNTHESIZE PERSPECTIVES, AND TO
MEDIATE. BECAUSE IN THE END,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE REMEMBERED
FOR BEING RED, BLUE, OR PURPLE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE REMEMBERED
FOR BEING GOOD PROGRESSIVES,
GOOD MODS, OR CONSERVATIVES
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS JUST AREN'T
HISTORIC FOR POLITICAL WINS OR
LOSSES BY ONE FACTION OR
ANOTHER. THEY ARE IMMORTALIZED
IN HISTORY. THEY'RE IMMORTALIZED
IN HISTORY BY THEIR ABILITY TO
CELEBRATE DIFFERENCES, ACHIEVE
CONSENSUS, AND TO GET THINGS
DONE. DESPITE BEING PUSHED
TOWARDS DIVISION, OUR LEGACY
WILL BE MEASURED FOR OUR
INDEPENDENT THINKING.
INDIVIDUALLY AS A BODY, OUR
COURAGE TO CONSIDER EVERY
INTEREST. AND YET ALWAYS DO THE
RIGHT THING AT EVERY
OPPORTUNITY. AND OF COURSE, FOR
GENUINE COLLABORATION AND
COMPROMISE TO CREATE POLICY THAT
TRULY IMPROVES EVERY
CALIFORNIANS QUALITY OF LIFE
MEMBERS, IT IS MY JOB AND
OBLIGATION THAT EACH OF YOU FEEL
HEARD, AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING
I CAN TO EMPOWER EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU, EVERY TIME YOU'RE ON
THE GREEN CARPET. UNLESS, OF
COURSE, YOU'RE LATE TO 9 A.M.
SESSIONS ON THURSDAYS AND WITH
THAT, IT IS TIME FOR US TO GET
TO WORK.
MEMBERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET
ACTIVATED THE VOTING MECHANISM
AT YOUR DESK, PLEASE OPEN YOUR
DESK. THERE'S A KEY INSIDE YOUR
DESK. PLEASE TAKE THE KEY OUT,
INSERT IT AND TURN YOUR KEY. NOW
AS A REMINDER, ONLY ELECTED
MEMBERS SHOULD BE PRESSING
BUTTONS TO CAST VOTES. THERE ARE
SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS AT THE
ASSEMBLY DESK, AND COPIES ARE AT
YOUR DESKS ON YOUR DESK. NEXT,
ORDER OF BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE
THE ADOPTION OF THE HOUSE RULES.
I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH H.R.
FOUR. MR. ASSAILY, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. MR. SALEH, THE CLERK,
WILL READ H.R. FOUR. THE CLERK
WILL READ HOUSE RESOLUTION FOUR
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER ASSAILY.
RELATIVE TO THE STANDING RULES
OF THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 20 2526
REGULAR SESSION, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
SALIH, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I
MOVE THAT WE ADOPT H.R. FOUR,
WHICH WILL ENSHRINE A MINORITY
PARTY BILL OF RIGHTS, INTO OUR
STANDING RULES. NOW, YOU MAY
WONDER WHY IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY
TO DO THIS. WELL, I THINK WE ALL
WITNESSED THE EVENTS THAT
OCCURRED AT THE END OF LAST
SESSION. THE DISORDER, THE CHAOS,
WHICH WAS WIDELY VIEWED AS
UNDIGNIFIED, UNFAIR AND
UNPRECEDENTED. I BELIEVE THAT WE
CAN AGREE THAT THOSE EVENTS DID
NOT REFLECT THE BEST OF THIS
BODY. AND AS THE LARGEST STATE
IN THIS UNION, IT IS INCUMBENT
ON US TO DO BETTER AS WE MOVE
FORWARD. THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
NOW REPRESENTS OVER 9 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS. IT'S A THIRD OF
THE STATE. YES, WE ARE THE
MINORITY, BUT THE VOICES, THE
PEOPLE THAT ELECTED US MATTER
AND THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR
VOICES HEARD IN THIS BODY. OUR
FOUNDING FATHERS WERE DEEPLY
TERRIFIED OF TWO THINGS A
TYRANNY OF A KING. AND THEY WERE
ALSO TERRIFIED OF THE TYRANNY OF
A MOB, A MOB OCRACY AND I KNOW
WE THROW A LOT OF WORDS AROUND
IN THIS BODY. WE THROW THE WORD
DEMOCRACY A LOT. WE ARE NOT A
DEMOCRACY. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE
A DEMOCRACY. DEMOCRACY IS A MOB
RULE. WE ARE A CONSTITUTIONAL
REPUBLIC. THAT IS THE OATH WE
JUST TOOK. THAT IS WHAT WE
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO EVERY DAY
ON THIS BODY. AND WHAT MAKES US
A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC IS,
YES, THE MAJORITY GETS TO RULE,
BUT THE MINORITY HAS RIGHTS. WE
HAVE RIGHTS TO BE HEARD AND
RIGHTS TO SPEAK AND TO DEBATE.
AND I WOULD SUGGEST, IN THE
SPIRIT OF THE COMMENTS OF
SPEAKER RIVAS AND OUR SPEAKER
PRO TEM, WHO I DO APPRECIATE,
ACKNOWLEDGED THE TONE OF WANTING
TO HAVE ALL VOICES HEARD. IT IS
IMPORTANT, AND I THINK IT WILL
LEAD TO BETTER POLICIES IF WE
CAN DEBATE. NOBODY HAS A
MONOPOLY ON THE TRUTH OR GOOD
POLICY. ONLY THROUGH DEBATE CAN
WE CHALLENGE EACH OTHER'S IDEAS
AND COME TO THE BEST
CONCLUSIONS. THIS BILL, H.R.
FOUR, WILL DO FIVE SPECIFIC
THINGS. IT TAKES THE RULES THAT
WE'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON H.R. ONE,
AND IT ADDS FIVE RIGHTS. ONE,
THE RIGHT OF THE MINORITY LEADER
TO MAKE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS,
GRANTING THE MINORITY LEADER
DISCRETION OVER THE SELECTION,
APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF
MEMBERS FROM STANDING
COMMITTEES. NUMBER TWO, THE
RIGHT TO BILL HEARINGS, WHICH
WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY BILL
INTRODUCED RECEIVES A HEARING AT
THE AUTHOR'S REQUEST NUMBER
THREE THE RIGHT TO SPEECH AND
INQUIRY, PROVIDING THAT ALL
MEMBERS IN COMMITTEE RECEIVE A
MINIMUM OF FIVE MINUTES OF
UNINTERRUPTED, UNINTERRUPTED
TIME TO SPEAK, ASK QUESTIONS AND
RECEIVE RESPONSES WITHOUT
INTERRUPTION FROM THE
CHAIRPERSON. RIGHT NUMBER FOUR
THE RIGHT TO FAIR FLOOR
PROCEEDINGS, ENSURING THAT
DEBATE ON IMPORTANT AND
CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION IS NOT
CURTAILED PREMATURELY, AND THAT
ALL MEMBERS ARE RECOGNIZED WHEN
THEY WISH TO SPEAK. AND FINALLY,
RIGHT NUMBER FIVE, THE RIGHT TO
REPRESENT WITHOUT FEAR OF
RETALIATION, TO PROTECT MEMBERS
AGAINST RETALIATORY ACTIONS
AGAINST THEM FOR THEIR
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS, POSITIONS,
OR PARTICIPATION IN DEBATE. BY
ADOPTING THESE CHANGES, MR.
SPEAKER, WE CAN ENSHRINE THESE
IMPORTANT RIGHTS FOR THE
MINORITY PARTY. I THINK IT'S
ESPECIALLY WARRANTED IN A
SUPERMAJORITY WHERE WE REALLY
DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER MECHANISM
TO CHALLENGE THE SUPERMAJORITY.
ALL WE HAVE ARE BASIC RIGHTS. SO
WE ASK WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
WOULD ASK THAT WE MOVE TO ADOPT
H.R. FOR SECOND. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, EASILY. THERE'S
NO SECOND ON THIS. THIS IS THIS
IS A THIS IS A RESOLUTION BEFORE
THE HOUSE. MADAM MAJORITY
LEADER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. I
MOVE TO LAY THE RESOLUTION ON
THE TABLE. THANK YOU. MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER, IS THERE A
SECOND FOR THIS MOTION? SECOND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON HAS
SECONDED. MEMBERS. THIS IS A
PROCEDURAL VOTE TO LAY. HOUSE
RESOLUTION FOUR ON THE TABLE.
PROCEDURAL VOTE. THIS TAKES 41
VOTES. THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE
ROLL. ALL MEMBERS VOTE WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. THE MAJORITY
LEADER IS ASKING FOR AN AYE
VOTE. REPUBLICAN LEADER IS
ASKING FOR A NO VOTE. MR.
OUSELEY IS ASKING FOR A NO VOTE
AS WELL. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. THE CLERK WILL
CLOSE THE ROLL. TALLY THE VOTES.
AYES 57. NOS 19. THE RESOLUTION
IS LAID ON THE TABLE. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER DEMAIO, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. MR. MR. SPEAKER,
GIVEN THAT THE SUPERMAJORITY
RULES PACKAGE IS 73 PAGES LONG
AND THE MINORITY WAS NOT
PROVIDED A COPY OF THIS
LEGISLATION UNTIL WE WALKED IN
THE ROOM TODAY, I HEREBY MOVE TO
RECESS FOR ONE HOUR TO INSIST
THAT ALL MEMBERS VOTE OR READ
THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THEY VOTE
ON IT. THANK YOU, MR. DEMAIO.
MR. DEMAIO HAS MADE A MOTION TO
RECESS TO A TIME CERTAIN
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
SANCHEZ. MEMBERS. THIS IS A
PROCEDURAL VOTE TO RECESS. TAKES
A MAJORITY OF THOSE PRESENT AND
VOTING. THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE
ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. MR. DEMAIO IS ASKING
FOR AN AYE VOTE. THE MAJORITY
LEADER IS ASKING FOR A NO VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. CLERK WILL CLOSE THE
ROLL. AYES 19. NOS 56. THE
MEASURE FAILS. THE MOTION FAILS.
OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS WILL
BE HOUSE RESOLUTION ONE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PACHECO, WILL
PRESENT HOUSE RESOLUTION ONE FOR
THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTION. THE
CLERK WILL READ. HOUSE
RESOLUTION ONE BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER PACHECO. RELATIVE TO THE
STANDING RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE 20 2526 REGULAR SESSION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PACHECO, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS, I RISE TO
PRESENT HOUSE RESOLUTION ONE,
WHICH ESTABLISHES THE STANDING
RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 20
2526 REGULAR SESSION. H.R. ONE
INCLUDES VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE
STANDING RULES THAT WERE IN
PLACE DURING THE PRIOR SESSION.
SOME OF THE CHANGES TO THE
STANDING RULES INCLUDE REVISING
THE GENERAL OFFICERS OF THE
ASSEMBLY, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF
STANDING COMMITTEES, AND
CHANGING THE NAMES OF THE JOBS,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
ECONOMY COMMITTEE TO THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH,
GROWTH AND HOUSEHOLD IMPACT
COMMITTEE. CLARIFYING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
ORGANIZATION OF PARTY CAUCUSES.
TO GIVE BOTH LEADERS GREATER
DISCRETION AND FLEXIBILITY.
CLARIFYING THE SPEAKER'S ABILITY
TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFICIENT
ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR FLOOR
SESSION. TO AVOID UNNECESSARY
DELAYS. CLARIFYING THE ADJOURN
IN MEMORY PROCESS. REDUCING THE
BILL LIMIT TO 35. CLARIFYING
THAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MAY
MEET AT ANY TIME. CLARIFYING THE
PROCESS FOR FLOOR AMENDMENTS TO
ALLOW BILLS TO BE AMENDED MORE
EFFICIENTLY. PROVIDING THE
PUBLIC WITH ACCESS TO THE
AMENDED BILLS SOONER WHILE
RETAINING THE PROCESS FOR
CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS NOT
APPROVED BY THE SPECIFIED
COMMITTEE CHAIR, ALLOWING A BILL
TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT ON A
CHECK IN SESSION DAY BY
SUBMITTING A WRITTEN REQUEST TO
THE CHIEF CLERK, SPEAKER AND
REPUBLICAN LEADER. REMOVING THE
OUTDATED AND UNNECESSARY ONE DAY
WEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR ASSEMBLY
BILLS. BACK ON CONCURRENCE.
SINCE THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES
BILLS TO BE IN PRINT IN FINAL
FORM FOR 72 HOURS PRIOR TO
PASSAGE. CLARIFYING THE PROCESS
FOR MOVING A BILL TO THE
INACTIVE FILE. CODIFYING THE
LONG STANDING PROCESS FOR USE OF
PROPS AND VISUAL AIDS ON THE
ASSEMBLY FLOOR. ON THE ASSEMBLY
FLOOR. REVISING THE LANGUAGE
REGARDING APPROPRIATE
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS ATTIRE ON
THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. CLARIFYING
THAT PLACARDS, PLACARDS,
DISPLAYS, BANNERS AND SIGNS ARE
NOT ALLOWED IN THE GALLERY,
ENSURING THAT ALL VISITORS MAY
VIEW THE FLOOR SESSION AND
MAKING A NUMBER OF OTHER
TECHNICAL AND NON-SUBSTANTIVE
SON I CAN'T TALK NON-SUBSTANTIVE
CHANGES. THE CHANGES WILL ENSURE
DECORUM IN ALL LEGISLATIVE
PROCEEDINGS AND HELP THE
ASSEMBLY FUNCTION OVER THE NEXT
TWO YEARS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PACHECO, IS
THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTION OR
DEBATE ON HOUSE RESOLUTION ONE?
SEEING NONE, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
PACHECO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND
AGAIN, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER PACHECO. WE WILL TAKE A
ROLL CALL. VOTE ON HOUSE
RESOLUTION ONE. THIS RESOLUTION
REQUIRES 41 VOTES. THE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLL. ALL MEMBERS
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
MEMBERS VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
ALL MEMBERS VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL
AND TALLY THE VOTE. AYES 58.
NOES 19. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. MAJORITY LEADER.
AGUIAR-CURRY WILL PRESENT HOUSE
RESOLUTION TWO ON BEHALF OF THE
SPEAKER FOR PURPOSES OF
ADOPTION. THE CLERK WILL READ.
HOUSE RESOLUTION TWO. HOUSE
RESOLUTION TWO BY ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER ROBERT RIVAS. RELATIVE
TO THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF
THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 20 2526
REGULAR SESSION. MAJORITY LEADER
AGUIAR-CURRY YOU MAY OPEN. MR.
SPEAKER AND MEMBERS, I OFFER
HOUSE RESOLUTION TWO ON BEHALF
OF SPEAKER ROBERT RIVAS, TO
DESIGNATE THE NONMEMBER OFFICERS
OF THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 20 2526
REGULAR SESSION. THEY ARE SUE
PARKER AS CHIEF CLERK AND CHERYL
KRAFT AS CHIEF SERGEANT AT ARMS.
SUE PARKER IS THE CHIEF CLERK
FROM THE PREVIOUS SESSION AND IS
RETURNING FOR ANOTHER TERM AS
CLERK, OVERSEEING THE DESK STAFF
AND THE ENGROSSING AND ENROLLING
DEPARTMENT. PRIOR TO HER
APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF CLERK, SHE
SERVED OVER 20 YEARS IN THE
CLERK'S OFFICE. CHERYL KRAFT IS
CURRENTLY THE CHIEF DEPUTY
SERGEANT OF ARMS AND IS BEING
PROMOTED TO THE POSITION OF
SERGEANT CHIEF SERGEANT. MISS
KRAFT IS AN ACCOMPLISHED LAW
ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL WITH
THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE. SHE
DEDICATED 25 YEARS TO THE
SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE, SPECIALIZING IN
DIGNITARY PROTECTION FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS. FOR THE PAST FIVE
YEARS, SHE HAS SERVED WITH THE
ASSEMBLY SERGEANT AT ARMS, THE
DEPARTMENT WHERE SHE CURRENTLY
HOLDS THAT POSITION OF DEPUTY
CHIEF OF THE SECURITY OPERATIONS.
MISS KRAFT ALSO HOLDS A BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CRIMINAL
JUSTICE MANAGEMENT. MR. SPEAKER,
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM MAJORITY
LEADER, IS THERE ANY QUESTION OR
DEBATE ON HOUSE RESOLUTION TWO?
SEEING NONE, MADAM MAJORITY
LEADER, YOU MAY CLOSE. I SIMPLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU, MADAM MAJORITY LEADER, WE
WILL NOW TAKE A ROLL CALL. VOTE
ON HOUSE RESOLUTION TWO. THIS
REQUIRES 41 VOTES. CLERK WILL
OPEN THE ROLL ALL MEMBERS VOTE
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL MEMBERS
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
MEMBERS VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND
TALLY THE VOTES. AYES 76. NOS
ZERO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
MEMBERS AND GUESTS. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO THE SWEARING IN OF
OUR NONMEMBER OFFICERS. SUE
PARKER AND CHERYL KRAFT. PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE ROSTRUM FOR
YOUR OATH OF OFFICE. CHIEF
JUSTICE GUERRERO WILL ADMINISTER
THE OATH TO THE NONMEMBER
OFFICERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
AND CONGRATULATIONS. BETTY SUE
PARKER AND CHERYL CHERYL KRAFT
FOR THE OFFICE OF CHIEF CLERK
AND CHIEF SERGEANT AT ARMS,
RESPECTIVELY. PLEASE RAISE YOUR
RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SOLEMNLY
SWEAR THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT AND
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES,
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT YOU
WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND
ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THAT YOU TAKE THIS
OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY
MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF
EVASION, AND THAT YOU WILL WELL
AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE
DUTIES UPON WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT
TO ENTER. IF SO, PLEASE AFFIRM
YOUR OATH BY SAYING, I DO. I DO.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. I'M
SORRY. I FORGOT. NO. IT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU. MAJORITY LEADER
AGUILAR CURRY WILL PRESENT HOUSE
RESOLUTION THREE. ON BEHALF OF
SPEAKER RIVAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ADOPTION. HOUSE RESOLUTION
THREE. THE CLERK WILL READ.
HOUSE RESOLUTION THREE BY
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBERT RIVAS.
RELATIVE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF
THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 20 2526
REGULAR SESSION. NOW, THE
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. MR. SPEAKER, AND
MEMBERS, HOUSE RESOLUTION THREE
IS A ROUTINE HOUSEKEEPING
RESOLUTION WHICH DOES THE
FOLLOWING. IT AUTHORIZES THE
RULES COMMITTEE CHIEF CLERK AND
SERGEANT OF ARMS TO RECEIVE
WARRANTS FROM THE COMPTROLLER TO
PAY MEMBERS, OFFICERS, AND THE
STAFF OF THE ASSEMBLY. IT ALSO
REQUIRES THE CHIEF CLERK TO
PROVIDE COPIES OF THE ASSEMBLY
WEEKLY HISTORIES TO SPECIFIED
GOVERNMENT OFFICES, AND
ACCREDITED PRESS REPRESENTATIVES.
AND SPECIFIES THAT DURING THE
ORGANIZATIONAL RECESS, NO BILL
CAN BE INTRODUCED AT THE DESK
EXCEPT BY A PERSON DESIGNATED IN
WRITING BY THE MEMBER, AND THAT
THAT DESIGNATION WILL BE FILED
WITH THE CHIEF CLERK. I ASK FOR
YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER, IS THERE ANY
QUESTION OR DEBATE ON HOUSE
RESOLUTION THREE? SEEING NONE,
ALL DEBATE HAVING CEASED,
MAJORITY LEADER AGUILAR CURRY
YOU MAY CLOSE. SIMPLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER. WE WILL TAKE A
ROLL CALL. VOTE ON HOUSE
RESOLUTION THREE. THIS
RESOLUTION REQUIRES 41 VOTES.
CLERK WILL OPEN THE ROLL. ALL
MEMBERS VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. CLERK WILL CLOSE THE
ROLL AND TALLY THE VOTES. AYES
76. NÓ ZERO. THE RESOLUTION IS
ADOPTED. MEMBERS. THERE ARE
LETTERS AT THE DESK NAMING THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE DEMOCRATIC AND
REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES, WHO WILL
SERVE FOR THE 20 2526 REGULAR
SESSION. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
LETTERS WILL BE PRINTED IN THE
JOURNAL.
MEMBERS. THE DELEGATION FROM THE
SENATE IS HERE AT THE REAR OF
THE CHAMBER, TO INFORM US THAT
THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE HAS
ORGANIZED FOR THE 20 2526
REGULAR SESSION. THANK YOU.
SENATORS ASHBY, DOLLY RUBIO,
GRAYSON, CERVANTES AND PADILLA.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
OUR SENATE COLLEAGUES.
OH, THAT'S FUNNY. YES, GOVERNOR.
YES, MA'AM. MEMBERS I AM
APPOINTING A SPECIAL COMMITTEE
TO PROCEED TO THE SENATE CHAMBER
TO INFORM THAT THE ASSEMBLY IS
ORGANIZED FOR THE 20 2526
REGULAR SESSION. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS ARE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GARCIA FORBIDDEN, STEPHANIE
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ AND ROGERS
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. YOU MAY NOW
PROCEED TO THE SENATE CHAMBER.
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. WE WILL NOW
RECESS THE REGULAR SESSION FOR
THE PURPOSE OF CONVENING THE
FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION.
MEMBERS. WE ARE NOW IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE WILL SUBSTITUTE
THE PRAYER PLEDGE AND OTHER
ORDERS OF BUSINESS FROM THE 2025
REGULAR SESSION FOR THOSE ITEMS.
IN THE FIRST EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION. MEMBERS. GOVERNOR
NEWSOM HAS ISSUED A PROCLAMATION
TO CONVENE THE LEGISLATURE IN
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. THE
PROCLAMATION WILL BE DEEMED READ
AND PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL. THE
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE
SUBSTITUTION OF OFFICERS FROM
THE REGULAR SESSION FOR THE
FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION.
MADAM MAJORITY LEADER AGUILAR
CURRY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR PROCEDURAL MOTION. MR.
SPEAKER. I REQUEST UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE VOTE AND OATH
OF OFFICE FOR SPEAKER ROBERT
RIVAS ON DECEMBER 2ND, 2024, IN
THE REGULAR SESSION, BE
SUBSTITUTED IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. THANK
YOU, MADAM MAJORITY LEADER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MOTION IS
SECOND BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER HART.
SEEING AND HEARING NO OBJECTION.
THIS MOTION CARRIES. ROBERT
RIVAS IS ELECTED SPEAKER IN THE
FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION.
MADAM MAJORITY LEADER AGUILAR
CURRY, YOU WERE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR MOTION OF THE NONMEMBER
OFFICERS. MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
THAT THE NONMEMBER OFFICERS IN
THE 20 2526 REGULAR SESSION BE
DEEMED THE NONMEMBER OFFICERS IN
THE FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
AND THAT THE RESPECTIVE OATHS IN
THE REGULAR SESSION BE
SUBSTITUTED IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. THANK YOU,
MADAM MAJORITY LEADER. THIS
MOTION REQUIRES A SECOND MOTION.
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HART. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO
GRANTING UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SUBSTITUTE THE NONMEMBER
OFFICERS FROM THE CURRENT
REGULAR SESSION IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION? HEARING
NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES. MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR PROCEDURAL
MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE
PERMANENT STANDING RULES OF THE
ASSEMBLY FOR THE 2526 REGULAR
SESSION, EXCEPT FOR THE
ORGANIZATION OF THE STANDING
COMMITTEES, WHICH SHALL BE
CREATED BY THE SPEAKER, BE
ADOPTED IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. THANK
YOU, MADAM MAJORITY LEADER. THIS
MOTION REQUIRES A SECOND MOTION,
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HART. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO
GRANTING UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SUBSTITUTE THE NONMEMBER
OFFICERS FROM THE REGULAR
SESSION IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION? HEARING
NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES. MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR PROCEDURAL
MOTION. I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE
RESOLUTION THREE IN THE REGULAR
SESSION RELATIVE TO THE BILL
INTRODUCTIONS, CONTROLLER,
WARRANTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF
WEEKLY HISTORIES BE DEEMED
ADOPTED IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. THANK
YOU, MADAM MAJORITY LEADER. THIS
MOTION REQUIRES A SECOND,
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HART. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO
THE MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THE
PROVISIONS OF HOUSE RESOLUTION
THREE IN THE REGULAR SESSION FOR
THE SAME PROVISIONS IN THE FIRST
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION? HEARING?
NONE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
MEMBERS. THERE ARE LETTERS AT
THE DESK NAMING THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
CAUCUSES, WHO WILL SERVE FOR THE
FIRST. EXCUSE ME FOR THE 20 2526
FIRST EXTRAORDINARY SESSION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE LETTERS
WILL BE PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL.
MEMBERS. WE HAVE COMPLETED THE
ORGANIZATIONAL TASK FOR THE 20
2526 FIRST EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION. SPEAKER RIVAS MOVES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HART SECONDS
THAT THE FIRST EXTRAORDINARY
SESSION HAS RECESSED UPON THE
CALL OF THE SPEAKER. AND JUST
LIKE THAT, WE ARE BACK IN
REGULAR SESSION. MEMBERS, I AM
APPOINTING A SPECIAL COMMITTEE
TO PROCEED TO THE Þ. WE'VE DONE
THAT. MEMBERS. THERE IS A
RESOLUTION AT THE DESK RELATIVE
TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE WILL MOVE TO THAT
ITEM NOW. SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION TWO BY SENATOR
UMBERG. THE CLERK WILL READ.
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TWO
BY SENATOR UMBERG. RELATIVE TO
THE SELECTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA. MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED, MR. SPEAKER, AND
MEMBERS SCR TWO RELATES TO THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF CAROL JENKINS
AS A LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL FOR OF
CALIFORNIA. IN THIS ROLE, SHE
WILL CONTINUE TO OVERSEE A STAFF
OF 500 EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE
EXPERT, NONPARTISAN LEGAL AND
TECHNICAL SERVICES TO THE
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
PRIOR TO HER APPOINTMENT AT THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS
JENKINS ADVISED MEMBERS AND
STAFF ON LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES,
APPROPRIATIONS, THE STATE
BUDGET, THE POLITICAL REFORM ACT
OF 1974, ELECTION LAW,
LITIGATION, AND PERSONAL ISSUES
AMONG OTHERS. I ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM MAJORITY
LEADER. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION
OR DEBATE ON SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION TWO? SEEING AND
HEARING NONE. MAJORITY LEADER
AGUIAR-CURRY YOU MAY CLOSE. I
ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE WITHOUT
OBJECTION. WE WILL SUBSTITUTE
THE ATTENDANCE ROLL CALL FOR THE
VOTE ON THIS ITEM. HEARING NO
OBJECTION. AYES 78. NO ZERO. THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. MEMBERS.
OUR LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL, KARA
JENKINS, IS IN THE REAR OF THE
CHAMBER. PLEASE EXCUSE ME. SHE
IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROSTRUM.
MEMBERS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN
CONGRATULATING HER ON HER
APPOINTMENT. MOVING ON TO
ADJOURNMENTS IN MEMORY FOR THE
GUESTS THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBER,
THIS IS A VERY SOLEMN MOMENT. IT
IS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT. WE
ASK FOR YOUR COMPLETE SILENCE
AND RESPECT. THIS COMMON
PRACTICE FOR MEMBERS TO ADJOURN
IN THE MEMORY OF A DISTINGUISHED
INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR DISTRICTS.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR RESPECTFUL
ATTENTION TO THE MAJORITY LEADER
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER ROGERS, WHO
WERE GRANTED PRIOR PERMISSION TO
HONOR THE MEMORY OF FORMER
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PATTY BERG.
MADAM MAJORITY LEADER, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS, I RISE
TODAY TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF
OUR COLLEAGUE, THE HONORABLE
PATRICIA PATTY BERG, FORMER
NORTH COAST ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND
CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S
CAUCUS AND THE 92ND WOMAN
ELECTED TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE
LEGISLATURE. SHE WAS A VOCAL
ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES AND
SPEARHEADED THE STATE'S FIRST OF
ITS KIND MASTER PLAN ON AGING.
PATTY PASSED AWAY ON NOVEMBER
19TH IN EUREKA, SURROUNDED BY
THE LOVING AND WARMTH OF HER
FRIENDS. SHE WAS 82 YEARS OLD.
SHE WAS BORN IN SEATTLE. PATTY
MOVED TO HUMBOLDT COUNTY WITH
HER HUSBAND, PATRICK MURPHY, IN
1974. PATTY WAS INFLUENTIAL IN
THE START UP OF THE HUMBOLDT
SENIOR RESOURCE CENTER. SHE
WORKED IN THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC
HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WAS THE
FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE AREA ONE AGENCY ON AGING.
SHE SERVED IN THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSEMBLY FROM 2002 UNTIL
2008. DURING THOSE SIX YEARS,
PATTY'S INTEGRITY EARNED HER THE
RESPECT AND COOPERATION FROM
MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE. ONE OF PATTY'S PROUDEST
MOMENTS IN THE LEGISLATURE WAS
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE'S
FIRST MASTER PLAN, AND POLICY
AGENDA, AGENDA FOR OLDER ADULTS.
THAT WORK STILL CONTINUES TODAY.
PATTY WAS ALSO PROUD OF HER
DEATH WITH DIGNITY LEGISLATION
IN 2005 TO 2007, IT WAS PART OF
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE 2015 END
OF LIFE OPTION, SIGNED BY
GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN. PATTY
CHAIRED THE LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S
CAUCUS, AND UNDER HER LEADERSHIP
PRODUCED THE FIRST WORKING
FAMILIES AGENDA. SHE WORKED
TIRELESSLY TO ENCOURAGE TO
INSPIRE AND TO SUPPORT MORE
WOMEN TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
AS THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE
WOMEN'S CAUCUS, I AM PROUD TO
CONTINUE THAT LEGACY. EARLY IN
HER TIME IN THE ASSEMBLY, PATTY
FOUNDED THE NONPARTISAN
GIRLFRIENDS DINNER HERE IN THE
LEGISLATURE AS A WAY FOR THE FEW
WOMEN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND
SENATORS TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
WHILE OUR MEMBERS AND NUMBERS
HAVE GROWN, THE DINNER CONTINUES
AS A WAY OF SUPPORT AND LIFT UP
EACH OTHER, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR
WAYS TO SUPPORT NEWLY ELECTED
WOMEN, PATTY CREATED A
NONPARTIZAN LEGISLATIVE TRAINING
PROGRAM FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN TO
HELP THEM GET ACCLIMATED TO
THEIR NEW ENVIRONMENT AND TO
BOND WITH ONE ANOTHER OVER
COMMON CIRCUMSTANCES THEY WOULD
FACE. PATTY WAS KIND. SHE WAS
GENEROUS. SHE WAS ORGANIZED WHEN
SHE WASN'T WORKING TO IMPROVE
THE LIVES OF CALIFORNIANS. PATTY
ENJOYED GARDENING AND WAS A
MASTER GARDENER. PATTY IS
SURVIVED BY HER BROTHER, DANNY
BERG AND COLLEEN OF WASHINGTON.
SISTER MARCIA BOWMAN. BOWMAN AND
BRUCE OF FLORIDA. STEP DAUGHTER
GRETCHEN TAVENNER AND CHRIS OF
MONTANA. STEPSON BRIAN MURPHY OF
IDAHO. COUSIN JUDY NICK, NIECE
DANIELLE, NEPHEW ERIC AND STEP
GRANDDAUGHTERS DAMIA AND LAYLA.
HER TEAM AND HER TEAM OF REALLY
INCREDIBLE INTIMATE FRIENDS AND
HER FRIEND AND HER FRIEND AND
CAREGIVER, MIA MULHERN. MEMBERS
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU
JOIN ME IN ADJOURNING IN THE
MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE PATTY
BERG, A MEMBER WHO WAS FIERCE
AND ADVOCATE FOR HER DISTRICT
AND A TRAILBLAZER FOR OLDER,
OLDER ADULTS AND WOMEN TO NUMBER
92. WE MISS YOU AND LET THE
BELLS RING. THANK YOU, MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ROGERS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND
MEMBERS, I WANT TO ECHO THE
SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE. IF
PATTY BERG'S IMPACT IN
SACRAMENTO WAS IMMENSE, HER
IMPACT ON THE NORTH COAST WAS
IMMEASURABLE. PRIOR TO HER
SERVICE IN THIS BODY, PATTY
SERVED FOR OVER TWO DECADES AS
THE FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING TO
THE DAY THAT SHE DIED, SHE WAS A
FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR SENIORS
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN,
FOR EQUALITY, AND SHE
FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVED IN USING
THE POWER OF THIS BODY TO BETTER
THE LIVES NOT JUST OF ALL
CALIFORNIANS, BUT FOR FOLKS WHO
LIVED ON THE NORTH COAST. SHE
SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT AND SAVED,
FOUGHT FOR, AND SAVED THE
TRINITY HOSPITAL TO MAKE SURE
THAT RURAL COMMUNITIES HAD
BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
SHE SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT FOR AND
SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING THE FIRST
REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE PLANNED
PARENTHOOD, TO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA SO THAT FOLKS HAD
ACCESS TO CARE. SHE FOUGHT TO
PROTECT THE WATERFRONT IN EUREKA
SUCCESSFULLY. SHE NEVER FORGOT
HER ROOTS, AND SHE WAS A FIERCE
ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED AN
ADVOCATE IN SACRAMENTO. SHE WILL
BE MISSED, BUT SHE WILL NOT BE
FORGOTTEN ON THE NORTH COAST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE PATTY.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ROGERS MEMBERS, PLEASE BRING THE
NAMES TO THE DESK TO BE PRINTED
IN THE JOURNAL. ALL REQUEST TO
ADJOURN IN MEMORY WILL BE DEEMED
READ AND PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL.
MOVING ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
AFTER WE ADJOURN THE FLOOR
SESSION TODAY, MEMBERS WILL HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE
THEIR FIRST LEGISLATIVE MEASURES.
I'M ORDERING THE DESK TO REMAIN
OPEN UNTIL 4 P.M. TODAY FOR BILL
INTRODUCTIONS DURING THE
ORGANIZATIONAL RECESS. THE DESK
WILL BE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY FROM 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
UNTIL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20TH TO
PROCESS ELECTRONIC BILL
INTRODUCTIONS AFTER ADJOURNMENT,
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
WOMEN'S CAUCUS SHOULD COME TO
THE FRONT OF THIS CHAMBER HERE
FOR A GROUP PHOTO. ARE WE DONE?
SO ARE WE GOOD? YEP. WE HAVE
COMPLETED THE ORGANIZATIONAL
TASKS OF THE 20 2526 REGULAR
SESSION. SH. UPON ADJOURNMENT OF
SESSION TODAY, WE WILL BEGIN OUR
ORGANIZATIONAL RECESS. THE
SESSION SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS.
MONDAY, JANUARY 6TH, 2025. FLOOR
SESSION AT 1 P.M. SEEING AND
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS. I'M
READY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
ADJOURN. SPEAKER RIVAS MOVES AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GALLAGHER
SECONDS THAT THE HOUSE STANDS
ADJOURNED FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL
RECESS PURSUANT TO JOINT RULE 51
UNTIL MONDAY, JANUARY 6TH, 2025,
AT 1 P.M. THE QUORUM CALL IS
LIFTED AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
NICELY DONE, NICELY DONE.
ALL MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S
CAUCUS, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO
THE ROSTRUM FOR A GROUP PHOTO,
AND ALL MEMBERS WILL.