California Senate adopts resolutions on milk donation, composting, tardive dyskinesia and student mental health; confirms several appointments

The California State Senate on May 9, 2025, adopted four ceremonial and awareness resolutions and confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments by unanimous roll call.

Senators voted 36–0 to adopt Senate Resolution 20 declaring May as California Human Milk Donation Month, Senate Concurrent Resolution 68 proclaiming a week of awareness for tardive dyskinesia, Senate Concurrent Resolution 70 declaring Compost Awareness Week, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 64 establishing Student Mental Health Awareness Week for May 5–9. The Senate also confirmed the governor’s appointments, including Jennifer Lucchese as director of the Department of Conservation and three appointees to the California Student Aid Commission.

SR 20: Human milk donation

Senator Cortese presented SR 20 to declare May as California Human Milk Donation Month, calling attention to nonprofit milk banks and hospital initiatives that provide donor milk for infants who lack access to parental breast milk. Cortese noted examples highlighted in remarks, including public-health outcomes associated with organized donation programs abroad and a National Institutes of Health figure cited in the remarks that about 300,000 U.S. infants are admitted annually to neonatal intensive care units. The resolution text and remarks named two nonprofit milk banks in California: Mother's Milk Bank California (Santa Clara County) and the UCHealth Milk Bank at UC San Diego. Cortese requested the Senate’s aye vote; the measure passed on a unanimous roll call.

SCR 68: Tardive dyskinesia awareness

Senator Blake Spear, speaking as vice chair of the California Rare Diseases Caucus, presented SCR 68 to proclaim a week of awareness for tardive dyskinesia (TD), a movement disorder that can arise as a side effect of antipsychotic medications. In prepared remarks cited to the chamber, Blake Spear said TD can cause uncontrollable repetitive movements and that some groups — older adults, people with mood or substance use disorders, people with intellectual disabilities, people of African descent, and women — may be at higher risk. The senator cited an estimate mentioned during remarks that about 600,000 adults in the United States may be living with TD and that roughly 70 percent of those estimated cases go undiagnosed. The resolution passed unanimously.

SCR 70: Compost Awareness Week

Also presented by Senator Blake Spear, SCR 70 declared a Compost Awareness Week and urged broader adoption of composting to reduce landfill waste, methane emissions and reliance on chemical fertilizers. In floor remarks the author and cosponsors emphasized compost’s benefits for soil health, water retention and wildfire recovery. The statement cited state law enacted in 2016 (SB 1383) that requires a 75 percent reduction in statewide organic waste disposal as part of California’s broader climate strategy. The resolution passed 36–0.

SCR 64: Student Mental Health Awareness Week

Senator Mangivar presented SCR 64 on behalf of Senator Rubio, declaring May 5–9 Student Mental Health Awareness Week. The resolution and remarks sought to raise awareness of youth mental-health challenges and resources; the floor remarks cited CDC data mentioned in the record that more than 42 percent of high-school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. The Senate adopted the resolution by unanimous roll call.

Confirmations

The Senate confirmed several gubernatorial appointments by voice and roll-call votes recorded as 36 ayes, no nays. File item 30 confirmed Jennifer Lucchese as director of the Department of Conservation. File item 31 confirmed appointments and reappointments to the California Student Aid Commission, including Patrick Day, Brian Hayes and Carrie Saravia as presented to the chamber. Senators who spoke during the confirmations noted each nominee’s background as part of the floor introductions; all confirmations passed on unanimous roll calls.

Votes at a glance

- SR 20 (Cortese) — California Human Milk Donation Month — Adopted, Ayes 36, No 0. - SCR 68 (Blake Spear) — Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week — Adopted, Ayes 36, No 0. - SCR 70 (Blake Spear) — Compost Awareness Week — Adopted, Ayes 36, No 0. - SCR 64 (Rubio, presented by Mangivar) — Student Mental Health Awareness Week (May 5–9) — Adopted, Ayes 36, No 0. - File item 30 — Confirmation: Jennifer Lucchese, Director, Department of Conservation — Confirmed, Ayes 36, No 0. - File item 31 — Confirmations: Patrick Day, Brian Hayes, Carrie Saravia to California Student Aid Commission — Confirmed, Ayes 36, No 0.

Why it matters

The adopted resolutions are ceremonial but signal legislative attention to public-health supports (donor human milk and TD screening), solid-waste and climate goals (composting and SB 1383 implementation), and student mental-health awareness. The confirmations place officials in roles — including the Department of Conservation director and members of the Student Aid Commission — who will affect state programs and implementation tied to those policy areas.

The Senate recessed after the floor session and scheduled the next floor meeting for Monday, May 12, 2025, at 2 p.m.