Senate confirms several appointments including Gambling Control Commission nominee Stacy Luna Baxter

The California State Senate confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments during its floor session, including Stacy Luna Baxter for the Gambling Control Commission and four nominees for boards and commissions.

Senator Shannon Grove presented the confirmation for Stacy Luna Baxter, noting she served as executive director of the Gambling Control Commission since Feb. 15 and has over 31 years of state service, including time with the Bureau of Gambling Controls and the Department of Justice. Grove asked members for an aye vote; the roll call resulted in the appointment being confirmed, according to the transcript.

Senator Grove also presented a slate of additional nominees: Antonio Benjamin for the Health Facilities Financing Authority; Amanda Gallo, Michael Mark and Henry Nutt for the Contractors State License Board; and Benet Kallik for the Native American Heritage Commission. Those nominees were vetted and approved by the Senate Rules Committee on a 5–0 vote before reaching the floor. The floor roll call for those appointments recorded “Ayes, 38. No 0,” and the appointments were confirmed.

The confirmations were taken without extended floor debate. The transcript records the Rules Committee recommendations and the roll-call approvals but does not include additional legislative conditions attached to these confirmations.

Among the confirmed nominees were career state employees and applicants who had appeared before the Rules Committee for background review. The Senate did not amend any of the appointments on the floor, and the confirmed nominees will take up duties in their respective boards and commissions according to each agency’s onboarding processes.