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Senate confirms appointments and passes package of bills and resolutions, including measures on albuterol in schools, fentanyl testing and digital replicas
Summary
The California State Senate confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments and passed a series of bills and resolutions on the floor, including confirmations for Caltrans leadership and measures on school albuterol stocking (SB 1347), juvenile fentanyl testing (SB 1234), and liability for AI-generated digital replicas (SB 1111).
The California State Senate moved through a packed floor calendar, confirming several gubernatorial appointees and passing a set of bills and resolutions spanning public health, technology, and civic education.
Appointments and confirmations: Senators voted to confirm Dina Eltawasi as director of the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), a 27-year civil-engineering veteran introduced by Senator Grove, and approved appointments to the Court Reporters Board, the California Commission on Disability Access, and the California Exposition and State Fair Board. The transcript records roll-call confirmations and later statements that the appointments were confirmed (recorded ayes noted during the session).
Major bills and resolutions: Among measures the Senate advanced or passed on third reading were: - SB 1347 (Sen. Nilo): a cleanup clarification that stock albuterol authorized in 2023 applies to all public schools, including preschools, described by the sponsor as aligning state law with the expansion of preschool access. - SB 1234 (Sen. Alvarado Gill): the "ABC Act," which would require that when a juvenile dependency court orders parental drug testing, fentanyl be included in the test panel; the sponsor cited sharply increased fentanyl poisonings among youth. - SB 1111 (Sen. Ashby): a framework to expand legal standing for victims whose voice or likeness is used without consent to create a digital replica, introduced as a response to AI-generated deepfakes and nonconsensual explicit content. - Numerous resolutions recognizing the service of Hmong and Laotian guerrilla units (SCR 143), proclaiming National County Government Month (SR 96), designating maternal mental health awareness month (SCR 161), and declaring high school voter education weeks (SCR 128) also passed on the floor.
Votes at a glance: The transcript records recorded roll calls with unanimous or near-unanimous ayes on many items; for example, several items recorded "Ayes 35, No 0" in the day's lifting-of-calls and passage confirmations. Where the transcript lists recorded tallies, those are reflected here; the official enrolled bill records should be consulted for certified vote tallies.
Context and next steps: Most measures received brief sponsor presentations on the floor with limited debate recorded in the transcript. The Senate also used the day for guest introductions (including veterans and CSAC leadership) and committee scheduling announcements. The transcript does not record post-passage enrollment or any subsequent executive action by the governor.
Ending: The day closed with an adjournment in memory of disability-rights activist Alice Wong and a reminder of the next floor session schedule.
