Blanca Rubio — Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organizations, opened the informational hearing and later continued presiding over the proceedings, being addressed as 'Madam Chair' and moving the committee to the next item after taking questions.
AB1527 — AB 1527 is identified as one of the ratification bills for the four compacts, alongside SB 864, in a continuous discussion of the compact ratification process.
SB864 — SB 864 is identified as one of the ratification bills for the four compacts, with the discussion simply reiterating that it will be considered later on the Assembly floor.
Matthew Lee — Matthew Lee is welcomed to the committee as Senior Advisor for Tribal Negotiations for Governor Newsom.
Mr. Lee — Mr. Lee is thanked after earlier questions, then explains that the compact is being amended because the original agreement from 2011/2012 is outdated and the tribe is nearing casino operations. He says the update was done collaboratively with the tribe to bring the compact into line with current law and more recent compacts. Later, he is introduced again to discuss the next compact, where he begins explaining how the Ninth Circuit’s Chicken Ranch decision created uncertainty about how it applies to the compact.
Mr. Cody Martinez — Mr. Cody Martinez, the chairman of the Siquan Band of Kumayana Nation, is identified as a witness who will testify on Zoom, and the committee then asks that he be brought onto Zoom.
Chairman Martinez — Mr. Lee expresses gratitude to the tribe and Chairman Martinez, crediting a collaborative dispute resolution process for helping the parties reach an agreement.
Cody Martinez — Cody Martinez, the elected chairman, introduces himself and speaks about the tribe’s significant regional employment impact, noting that the tribe employs over 3,000 people and that most team members are non-Indian. He also highlights the success of the tribe’s casino resort and expresses hope, with legislative support, that it will continue operating for many years.
Mr. Matthew Lee — Chairman Martinez thanks him for working with the tribe during negotiations.
Chairman Cody Martinez — The chair thanks him for his presentation before adjourning.