Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP attorney / California Reparations Task Force member — The speaker identifies as an attorney with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP and a former member of the California Reparations Task Force.
Bray Sanders — Bray Sanders speaks in strong support of SB 437 on behalf of the Black Power Network and the Alliance for Reparation and Reconciliation and Truth.
Monia Jennings — Speaks on behalf of the Greater Sacramento Urban League in full support of SB 437.
Chris Morales — Speaks for the CSU Office of the Chancellor in support of SB 437.
Benjamin Hendon — Name is introduced as a witness; affiliation is not fully captured in this section.
Constance French — Constance French, head of Mothers on a Mission to Save Our Children, gives opposition testimony. She says the psychological legacy of slavery still shapes how the public views Black people as inferior and argues that repair is needed, presenting the bill as one step toward that goal.
Constance French — Identifies herself and appears to be speaking in opposition, though the transcript is partially garbled.
Michael Willis — Michael Willis, a professional genealogist and board chair of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California, gives opposition testimony to SB 437. He explains his background and experience, cites his work in African American genealogy, and argues that established genealogical methodologies already exist and do not require a $6 million implementation cost. He closes with a joking remark that if the senator still intends to give $6 million to the CSUs, he could send her a bill as well.
Michael Willis — Michael Willis discussed how lineage determination works in foster care or other cases where a person has no knowledge or evidence of who their biological parents are. He explained that in such situations genetic genealogy may be necessary, and then noted that once that information is available, the process shifts into traditional genealogy, while acknowledging that some cases remain difficult and unique.
Chris Lodson — Introduces himself as lead volunteer organizer and advocate with the Coalition for Justice in Egwood, California, and opposes SB 437.
SB518 — Referenced as a separate bill authorizing a different genealogy process, creating conflict with SB 437.
SB518 — SB 518 is introduced as a priority bill, with the author accepting committee amendments and explaining that it would create the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery to implement task force recommendations and establish a permanent institutional framework for reparative work. Supporters describe it as creating a structured eligibility process for benefits and aligning with the Task Force Report’s recommendation. The committee then hears opposition testimony arguing the bill improperly places the bureau within the Department of Justice, raises privacy and scope concerns, and departs from lineage-based reparations recommendations, with speakers urging a no vote. The discussion ends with a note that committee amendments clarify any conflict with the previous bill.
SB518 — SB 518 was discussed as a bill deserving support, with the speaker urging support and asking to be added as a co-author. The speaker characterized it as an important step toward implementation and accountability, then asked for an aye vote. The sequence concluded with the motion to do pass the bill amended to Appropriations, and the bill was placed on call.
SB518 — Item 10 was called and passed out.
SB518 — Item SB 518 by Weber Pearson is called and voted on.
Mayor Washington — Identified as a community member in opposition to SB 437.
Carol Tolliver — Opposes SB 437 on behalf of the Coalition for Adjusting Equitable California.
Carol Tolliver — Identifies herself, appears to be affiliated with a coalition, and states opposition to SB 518.
Lynette Jackson — Lynette Jackson, speaking for the California Coalition for Equal Injustice, identifies herself and emphatically opposes SB 437.
Lynette Jackson — Identifies herself as being with the California Equal Justice League and states emphatic opposition to the bill.
Harold Simpson — Opposes SB 437, citing his father's military service and his own family history of slavery.
Kareem — States opposition from Stockton.
Darling Crummity — Speaks on behalf of several reparations and equity organizations and urges a no vote on SB 437.
Yasmin Abdu Sami Oakley — States opposition to SB 437 on behalf of East Palo Alto for Reparations and the Coalition for Adjusting Equitable California.
Kim Mims — Begins testimony in opposition on behalf of the Coalition for Adjusting Equitable California, ARC Sacramento, and Amend the Mass Media Group.
Kim Mims — Identifies herself with several organizations and states strong opposition to SB 518.
Molly Lyon — States she is with the Coalition for Justice in Equitable California and initially opposes the bill, then says she thought the measure was for the genealogy in the reparations bill.
Molly Lyon — Identifies herself with the Coalition for Just and Equitable California and states strong opposition to SB 518.
Blaine Bettinger — Named as a leading expert in genetic genealogy and author on tracing methodologies.
Tennesia Herring — Identified as a government relations specialist for the California NAACP and present with the speaker.
Mitch Steiger — Identifies himself as representing CFT and states support for SB 518.
Mitch Steiger — Testified in support on behalf of CFT.
Marshall Arnwine — Speaks on behalf of the ACLU of California in support of SB 518.
Marshall Arnwine — Testified in support on behalf of ACA of California Action.
Monaya Jennings — States support on behalf of the Greater Sacramento Urban League.
Debra Sanders McCalli — States support on behalf of the Black Power Network and the Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth.
Ginger Man Henderson — States support on behalf of the Western Center.
Eric Barreves — States support on behalf of the California Faculty Association.
Chris Lauchin — Speaks on behalf of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California in opposition to SB 518.
Darling Comedy — Identifies herself and speaks on behalf of Arc Bay Area, LEAP, and CBLC, asking for a no vote.
Karin Stockton — States opposition to SB 518.
SB5 — The speaker says there is serious conflict with SB 5 and SB 437 that must be addressed before the bills move forward.
SB52 — SB 52 is introduced and presented by Senator Perez as the End AI Rent Hikes Act. The discussion explains that the bill would make algorithmic collusion and rent-fixing illegal in California, with accountability and enforcement mechanisms, and would ban practices involving non-public data exchanges and common pricing algorithms. Supporters describe the bill as a meaningful step toward affordability and fair, open market competition, while opponents argue its language is too narrow and could fail to address the problem effectively or even make it harder to solve. The bill is then moved forward in committee, with additional remarks noting support for the bill and the need to align it with related legislation.
SB52 — Item 2 was called and the committee voted it out.
SB52 — Consent calendar item identified as SB 52 by Perez.
Megan Abel — Megan Abel, Senior Director of Advocacy for Tech Equity, was identified as a supporting witness and then testified in support of SB 52 on behalf of Tech Equity, introducing herself and describing her role with the organization.
Lee Hepner — Lee Hepner, Senior Legal Counsel for the American Economic Liberties Project, was identified as a supporting witness and then testified in support of SB 52. He described research on rent-fixing algorithms and presented his antitrust perspective.
Lee Hepner — Lee Hepner explained that non-public competitor data refers to sensitive landlord information—such as vacancy, occupancy, rent projections, and revenue obligations—that landlords have no reason to share with competitors. He identified RealPage as a key example of a website using such private data and referenced DOJ cases. When invited to add anything further, the discussion remained focused on the bill’s goal of encouraging fair, open market research based on public data rather than private competitor information.
Tech Equity — Described as a research and policy advocacy organization focused on responsible technology and accountability.
American Economic Liberties Project — Organization represented by Lee Hepner; described as studying price-fixing algorithms.