James Mills was elected to the California Senate in 1966 to represent the 40th Senate District and served as president pro Tem from 1970-1980. Senator Mills retired from the Senate in 1982.

Senator Jim Nielsen, considered the "Dean of the Senate" because of his lengthy service to the Legislature, served alongside Senator James Mills in the 1970s and early 1980s and shared his recollections of the former pro Tem.  

Senator Hertzberg shares memories of former Senator James Mills before the Senate adjourns in his memory.

Senator Mike McGuire

Senator Henry Stern

Senator John Laird

California was the first state in the nation to create an annual state holiday honoring César Chávez's birthday. March 31st has been observed as a state holiday in the state since 2000, when the Legislature passed and Governor Gray Davis signed into law Senate Bill 984 (Chapter 213 of the Statutes of 2000)  (photo used with permission from Jocelyn Sherman, UFW)

Senator Lena Gonzalez presents a resolution marking César Chávez’s birthday, March 31, as a day of public service and calling upon all Californians to recognize the hard work and self-sacrifice that farmworkers go through to feed all the families in our state.

Senator Dave Cortese

Senator María Elena Durazo

Senator Robert Hertzberg

Senator Bob Archuleta

Senator Andreas Borgeas

Senator Melissa Melendez

Senator Richard Pan, chair of the California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus opens the Senate with a prayer calling for support and unity against the rising tide of violence facing Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities.

A moment of silence in honor and remembrance of the victims of the Atlanta shootings and for all victims of anti-Asian violence.

Senator Josh Newman

Senator Dave Min presents a resolution denouncing hate crimes, hateful rhetoric, and hateful acts against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.  

Senator Sydney Kamlager

Senator Richard Roth

Senator Steve Glazer

Senator Bill Dodd

Senator Patricia Bates

Senator Tom Umberg

Senator Brian Jones

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh

Senator Bob Wieckowski

Senator Anthony Portantino

Senator Ben Hueso

Senators Atkins, Gonzalez, Durazo, Rubio, Skinner, Leyva, Bates, Kamlager, Caballero, and Eggman wore beaded "dissent collars" in honor and remembrance of the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Senator Susan Rubio commemorates March 15 as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Day on what would have been the Supreme Court Justice's 88th birthday.

Senators Gonzalez and Leyva greet each other with an "elbow bump"

Senator Sydney Kamlager of Los Angeles is sworn into office one week after being elected to represent California's 30th Senate District. 

Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins administers the oath of office to Sydney Kamlager, California's newest state senator. 

Senator Sydney K. Kamlager and her husband, Austin Dove, during her swearing-in ceremony

Senator Patricia Bates

Senator Bill Dodd

Senator Brian Dahle

Senator Ben Allen

Senator Melissa Hurtado

Mindful of social distancing protocol, Senators Bob Archuleta and Susan Rubio greet each other with an "elbow bump" on the Senate floor.

Senator Josh Becker leads the Senate in prayer at the start of the session.

Senators Josh Newman and Tom Umberg

Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins confers with Senate Minority Leader Scott Wilk at the start of Senate session

Senator Steven Bradford introduces a measure recognizing February 2021 as Black History Month. SCR 10 urges citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans during Black History Month and encourages the people of California to recognize the many talents, achievements, and contributions of African Americans.

Senator Shannon Grove

Senator Scott Wiener confers with Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh

Senator Lena Gonzalez

Happy Lunar New Year 2021. The Year of the Ox 农历新年快乐

Senator Connie Leyva

Senator Melissa Melendez

Senator María Elena Durazo

Senators Josh Newman and Richard Roth

Senator Dave Cortese

Senator Tom Umberg

Senator Ben Hueso

Senator Brian Jones

Senator Josh Newman

The dome of the state Capitol in Sacramento is awash in golden light in honor of the lives lost to COVID-19. At the Presidential Inaugural Committee's invitation, cities and towns around the country were invited to illuminate buildings and ring church bells in a national moment of unity and remembrance. 

Senator Steven Bradford presents a resolution to honor the late civil rights icon Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and commemorate what would have been his 92nd birthday on January 15, 2021. King's birthday is a federal holiday in the United States and will be observed on Monday, January 18, 2021.

Senator Connie Leyva

Senate Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg

Senator Susan Eggman

Senate Minority Leader Shannon Grove

Senator Richard Pan speaks on behalf of the Asian-Pacific Island caucus in recognition of Dr. King's contributions to the civil rights movement.  

Senator Scott Wilk 

Senator Dave Cortese

Senators John Laird and Dave Min greet each other with an elbow bump before the start of session

Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins welcomes members back to the Senate for the start of the new year.  

Senators Jim Nielsen, Shannon Grove and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh

Senator Scott Wiener

Senators Mike McGuire and Dave Min

Senators Bill Dodd and Bob Wieckowski

Senator Jim Nielsen

Senator Susan Eggman

Senators Anthony Portantino and Ben Allen

Senators Richard Pan, Nancy Skinner and John Laird

Senators Anna Caballero and Richard Roth

Senators Josh Becker and Susan Eggman

Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins convened the 2021-22 legislative session with a constitutionally-required organizational session that included the swearing-in of new and re-elected Senators, the election of Senate officers, and the opening of the Senate Desk for bill introductions.

Senate President pro Tempore Senator Toni G. Atkins

This year's organizational session was streamed online and modified to include several COVID-19 safety protocols, including health screenings, mandatory masks, physical distancing, and air filtration. 

In the abbreviated ceremony, 17 senators were sworn into office, including new and re-elected members; three others will be sworn in at a later time. In compliance with county health directives, family members and guests were not permitted on the Senate floor.

Justice Martin Jenkins administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected and re-elected Senators. Justice Jenkins was sworn in as  California Supreme Court Justice in December 2020.   

Senator Susan Eggman, Senate District 5 

Senator Josh Becker, Senate District 13

Senator Dave Cortese, Senate District 15

Senator John Laird, Senate District 17

Senator Monique Limón, Senate District 19

Senator Dave Min, Senate District 37

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, Senate District 23

Senator Connie Leyva presides during the last day of the 2019-2020 Senate session

Seats in the Senate Gallery are marked off to enforce social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Senator Tom Berryhill served California's 8th Senate District from 2010-2018. He was a farmer and small business owner who also represented the 25th Assembly District (2006-2010) and most recently as the 4th District representative on the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors. Berryhill's father, Clare Berryhill served in the Senate in the 1970s, and his brother, Bill Berryhill served in the Assembly, alongside his brother, from 2008-2012

Senator Steven Bradford kneels during a moment of silence on the Senate floor

Senator Mike McGuire

Senate President pro Tempore, Toni Atkins

Senator Bob Archuleta