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

Senator Bill Monning presents his last bill as California Senator representing the 17th Senate District. Monning was elected to the Senate in 2012 and re-elected for his final term in 2016. He served as Majority Leader from 2014-2019. 

Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson presents her last bill at the end of a long tenure in the California Legislature. She served in the California Assembly from 1998 to 2004, and in the state Senate beginning in 2012. 

Senator Jerry Hill is term-limited after 8 years as a California Senator. Hill represents the 13th Senate District which encompasses parts of the San Francisco Peninsula and portions of Silicon Valley. Prior to his election to the Senate, Hill served in the California Assembly from 2008-2012.

Senator Jim Beall is term-limited after 8 years in the California Senate. Beall was first elected to the Senate in 2012, representing the 15th Senate District which encompasses California's South Bay and Silicon Valley. Like his term-limited colleagues, Beall served in the California Assembly before his election to the Senate in 2012.

Members of the Senate confer in a socially-distanced, late-night Sine Die session. 

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

The clock strikes midnight, marking the end of the 2019-2020 Legislative Session. The Senate will reconvene on December 7, 2020. 

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

The California Capitol was lit purple and gold Wednesday night to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The 19th Amendment, which gave white women the right to vote in the United States, was ratified on August 26, 1920

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

Senate Budget Committee Chair, Senator Holly Mitchell presents the budget bill for consideration on the Senate floor. State lawmakers met their constitutionally-required responsibility of passing a balanced budget by June 15, 2020

Senator Jim Nielsen

Senator Mike McGuire

Senator Bill Monning

Senate President pro Tempore, Toni Atkins

Senator Jerry Hill

Because of strict social distancing protocols on the Senate floor, Senate members take desks that were formally used by staff members

Senator Maria Elena Durazo

Senator Bob Archuleta

Senator Lena A. Gonzalez convened the first hearing of the Senate’s special committee on Pandemic Emergency Response to hear directly from state and local government officials, academics and other experts involved in COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. All Senate committee hearings have implemented strict health protections and social distancing procedures. 

Senator Anna Caballero

Senator Connie Leyva chairs a hearing of the Senate Education Committee

With health and safety precautions implemented in the Capitol building, the Senate resumed legislative hearings on May 11, 2020.  Senator Anthony Portantino presents legislation in a controlled hearing room.

Senator Richard Pan

Senator Bill Monning, Senate Health Committee

Senator Mike McGuire chairs the Senate Governance & Finance Committee

Senator Jim Nielsen

On April 16, 2020, Senator Holly Mitchell convened the Senate's bipartisan Special Budget Subcommittee on COVID-19 Response to review expenditures and provide legislative oversight of the $1 billion COVID-19 appropriation passed in March.   

Senator Jim Beall

Senator Bill Dodd chairs the Senate Governmental Organization Committee from the Senate chamber dais

Senator Jerry Hill