Leadership & Committee Changes Afoot
The inauguration of Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) as Speaker of the Assembly took place on June 30.
Speaker Rivas promised to lead with “urgency and unity” saying his highest priorities are to address housing affordability, homelessness, climate change, as well as improving schools and infrastructure.
In speaking to reporters after his inauguration, Speaker Rivas said, he “thrives off of structure” and will seek to create priorities within the Assembly Democrat caucus that they can work to achieve each year.
For the first time in many years, the Assembly speaker hails from a rural community with agricultural roots. Speaker Rivas represents a Central Coast district comprising Gilroy, Hollister, King City, Salinas, Soledad, and Watsonville. He grew up in a farmworker family in Paicines, a rural town in San Benito County.
Prior to becoming Speaker, he served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors for two terms. In the Assembly, Rivas served as chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and was vice chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus.
Ag Council congratulates Speaker Rivas on his inauguration and looks forward to working with him on the many issues impacting our members.
CHANGES IN THE ASSEMBLY
Today, July 3, Speaker Rivas appointed members of his leadership team and committee chairs, including a new Agriculture Committee chair.
Speaker pro Tempore
Speaker Rivas selected Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) to serve as Speaker pro Tempore. In this position, she will preside over floor sessions in the absence of the speaker.
We congratulate Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry who represents multiple Ag Council members in her district. Our team has worked with her on multiple issues affecting agriculture, and we are excited to work with her in this leadership role.
Majority Leader
Speaker Rivas appointed Assemblymember Issac Bryan (D-Los Angeles). The majority leader’s duties include efficiently managing Assembly floor proceedings through parliamentary procedures and encouraging harmony among the membership.
Assembly Agriculture Committee
With Speaker Rivas leaving a vacancy at the Assembly Agriculture Committee, he appointed Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced) to take his place as chair of the committee.
Ag Council looks forward to continuing to work with her in this position as she represents many of our members in her district, which comprises parts of Fresno, Madera and Merced counties.