California Assembly establishes October 23 as Korean Ginseng Day

The California State Assembly convened on July 7, 2025, to address a series of legislative items during its Assembly Floor Session. The meeting commenced with the second reading of file items 1 through 20, where the clerk read various Senate bills, all of which were deemed read and their amendments adopted.

Following this, the Assembly moved to items on concurrence, specifically file items 21 through 28. Items 21 through 25 were passed and retained, leading to a discussion on Assembly Bill 1416, introduced by Assemblymember Ta. This bill, relating to taxation, returned for concurrence after passing with strong bipartisan support and no opposition in the Senate. Assemblymember Ta requested an "aye" vote, and the bill was subsequently concurred with a vote tally of 60 in favor and none against.

The Assembly then proceeded to the third reading, passing and retaining items 29 and 30 before addressing Assembly Concurrent Resolution 1, presented by Assemblymember Quirk Silva. This resolution establishes October 23 as Korean Ginseng Day in California, celebrating the cultural significance of Korean ginseng and its health benefits. Assemblymember Quirk Silva emphasized the importance of ginseng in Korean culture and its contributions to health and wellness. The resolution received enthusiastic support, with Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez also voicing his backing and sharing personal anecdotes about ginseng.

The Assembly opened the roll for co-authors, adding 62 members without objection, and a voice vote confirmed the resolution's adoption. Following this, Assemblymember Quirk Silva introduced distinguished guests from Korea, acknowledging their presence in recognition of Ginseng Day.

The session continued with Assemblymember Pellerin introducing members of scouting troop 529 from Los Gatos, who were present to learn about civic engagement and the legislative process. The Assembly welcomed these young visitors warmly.

As the meeting progressed, the Assembly moved to the Senate third reading file, passing and retaining items 34 through 59, before addressing Senate Bill 119, presented by Assemblymember Gabriel. This bill pertains to public social services and includes budget appropriations, marking a significant step in the Assembly's ongoing legislative efforts.

Overall, the session highlighted the Assembly's commitment to cultural recognition, bipartisan cooperation, and civic education, with several key resolutions and bills advancing through the legislative process.