California Senate confirms three gubernatorial appointments, adopts consent calendar including SB 607
January 20, 2026 | California State Senate, Senate, Legislative, California
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The California State Senate on Jan. 16 confirmed three gubernatorial appointments and approved its consent calendar, including Senate Bill 607, after routine roll-call votes and unanimous-consent procedures.
Senator Laird presented the nominations and asked for affirmative votes. The chamber confirmed Courtney Welch to the California Housing Partnership Corporation board of directors after a roll call that resulted in 'Ayes 29, Noes 1,' and later confirmed Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission by similar roll-call tallies. The consent calendar, which included Senate Bill 607, was adopted with a recorded tally of 'Ayes 37, Noes 0.'
The confirmations were introduced as part of the daily file under Senator Laird. On Courtney Welch's nomination, Laird said Welch "serves as an Emeryville council member" and noted her work with the California Housing Defense Fund; Laird asked colleagues to support her confirmation. The secretary conducted the roll calls and the President announced each appointment confirmed after the tallies were read.
Separately, the Senate moved without objection to suspend Joint Rule 62a to permit certain bills to be heard in the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, "without sufficient notice in the daily file," according to the floor announcement.
The consent calendar adoption carried several items; the desk read file item 62 (Senate Bill 607) before the roll call that led to the unanimous recorded vote adopting the calendar. The President declared the consent calendar adopted following the 37-0 tally.
The Senate scheduled its next floor session for Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at 9 a.m. and recessed the morning sitting, with a reconvene planned later in the day for additional business.
Votes at a glance
- Courtney Welch — confirmation to California Housing Partnership Corporation board of directors; outcome: confirmed; tally recorded: Ayes 29, Noes 1. (Mover: Senator Laird)
- Janessa Goldbeck — confirmation to California Veterans Board; outcome: confirmed; tally recorded later with consent calendar: Ayes 37, Noes 0. (Mover: Senator Laird)
- Tom Huntington — confirmation to State Parks and Recreation Commission; outcome: confirmed; tally recorded: Ayes 28, Noes 0. (Mover: Senator Laird)
- Consent calendar (including Senate Bill 607, file item 62) — outcome: adopted; tally recorded: Ayes 37, Noes 0.
The Senate took these actions during its morning floor session; no contested debates on the merits of the nominees or SB 607 were recorded in the transcript of the morning sitting. The chamber moved on to ceremonial adjourned-in-memory items after adopting the consent calendar.
Senator Laird presented the nominations and asked for affirmative votes. The chamber confirmed Courtney Welch to the California Housing Partnership Corporation board of directors after a roll call that resulted in 'Ayes 29, Noes 1,' and later confirmed Janessa Goldbeck to the California Veterans Board and Tom Huntington to the State Parks and Recreation Commission by similar roll-call tallies. The consent calendar, which included Senate Bill 607, was adopted with a recorded tally of 'Ayes 37, Noes 0.'
The confirmations were introduced as part of the daily file under Senator Laird. On Courtney Welch's nomination, Laird said Welch "serves as an Emeryville council member" and noted her work with the California Housing Defense Fund; Laird asked colleagues to support her confirmation. The secretary conducted the roll calls and the President announced each appointment confirmed after the tallies were read.
Separately, the Senate moved without objection to suspend Joint Rule 62a to permit certain bills to be heard in the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, "without sufficient notice in the daily file," according to the floor announcement.
The consent calendar adoption carried several items; the desk read file item 62 (Senate Bill 607) before the roll call that led to the unanimous recorded vote adopting the calendar. The President declared the consent calendar adopted following the 37-0 tally.
The Senate scheduled its next floor session for Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at 9 a.m. and recessed the morning sitting, with a reconvene planned later in the day for additional business.
Votes at a glance
- Courtney Welch — confirmation to California Housing Partnership Corporation board of directors; outcome: confirmed; tally recorded: Ayes 29, Noes 1. (Mover: Senator Laird)
- Janessa Goldbeck — confirmation to California Veterans Board; outcome: confirmed; tally recorded later with consent calendar: Ayes 37, Noes 0. (Mover: Senator Laird)
- Tom Huntington — confirmation to State Parks and Recreation Commission; outcome: confirmed; tally recorded: Ayes 28, Noes 0. (Mover: Senator Laird)
- Consent calendar (including Senate Bill 607, file item 62) — outcome: adopted; tally recorded: Ayes 37, Noes 0.
The Senate took these actions during its morning floor session; no contested debates on the merits of the nominees or SB 607 were recorded in the transcript of the morning sitting. The chamber moved on to ceremonial adjourned-in-memory items after adopting the consent calendar.
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