Bill Text: CA ACR201 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: The Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-05-07 - From printer. [ACR201 Detail]
Download: California-2025-ACR201-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 201
| Introduced by Assembly Members Lee and Ramos (Principal coauthor: Senator Cervantes) |
May 06, 2026 |
Relative to the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 201, as introduced, Lee.
The Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall.
This measure establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall, comprised of 7 Members of the Senate and 7 Members of the Assembly, as specified, to provide a permanent and public forum for legislators to request to the Congress of the United States potential replacements of one or both of California’s statues in the National Statuary Hall, until abolished by the Legislature.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: NOBill Text
WHEREAS, On December 16, 1857, the United States House of Representatives first convened in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol, where it continues to meet presently; and
WHEREAS, Before December 16, 1857, the United States House of Representatives regularly met in the Old Hall of the House of the United States Capitol, which has since been renamed the National Statuary Hall; and
WHEREAS, In 1864, the Congress of the United States invited each state to provide two statues of distinguished citizens to display in the National Statuary Hall; and
WHEREAS, In 1931, the State of California provided two statues for display at the National Statuary Hall, the first of which honored Thomas Starr King, a unitarian minister and abolitionist, and the second of which honored Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish missionary who led the effort to establish missions in the state; and
WHEREAS, Public Law 106-504, codified in Section 2132 of Title 2 of the United States Code, explicitly authorizes any state to request the replacement of a statue that the state previously provided for display in the National Statuary Hall; and
WHEREAS, On September 8, 2006, the Legislature approved Senate Joint Resolution 3 to request the Congress of the United States to replace the statue of Thomas Starr King with a statue of Ronald Reagan, who had served as both Governor of the State of California and President of the United States; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, the Congress of the United States granted the Legislature’s request and replaced the statue of Thomas Starr King with a statue of Ronald Reagan in the National Statuary Hall; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature would benefit from a permanent forum for legislators to request potential statue replacements in the National Statuary Hall, and for those requests to be considered in a thoughtful and deliberate manner; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall is hereby established for the purpose of creating a permanent forum for legislators to request potential statue replacements in the National Statuary Hall; and be it further
Resolved, That the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall shall be in continuous existence until abolished by the Legislature; and be it further
Resolved, That the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall shall consist of 14 members, and shall include seven Members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and seven Members of the Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and that the Senate Committee on Rules and Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint one member of their own house from each of the following representative caucuses: the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, the California Latino Legislative Caucus, the California Legislative Black Caucus, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, the California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus, the California Legislative Native American Caucus, and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus; and be it further
Resolved, That the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall shall be under the direction of a chairperson and vice chairperson, which shall alternate between the Senate and the Assembly from session to session; and be it further
Resolved, That upon the written request of a Member of the Senate or Assembly, the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall may provide a public forum for discussion of any potential changes to either of the two California statues in the National Statuary Hall; and be it further
Resolved, That, in order to assist the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall in carrying out its duties, the joint committee may form advisory committees, including representatives from the public, to help evaluate potential statue changes, and to take active roles in supporting the passage of any necessary legislation; and be it further
Resolved, That the Joint Legislative Committee on California Representation in the National Statuary Hall may work in cooperation with the Governor to address the level of support necessary to effectuate a statue change in the National Statuary Hall; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
