ASUCD Senate passes two environmental bills at April 2 meeting
The first meeting of spring quarter also saw the appointment of the Senate President Pro Tempore
By AALIYAH ESPAÑOL-RIVAS — campus@theaggie.org
At their first meeting of spring quarter, the ASUCD Senate passed two Senate Bills (SB), SB#86 and SB#90, that address environmental concerns.
SB#86, authored by Senator Ezra Rubin, limits ASUCD Student Government paper usage by instituting “a formal ban on printed paper materials in all internal operations.” The bill promotes alternatives, such as printing on scratch paper, printing on both sides or using online materials in place of physical copies. It passed unanimously.
At the meeting, ASUCD Controller Trinity Chow briefly made a joke about her usage of paper during the 2025-2026 budget hearings; during hearings, she provided senators and members of the public an over 30-page physical paper packet.
“I like the vibes of the bill,” Chow said. “I just wish Ezra would tell me to my face that he didn’t like my budget packet.”
SB#90 allocated $287.25 to the Environmental Policy and Planning Commission (EPPC) for a supply of compostable foodware for ASUCD entities.
Authored by EPPC Commission Member Tiffany Owens, a second-year environmental policy analysis and planning major, SB#90 is part of a continued effort by EPPC’s audit team, which recommends environmentally friendly alternatives to current actions and purchases within ASUCD units. Units can utilize the foodware by emailing EPPC their needed amount of each item and the date by which they require the foodware, according to the bill. The bill was passed unanimously.
The table also unanimously passed one piece of emergency legislation, SB#91, which allocated $1,060.75 to account for unforeseen costs for the Punjabi New Year “Jaggo Night” celebration hosted by the Office of Senator Harshpartap Dhillon on April 3.
Other Matters
The first meeting of the quarter also saw the appointment of the Senate President Pro Tempore, who assists and presides over legislative meetings with the internal vice president (IVP).
Senator Luis L. Garcia, who served as pro tempore in fall quarter 2025, nominated Senator Jaliah Payne for the role and highlighted her dedication to the Association.
“I recommend Jaliah, because we've seen how much she's done just in the last quarter alone,” Garcia said. “She's taken up these two quarters advocating for her people. When I spoke to Jaliah, she had a lot of solid plans to be a productive pro tempore [and] be a productive presiding officer, because she knows what it takes to get work done.”
Unopposed, Payne was appointed, becoming the first female pro tempore since current IVP Dhilena Wickramasinghe served in the role as a senator in winter quarter 2025. Payne succeeds Senator Phoenix List; her term as pro tempore will span spring quarter 2026.
During open forum, ASUCD President Amrita Julka reminded the table to be respectful ahead of the spring election season, with some current senators — namely Garcia and Senator Aaron Heth — running to replace her when her terms end in June.
“I just wanted to make a general announcement, because it is election season and things get crazy,” Julka said. “Please just be nice and respectful and have dignity, respect for yourself and for others. Please don’t cyberbully. Please don’t be messy. Please don't be weird. It's not a good look. And it does go to The California Aggie newspaper and then it's really not a good look. You don't want when someone searches your name up to be an Aggie article about how you cheated.”
Recent ASUCD elections, which are held twice during the academic year, have included several controversies.
During the 2025 spring election season, the “Unite for Action” slate — which included the executive ticket challenging Julka — was dissolved following the disqualification of its presidential ticket for multiple campaign violations. They included improper campaigning on social media and late-night door knocking. Similarly, the fall 2025 election saw the disqualification of two Senate candidates, including Heth, before his disqualification was overturned upon appeal.
Legislation Tracker
Limits ASUCD Student Government paper usage and creates a formal ban on printed paper materials in all internal operations.
Passed unanimously
Allocates $287.25 to the Environmental Policy and Planning Commission (EPPC) to purchase a supply of compostable foodware for usage by ASUCD entities.
Passed unanimously
(Emergency Legislation)
Allocates $1,060.75 to account for unforeseen costs for the Punjabi New Year “Jaggo Night” celebration hosted by the Office of Senator Harshpartap Dhillon on April 3.
Passed unanimously
Written by: Aaliyah Español-Rivas — campus@theaggie.org