SACRAMENTO (AP) — Parliamentary procedure has given way to a parliamentary proposal in the California Assembly.

First-term Democratic lawmaker Luis Alejo of Watsonville surprised his girlfriend during Monday's floor session when he took the microphone and proposed as his Assembly colleagues looked on.

Karina Cervantez, a 32-year-old doctoral candidate in social psychology at UC Santa Cruz, said she thought Alejo had invited her to be his guest to celebrate their seventh dating anniversary.

Lawmakers roared their approval after she said yes and shouted "Si se puede," or "Yes we can," in keeping with the spirit of an earlier of Cinco de Mayo recognition.

Showing off her diamond ring later, Cervantez said she was "still shocked."

The 38-year-old lawmaker said he wanted to make the event special and have "a lot of witnesses."