CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

CHAPTER 34

Statutes of 2026

Introduced by Assembly Member Johnson

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lowenthal, Macedo, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ransom, Rivas, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, and Zbur)

February 11, 2026

Relative to Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.

Fiscal committee: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

This measure would commemorate February 26, 2026, as Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.

WHEREAS, February 26, 2026, is recognized nationally and internationally as Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, a signature event of Engineers Week dedicated to encouraging girls to explore careers in engineering and technology; and

WHEREAS, Women have historically made invaluable contributions to the diverse fields of engineering, yet remain underrepresented in both engineering education pathways and the professional engineering workforce; and

WHEREAS, In 1970, women comprised approximately 3 percent of the engineering workforce in the United States; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, women accounted for approximately 35 percent of the overall science and engineering workforce in the United States by 2023, reflecting progress across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields while underscoring persistent gaps in engineering specifically; and

WHEREAS, Women currently earn approximately 23 percent of bachelor’s degrees, 28.5 percent of master’s degrees, and 26 percent of doctoral degrees in engineering in the United States, demonstrating continued growth in educational attainment; and

WHEREAS, Despite these gains, women hold only about 16 percent of engineering jobs nationwide, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, highlighting the ongoing challenge of translating educational participation into workforce representation; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that girls often begin to lose interest in engineering and technology fields during middle school due to limited exposure, persistent stereotypes, and lack of role models, emphasizing the importance of early, hands-on engagement opportunities; and

WHEREAS, According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Global Education Monitoring data, women account for a substantially smaller share of engineering jobs and graduates worldwide, with global engineering workforce participation figures reported around 15 percent, reflecting a worldwide need to expand access and opportunity in engineering professions; and

WHEREAS, Numerous organizations and programs across the United States are dedicated to closing the gender gap in engineering by actively encouraging young women and girls to explore STEM fields that have been historically male dominated; and

WHEREAS, STEM industries play a critical role in maintaining California’s status as one of the world’s largest economies, with engineering at the forefront of innovation, infrastructure, sustainability, and public safety; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That February 26, 2026, is hereby commemorated by the Legislature as Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.