CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

CHAPTER 39

Statutes of 2026

Introduced by Assembly Member Patel

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

February 18, 2026

Relative to Women in STEM Day.

Fiscal committee: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

This measure would proclaim March 21, 2026, as California Women in STEM Day.

WHEREAS, California as a state is committed towards promoting diversity and gender equality by ensuring that all genders have equal opportunity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); and

WHEREAS, Throughout history, women have made extensive contributions in the areas of STEM; and

WHEREAS, Data indicates that gender image, as it relates to STEM subjects in school, may impact a young woman’s aspirations to pursue college-level studies and careers in STEM industries; and

WHEREAS, Women are underrepresented in STEM-related fields, comprising approximately 17.6 percent of workers in STEM-related jobs, despite advancements in technology which have resulted in an increased number of STEM jobs overall; and

WHEREAS, Female scientists and engineers have made enormous strides in occupations concentrated in the fields of biological sciences (55 percent) and chemical and material sciences (36 percent) as compared to the past; and

WHEREAS, The percentage of women occupying engineering has remained stagnant (15 percent), while chemical and material science occupations have decreased compared to the past (40 percent); and

WHEREAS, Without women, many of the advancements in STEM would not be seen in today’s society; and

WHEREAS, California encourages the participation of women to join STEM careers to level the gender imbalances within those careers; and

WHEREAS, California celebrates, supports, and commends those who have aided in furthering the participation and involvement of women in STEM careers and activities; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims March 21, 2026, as California Women in STEM Day; and be it further

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