WHEREAS, Women of every culture, class, and ethnic background have been essential participants in the founding and building of our nation and the State of California and have made historic and substantial contributions to the growth and strength of our nation and state; and

WHEREAS, Women have been and continue to be groundbreakers in every facet of our economic, civic, academic and cultural life, and responsible for significant firsts in business, science, athletics, technology, medicine, arts, and culture; and

WHEREAS, Women have been leaders in every movement for social change, including their own movement for suffrage and equal rights, the fight for emancipation, the struggle to organize labor unions, and the civil rights movement, as well as leading the call for peace and organizing to preserve the environment; and

WHEREAS, Despite the significant contributions women have made, many achievements by women have been largely overlooked and unacknowledged, which has contributed to the pervasive gender inequity present throughout American society; and

WHEREAS, The observance of Womens History Week was initiated by the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in 1978, an occasion that was then enacted by Congress in 1987 as National Womens History Month in perpetuity in acknowledgment that the significant contributions made by women to every field of American life were largely undocumented and unknown and deserve to be recognized; and

WHEREAS, Womens History Month is now commemorated throughout the nation by states, schools, historians, and community groups, providing an opportunity to focus attention on the historical role and accomplishments of women so all can benefit from an awareness of these contributions; and

WHEREAS, Womens History Month will be not only a call to acknowledge the outstanding American, and in particular, Californian, women whose names we know, but also a call to pay homage to the many women who have anonymously shaped our collective past; and

WHEREAS, The achievements of the women who have gone before us will enable contemporary women and men to create tomorrows history by working toward an end to physical and sexual violence against women, discrimination and harassment in employment and education, and the relegation to poverty status of many women and by advocating for the full participation of women in every arena, whether politics, government, business, science, technology, or academia, as well as equal access to all of the opportunities our great nation has to offer; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly takes pleasure in joining the United States Congress and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls in honoring the contributions of women, and proclaims the month of March 2026 as Womens History Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Vice Chair of the California Legislative Womens Caucus and to the Chair of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls for distribution to appropriate organizations, and to the California State Librarian.

Date of Hearing: March 9, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES

Blanca Pacheco, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:HR 81 (

Author:Aguiar-Curry) – As Introduced Ver:February 5, 2026

SUBJECT: Women’s History Month.

SUMMARY: Proclaims the month of March 2026 as Women’s History Month; and, provides that the Assembly takes pleasure in joining the United States Congress and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls in honoring the contributions of women. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Women of every culture, class, and ethnic background have been essential participants in the founding and building of our nation and the State of California, and have made historic and substantial contributions to the growth and strength of our nation and state.
2. Women have been and continue to be groundbreakers in every facet of our economic, civic, academic and cultural life, and responsible for significant “firsts” in business, science, athletics, technology, medicine, arts, and culture.
3. Women have been leaders in every movement for social change, including their own movement for suffrage and equal rights, the fight for emancipation, the struggle to organize labor unions, and the civil rights movement, as well as leading the call for peace and organizing to preserve the environment.
4. Despite the significant contributions women have made, many achievements by women have been largely overlooked and unacknowledged, which has contributed to the pervasive gender inequity present throughout American society.
5. The observance of Women’s History Week was initiated by the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in 1978, an occasion that was then enacted by Congress in 1987 as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity in acknowledgment that the significant contributions made by women to every field of American life were largely undocumented and unknown and deserve to be recognized.
6. The achievements of the women who have gone before us will enable contemporary women and men to create tomorrow’s history by working toward an end to physical and sexual violence against women, discrimination and harassment in employment and education, and the relegation to poverty status of many women.
7. Women’s History Month is now commemorated throughout the nation by states, schools, historians, and community groups, providing an opportunity to focus attention on the historical role and accomplishments of women so all can benefit from an awareness of these contributions.
8. Women’s History Month will be not only a call to acknowledge the outstanding American, and in particular, Californian, women whose names we know, but also a call to pay homage to the many women who have anonymously shaped our collective past.

FISCAL EFFECT: This resolution is keyed non-fiscal by Legislative Counsel.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800