 Banning Child Marriage in California
This month, we were thrilled to see Commission co-sponsored bill AB1267 (Pellerin) voted unanimously out of the Assembly and sent to the Governor’s desk for signature. Hearing the moving testimony from child marriage survivors and seeing how many in the gallery held back tears once AB 1267 moved to a final floor vote crystalized the importance of this nearly ten-year effort led by multiple legislative leaders and our co-sponsors, Unchained At Last.
Marriage is more than a ceremony, it’s a legal contract that confers more than a thousand federal rights and protections, along with hundreds more at the state level. As such, marriage requires the capacity for adult decision-making. In California, the age of consent is 18, and marrying as a child does not magically transform a child into a legal adult. A child bride cannot suddenly vote, buy alcohol or a lottery ticket, seek protective orders, or stay in most domestic violence shelters.
Girls in child marriages face heightened risks of domestic violence, homelessness, financial dependency, and abuse. Data shows the average age difference between a pregnant 15-year-old child and the man involved is about 4 to 6 years, with many men being legal adults. Child marriage has long been used as a legal defense to evade accountability for statutory rape, domestic violence, human trafficking, and other gender-based violence. It acts as a legal shield for child predators and traffickers, and we are honored to have been part of the broad coalition effort to put an end to this human rights abuse in California.
I want to offer a very heartfelt thank you to our co-sponsors Unchained At Last, and the coalition of advocates who fought for this bill and to the Girl Scouts who joined the effort and author and Commissioner Assemblymember Gail Pellerin whose perseverance and dedication to building a better future for California’s children created the momentum to get us this far.
We are almost at the finish line. We are one signature away from ending child marriage in California. Please send in your letters of support to the Governor’s office at leg.unit@gov.ca.gov to show how vital this issue is to Californians and finally end the practice of child marriage in our state.
Darcy Totten
Executive Director
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 Thank You, 2025-2026 YAC Cohort!
Thank you to our incredible 2025-2026 Youth Advisory Council cohort for your unique perspectives and unwavering commitment to shaping a stronger future for California’s girls. We appreciate your dedication to being a member of the Commission’s YAC as your voices, leadership, and service have made a meaningful impact in elevating awareness on youth issues in California, specifically through the lived experience of being a girl.
Stay tuned for updates soon on the 2026-2027 YAC cohort!
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Solis Policy Institute (SPI) Summer Retreat
The Commission’s Executive Director Darcy Totten and Senior Policy Specialist Katherine Squire were guest speakers at SPI’s Summer Retreat, an immersive leadership and community-building experience designed for emerging youth leaders across California.
Throughout the retreat, participants explored leadership identities and engaged with core topics such as civic engagement, policy advocacy, community organizing, and self-care, strengthening the foundation for their ongoing growth as leaders in their communities.
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Calling All Explorers – Free State Parks Pass for 4th Graders
California State Parks’ Free Fourth Grade Pass allows California fourth graders and their families unlimited free visits to 54 participating state parks. Parents and guardians can now download this free pass for their incoming fourth grader at ReserveCalifornia.com.
 Legislative Update
The California Legislature concluded its 2025-2026 legislative session on Monday August 31, 2026, taking final votes on thousands of bills and sending them to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk to await signature. This included passing various Commission priority bills related to gender-based violence, women veterans, education, healthcare, and many other issue areas. The Commission’s full legislative priority list for the year can be found on our webpage. We invite partners to write letters to Governor Newsom in support of these important measures as they wait for a decision. Support letters to Governor Newsom can be emailed to leg.unit@gov.ca.gov.
The Commission also hosted its third policy convening of the year on Monday, August 10th, where we were joined by Unchained At Last who shared updates on AB 1267 (Pellerin), co-sponsored by the Commission and Unchained At Last to set the minimum age to marry at 18 years of age.
The bill was also recently heard and voted on in the Assembly Judiciary committee, where Executive Director Darcy Totten, Christina Sutton, a child marriage survivor, and various Girl Scouts provided support testimony. The bill unanimously passed out of the committee and passed by unanimous vote out of the Assembly and is headed to the Governor’s desk!
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First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom Convenes California’s Social Health Council
 First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced the convening of California’s first-ever Social Health Council to make social connection a public health priority and develop a roadmap for strengthening belonging across California. The Social Health Council brings together leaders across sectors, including state and local government, academia, tribal, faith and community organizations, to develop recommendations to strengthen opportunities for Californians to build meaningful connections and feel a sense of belonging. The launch builds on California’s commitment to creating healthier, more connected communities through the First Partner’s California Love, California Strong initiative and comes as growing research underscores the significant impact of loneliness and social isolation on individual and community well-being. The Commission is excited to serve on the Council and bring forth solutions to create connection and community in California, especially for our youth.
Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom Announce Investments in Early Education
Universal TK is just one part of California’s broader commitment to supporting children and families, which also includes free school meals, expanded before- and after-school programs, school-based mental health services, literacy initiatives, and increased resources for students with disabilities. As millions of students return to classrooms, these investments are driving improvements in test scores and student outcomes across the state.
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 Commission Meeting
On Monday, September 14 at 10:00am, the Commission will meet and the event is open to the public. The location is 915 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814 in the Board Room (Conference Room 121). Access the agenda on our website.
Women in Power Spaces (WiPS) Convening
Hosted by North Orange County Community College District, the WiPS Convening on September 17, 2026 will explore gender gaps in wealth, politics, empowerment, and creativity, with a focus on practical solutions. Register for the event.
Powered by Women LIVE
Powered by Women LIVE is a three-day business conference for women founders and entrepreneurs running September 25–27, 2026 at the Sacramento State - Union Ballroom/The University Union in Sacramento. Use the discount code SPEAKER50 for $50 off any General Admission or VIP ticket to PW LIVE 2026.
Congratulations, Chair Dr. Gallardo Good, First Vice Chair Rodrigo and former Chair Joelle Gomez!
Congratulations to our Chair Dr. Rita Gallardo Good, First Vice Chair Nisha Devi Rodrigo, and former Chair Joelle Gomez for your reappointment by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls! Executive Director Darcy Totten and the CCSWG team look forward to continuing to work with them on another productive year advocating for California's women and girls.
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2027 Advocacy Day – Thank You Sponsors and Community Partners!
The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG) is hosting a Nonpartisan Women and Girls’ Advocacy Day on March 17, 2027, in Sacramento.
This landmark event will mark the first time in many years that women’s and girls’ organizations from across the entire state come together at the Capitol to advocate collectively for policies that improve the lives of women and girls. It will bring together leaders, advocates, community partners, and organizations to uplift women’s and girls’ voices, advance equity, and drive meaningful policy and community change.
A big thank you to our supporters on this effort:
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Pioneer Sponsor: Girl Scouts of California
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Advocate Sponsor: Safe Credit Union
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Community Partners: California Women’s Business Centers Network, My Sister’s House, OCA Sacramento, Alliance for Girls
Celebrating Women Founders with First Partner Newsom
The Commission was honored to help celebrate extraordinary California women founders alongside First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, and partners at the F5 Collective.
The 11 California women entrepreneurs’ leadership and innovation have made significant contributions to California, from agriculture to women’s health and expanded economic opportunities for women across all industries.
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 Moms' Equal Pay Day
Moms’ Equal Pay Day highlights how working moms continue to face a persistent and pervasive wage gap that compounds existing barriers at work.
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National data shows moms earn 64 cents for every dollar paid to all earners.
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Nationally, the median earnings of full-time working mothers is 74% that of fathers, a larger gap than the overall gender pay difference.
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In California, moms earn 76 cents for every dollar paid to full-time, year-round earners.
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The wage gap is even wider for single mothers and mothers of color.
Women Bear Brunt of All Job Losses in July 2026
An analysis from the National Women’s Law Center found a disturbing trend in July’s Workforce Report: "A total of 165,000 women, aged 20 and over, left the labor force last month, meaning they are neither working nor looking for work, while men’s labor force participation was unchanged. Overall, the economy lost 23,000 jobs in July. Women accounted for all of these losses, losing 32,000 jobs, while men gained 9,000 jobs. Women make up 50.1% of the workforce." A resilient economy depends on work environments where everyone can thrive.
Alliance for Girls: Research on Impact
Girls and gender-expansive youth across California are losing essential health care as nonprofits face funding cuts and political challenges. Alliance for Girls launched a first-of-its-kind effort to track how federal policies affect youth-serving organizations. Of $113 million in documented losses, $100 million came from groups focused on health care, reproductive health, and gender-affirming care.
 NAWBO Sacramento Valley’s “From Dream to Reality” Education Series
Our Commission Chair Dr. Rita Gallardo Good delivered an inspiring message at the NAWBO Sacramento Valley Chapter (NAWBO) From Dream to Reality series, shedding light the biggest challenge to women entrepreneurs - access to capital.
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By connecting ideas with community resources, Dr. Good showed how vision becomes action and how leaders create space for others to rise.
Commissioner Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen will be speaking at the upcoming session on September 9, 12:30pm - 1:30pm, sharing essential tools to launch a business.
Register for NAWBO's Dream to Reality: A three-part education series for women who want to make their business idea a reality.
California Women Lead Summer Reception, Legacy!
California Women Lead hosted their Summer Reception, Legacy!, which brought together women in leadership from across California to build meaningful connections, share inspiration, and celebrate the lasting impact of women shaping our state’s future. We’re honored to be part of a community that continues to uplift, empower, and create space for the next generation of women leaders.
 August Heritage/Awareness Topics
Commission in the News
California
Health and Safety
Workforce, Education, and Employment
Women in the News
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