Press Releases

SACRAMENTO — Govern Newsom has signed AB 841 by Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County). This bill addresses the increasing exposure to toxic chemicals that firefighters face during lithium-ion battery fires by convening a working group to recommend improved personal protective equipment (PPE) and decontamination procedures.

This week is National Fire Prevention Week, with a theme of...

SACRAMENTO — California drivers can begin saving an estimated 20 cents per gallon at the pump immediately, thanks to a bipartisan bill co-authored by Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D–San Diego County) that Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law yesterday.

AB 30 (Alvarez) authorizes the sale of E15 fuel—a gasoline blend containing 15% ethanol—throughout California. The bill includes an urgency...

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel celebrates the successful passage of AB 841 through the California Legislature. This bill addresses the increasing exposure to toxic chemicals that firefighters face during lithium-ion battery fires by convening a working group to recommend improved personal protective equipment (PPE) and decontamination procedures.

As California leads the nation in...

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County) celebrates the Legislature's passage of AB 1074, which eliminates bureaucratic barriers that prevent low-income parents from accessing financial support while working to reunify with children in foster care. The bill now heads to Governor Newsom's desk with bipartisan support. 

The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to...

SACRAMENTO —Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County) celebrates the passage of AB 1119 from the legislature as it moves on to the Governor for his signature. AB 1119 addresses California’s teacher shortage by directing the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to develop regulations to create more efficient routes to dual credentialing for teacher candidates and existing teachers...

            When someone you love ends up in the ER, healthcare isn't political, it’s personal. It’s the child who falls off a bike, the expectant mother going into labor sooner than expected, the spouse whose chest tightens without warning. In those moments—even with insurance, even with a nearby hospital—we are vulnerable. Proposed federal cuts to healthcare for millions of Californians would...

San Marcos, CA — As rising costs continue to strain working families across California, Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel co-hosts the first-of-its-kind informational hearing in San Diego County on affordability, economic pressure, and community-driven solutions. 

Held at California State University, San Marcos, the hearing is part of the California Pocketbook Tour and convened by the Assembly...

SACRAMENTO—Amid federal tariffs and cuts to key American institutions, Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County) voted to advance California’s 2025-26 budget, which contains core priorities she championed and supported.

The California Legislature has held 67 budget hearings this year to deliver for Californians as well as possible. The budget passed by the Legislature this week...

SACRAMENTO — The California State Assembly passed AB 402, authored by Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County). This bill, which increases the Cal Grant aid size for low and middle-income students attending private nonprofit colleges, received bipartisan support and is now moving to the Senate.

The Cal Grant program provides financial aid to students based on merit and need. Since its...

Sacramento, CA—Assemblymember Patel (D-San Diego County) honors Interfaith Community Services as the 2025 District 76 Non-Profit of the Year for their decades of service empowering vulnerable community members across North San Diego County.

Founded in 1979 through the partnership of fourteen local faith communities, Interfaith has grown into the region’s most comprehensive social services agency...