Press Releases

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...

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Patel (D-San Diego County) and the bill’s sponsors—California School Library Association—celebrate the unanimous passage of AB 279 out of the Assembly Education Committee. This legislation directs the Instructional Quality Commission to recommend updated Model School Library Standards (MSLS) and requires their adoption by July 1, 2028. These standards have not been...

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County) and bill co-sponsors—San Diego District Attorney’s Office, California District Attorney Association, and the California Police Chiefs Association—celebrate the passage of AB 237 from the Assembly Public Safety Committee. AB 237 safeguards people who work in, visit, or rely on daycares, schools, universities, workplaces, houses of...

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-76, San Diego) is pleased to announce Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey, President and Superintendent of Palomar College, as the 2025 District 76 Distinguished Woman of the Year.

A proud product of our local education system, Dr. Rivera-Lacey began at Mira Costa College before earning a Liberal Studies degree from Cal State San Marcos. She later completed a...

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Dr. Darshana R. Patel (D-San Diego) officially took the oath of office as the newly elected State Assemblymember for California’s 76th Assembly District. The district spans diverse communities, including the cities of Escondido, San Marcos, and San Diego, as well as the unincorporated areas of Del Dios, Elfin Forest, Fairbanks Ranch, Harmony Grove, Lake San Marcos, and...