March Program – Public Policy News
By Kathy Papst
Saturday, March 21, 2026 11a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dharma Center
3111 Wissemann Drive, Sacramento
I am excited to introduce our next Sacramento Public Policy program featuring Kathy Van Osten, state lobbyist for AAUW CA. The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dharma Center. Van Osten will discuss prominent California legislation that is backed by AAUW.
Van Osten is the state lobbyist representing AAUW CA in the legislature. She has worked at the state level since 1985 and has provided advocacy services since 1998 before the Legislature, the Governor’s Office and administration, and every state constitutional office. She will speak about important legislative bills that are backed by AAUW CA. Please attend to learn about major legislative bills that affect our mission.
In addition to our March program, California AAUW has scheduled several events for the coming months that branch members can participate in to show support for our mission of equity for women and girls:
*On Jan. 31, the Public Policy Committee will present a half-day symposium on the School Board Project: Defending the Frontline of Democracy. From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., participants will hear a keynote address on the impact of new federal laws and policies on California’s protective laws; a panel discussion on how AAUW members can support students, parents, and school board members in the face of misinformation and challenges for public schools. Register and look at the agenda on the AAUW CA website.
*We are approaching the annual LOBBY DAYS for 2026. This year the Public Policy Committee has changed the way that members participate in Lobby Day activities to help advance our priority legislation. On Jan. 30, team rosters, including team leaders will be published on the AAUW CA website. Instead of branches attending the event at the State Capitol, there will be in-district meetings scheduled to facilitate more contact with state legislators. In the past the legislators were frequently overbooked, which caused juggling meeting times and dates. This, in turn, caused confusion and changing schedules. Following the lead of the Redlands branch, in-district meetings allowed them to schedule eight meetings with the local legislators in their district offices. The members were able to have more time with their local state leaders.
The 2026 AAUW Lobby Day schedule is as follows:
February 9 – Team leaders will begin scheduling in-district meetings.
March 16 – Bill packets will be available with talking points, bill language.
March 23 – Lobby Day training webinar.
March 26 – April 6 – Legislature’s Spring Recess.
March 27 – April 17 – Meeting window for in-district meetings.
April 8 – 10 – Meeting window for Zoom meetings.
The AAUW Public Policy Committee is asking for volunteers to be team leaders. Please see the schedule and what is expected of participants in the January 26 Public Policy News online <here>.
If you have an interest in being on the Public Policy Committee, please call or email me for more information. I am in the branch directory.