Since 1971, the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee (CalSPAC) has represented the interests of its member Leagues and their community projects to policymakers at the national, state, and local levels. CalSPAC advocates for legislation favorable to its member Leagues’ projects and issues in: education, family support, health, human trafficking, and violence prevention.

The Junior League of Napa-Sonoma is proud to be a member of CalSPAC, and every year JLNS selects a Junior and Senior SPAC delegate to represent our League with CalSPAC.

Senior SPAC Delegate (2024-25) - Kara Mills Clark

Junior SPAC Delegate (2024-25) - Lori Hurlbert-Johnson

The members of the CalSPAC delegation advocate for specific legislation relevant to member league issues, educate their home Junior League members about advocacy and public policy, and coordinate the exchange of information from community-based league projects to policymakers. Since 1992, CalSPAC has sponsored six bills and co-sponsored three bills that are now California Law; sponsored two California Resolutions; and co-sponsored one Congressional Resolution.

CalSPAC represents 17 member Junior Leagues comprised of over 10,000 women who volunteer over 140,000 hours to 111 community projects, and give over $1 million dollars annually to their communities.

CalSPAC delegates at the annual Conference, Oct 2019

CalSPAC wins 2024 Public Policy & Advocacy Award

At the 102nd Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) Conference on May 17, 2024, AJLI awarded its 2024 Public Policy and Advocacy Award to the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee (CalSPAC), which successfully led a co-sponsored policy project in collaboration with Southern California-based nonprofit, Forever Footprints, and its Bill Author's Office, Senator Susan Rubio, representative of California Senate District 22. The bill, Senate Bill (SB) 848 – Reproductive Loss Leave, was formally signed into law by Governor Newsom on October 10, 2023, and went into effect on January 1, 2024.

"We are thrilled to see Senate Bill 848, the Reproductive Loss Leave Act, successfully drafted and passed. This critical legislation acknowledges the profound impact that miscarriage, failed IVF attempts, and other forms of pregnancy loss can have on individuals and families," states Summer Smith, SB 848 Policy Lead and CalSPAC Trainer, hailing from the Junior League of Long Beach. "The passage of this bill is a testament to the tireless efforts of our dedicated team and our commitment to advocating for policies that support women and families in our community." 

League members & SPAC delegates at Day at the Capital 2023

Photos from the 2016 Day at the Capitol with SPAC

CalSPAC wins 2015 Public Policy & Advocacy Award

At the 2015 AJLI (Association of Junior Leagues International) Annual Conference, the first award in Public Policy & Advocacy went to the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee for its Maternal Mental Health Advocacy Project, which it began five years ago.

The 34 delegates from 17 member Leagues representing the more than 10,000 women of Cal-SPAC conceived of and implemented a long-range plan to broaden awareness and secure state-wide legislation to de-stigmatize women’s mental health. Their focus? The pregnancy and post-partum-related disorders that can affect up to 21 percent of women and their families by way of untreated or undiagnosed depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and, in very rare instances, psychosis, infanticide and suicide. Learn more about this prestigious AJLI award here.

State Public Affairs Committee: Non-Partisan Advocacy on the State Level