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Portrait of Diane PapanPhoto: webapi.assembly.ca.gov

CA · Officeholder

Diane Papan

DAssembly Member · District 21

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: California Assembly District 21

Biography

Diane Papan was first elected to the California State Assembly in November 2022 and reelected in 2024. She represents the 21st Assembly District, which includes the Bayside of San Mateo County from Brisbane to East Palo Alto.[1]

Before the Assembly she served as mayor and city councilmember of San Mateo.[1] Papan is a native of San Mateo County, raised in Daly City and Millbrae. She earned a B.A. in political science from UCLA in 1985 and a J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law in 1988.[1] She has worked as an attorney, including in her own private practice, and is executive director of the nonprofit John's Closet in Daly City.[1]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-19.

California Assembly District 21

Diane Papan is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for California Assembly District 21 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

  • Jobs & cost of living387 with · 0 against387 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Solid waste: products: recycled content claims.

      Existing law requires a manufacturer or supplier making an environmental marketing claim relating to the recycled content of a plastic food container product to maintain specified information and documentation in written form in its records in support of that claim and to, upon request, furnish that maintained information to any member of the public, as specified.

      Aug 30, 2026 · Passed 42–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      San Diego Metropolitan Transit System: transactions and use tax: voter initiatives.

      The Mills-Deddeh Transit Development Act establishes the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board, also known as the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), governed by a 15-member board with specified powers and duties related to the operation of public transit services in the southern portion of the County of San Diego.

      May 26, 2026 · Passed 46–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Employment: contracts in restraint of trade.

      Existing law declares every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind to be void, except as expressly provided. Existing law provides for a system of labor standards enforcement administered by the Labor Commissioner.

      Sep 11, 2025 · Passed 46–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All jobs & cost of living votes
  • Rights & public safety341 with · 0 against341 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Diversion: retail theft.

      Existing law, until January 1, 2031, authorizes a city or county prosecuting attorney or county probation department to create a diversion or deferred entry of judgment program for persons who commit a theft offense or repeat theft offenses. Existing law requires the prosecuting attorney in a participating county to either refer the case to the county probation department to conduct a prefiling investigation report and determine the appropriateness of program placement or, if the prosecuting attorney’s office operates the program, determine if the case is appropriate for referral.

      May 27, 2026 · Passed 41–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Corrections: jail administrators.

      Existing law authorizes a board of supervisors of any county to, by resolution, establish a department of corrections, to be headed by an officer appointed by the board, which has jurisdiction over all county functions, personnel, and facilities, or so many as the board names in its resolution, relating to institutional punishment, care, treatment, and rehabilitation of prisoners, including, but not limited to, the county jail and industrial farms and road camps, their functions and personnel.

      May 28, 2026 · Passed 41–25 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Criminal procedure: interrogations.

      Existing law prohibits the prosecuting attorney, attorney for the defendant, or investigator for either the prosecution or the defendant from interviewing, questioning, or speaking to a victim or witness whose name has been disclosed pursuant to existing law without first clearly identifying themselves and identifying the full name of the agency by whom they are employed, and identifying whether they represent, or have been retained by, the prosecution or the defendant.

      Sep 13, 2025 · Passed 42–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All rights & public safety votes
  • Climate & energy206 with · 0 against206 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Gas corporations: gas distribution service line replacements: alternatives.

      Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law requires, until January 1, 2031, gas corporations to submit to the commission an annual map that includes, among other things, the location of all potential gas distribution line replacement projects identified in its distribution integrity management plan and any foreseeable gas distribution pipeline replacements.

      May 28, 2026 · Passed 42–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Conservation: the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority.

      Existing law establishes various entities for specified purposes over specific geographic areas of the state, including the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority and California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, among others. This bill would establish the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority, a regional entity with jurisdiction extending throughout the Monterey Bay region, as defined.

      May 28, 2026 · Passed 43–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act: California Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund.

      Existing law, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (act), regulates certain single-use packaging and plastic single-use food service ware, as provided. As part of its comprehensive statutory scheme, the act requires producers of covered materials to reduce and recycle covered plastic material and to ensure that covered materials that are offered for sale, distributed, or imported in or into the state on or after January 1, 2032, are recyclable or compostable, as provided.

      Aug 30, 2026 · Passed 41–24 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All climate & energy votes
  • Health & care197 with · 0 against197 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Environmental health: product safety: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

      Existing law requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control, on or before January 1, 2029, to adopt regulations to enforce specified covered perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) restrictions, which include prohibitions on the distribution, sale, or offering for sale of certain products that contain specified levels of PFAS. Existing law requires the department, on and after July 1, 2030, to enforce and ensure compliance with those provisions and regulations, as provided.

      Sep 12, 2025 · Passed 45–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Mental health.

      Under existing law, when a person, as a result of a mental disorder, is a danger to others or to themselves, or is gravely disabled, they may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody for a period of up to 72 hours for assessment, evaluation, and crisis intervention, or placement for evaluation and treatment, as specified. Existing law prohibits mental health personnel from instructing a peace officer to take a person to, or keep the person at, a jail, solely because of the unavailability of an acute bed.

      May 27, 2026 · Passed 47–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      California Health Care Quality and Affordability Act.

      Existing law, the California Health Care Quality and Affordability Act, establishes within the Department of Health Care Access and Information the Office of Health Care Affordability to analyze the health care market for cost trends and drivers of spending, develop data-informed policies for lowering health care costs for consumers and purchasers, set and enforce cost targets, and create a state strategy for controlling the cost of health care and ensuring affordability for consumers and purchasers.

      May 15, 2025 · Passed 42–16 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All health & care votes
  • Education & families150 with · 1 against151 votes

    Most contested

    All education & families votes
  • Housing & rent141 with · 1 against142 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Mortgage forbearance: state of emergency: wildfire.

      Existing law authorizes a borrower to request forbearance on their residential mortgage loan for a period of 12 months if, among other things, the borrower affirms that they are experiencing financial hardship that prevents them from making timely payments on the loan due directly to the wildfire disaster described in the proclamation of a state of emergency issued by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 7, 2025, or the federally declared disaster, declared on January 8, 2025, related to the Eaton Wildfire, the Palisades Fire, and the Straight-line Winds.

      May 26, 2026 · Passed 49–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Regional planning: standardized spatial planning datasets.

      Existing law establishes the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation in the Governor’s office for the purpose of serving the Governor and the Governor’s cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research and constituting the comprehensive state planning agency. This bill would require the office, on or before July 1, 2028, to compile, standardize, maintain, and make publicly available through a consolidated online platform a core set of statewide standardized spatial planning datasets, as defined.

      Aug 27, 2026 · Passed 52–19 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Common interest developments: EV charging stations.

      Existing law, the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, defines and regulates common interest developments, which include community apartment projects, condominium projects, planned developments, and stock cooperatives. Existing law imposes various requirements regarding the installation and use of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station placed in a common area or an exclusive use common area of a common interest development, including that the owner is required to provide a certificate of insurance that names the association as an additional insured party.

      Sep 11, 2025 · Passed 55–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All housing & rent votes
  • Technology & privacy89 with · 0 against89 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Surveillance pricing.

      Existing law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to direct a business that sells or shares personal information about the consumer to third parties not to sell or share the consumer’s personal information, as specified.

      May 12, 2025 · Passed 47–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Employment: automated decision systems.

      Existing law requires the Department of Technology to conduct, in coordination with other interagency bodies as it deems appropriate, a comprehensive inventory of all high-risk automated decision systems (ADS) that have been proposed for use, development, or procurement by, or are being used, developed, or procured by, any state agency.

      Sep 11, 2025 · Passed 45–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Generative artificial intelligence: training data: copyrighted materials.

      Existing federal law, through copyright, provides authors of original works of authorship, as defined, with certain rights and protections. Existing federal law generally gives the owner of the copyright the right to reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords and the right to distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public. Existing federal law provides that sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972, are not subject to copyright but are subject to similar rights and protections under the Classics Protection and Access Act.

      May 12, 2025 · Passed 45–16 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All technology & privacy votes
  • Transportation80 with · 0 against80 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      San Diego Metropolitan Transit System: transactions and use tax: voter initiatives.

      The Mills-Deddeh Transit Development Act establishes the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board, also known as the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), governed by a 15-member board with specified powers and duties related to the operation of public transit services in the southern portion of the County of San Diego.

      May 26, 2026 · Passed 46–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Vehicles: Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee.

      Existing law requires the Chair of the California Transportation Commission to create a Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation to guide the development and evaluation of a pilot program assessing the potential for mileage-based revenue collection as an alternative to the gas tax system. Existing law additionally requires the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the commission, to implement the pilot program, as specified. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2027.

      Jan 29, 2026 · Passed 49–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Contra Costa Transportation Authority: transactions and use tax.

      Existing law authorizes various local governmental entities, subject to certain limitations and approval requirements, to levy a transactions and use tax for general purposes, in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in the Transactions and Use Tax Law, including a requirement that the combined rate of all taxes that may be imposed in accordance with that law in the county not exceed 2%.

      Aug 26, 2026 · Passed 48–19 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All transportation votes
  • Foreign affairs & defense7 with · 0 against7 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Tariffs.

      This measure would urge President Donald J. Trump to avoid raising the cost of living for American consumers by rescinding the tariffs that he has imposed since taking office in January 2025 and refunding the American people for the costs passed on to them by his tariffs. The measure would also urge the United States Congress to enact a joint resolution to rescind President Trump’s tariffs and to oppose all future unilateral and arbitrary tariff increases imposed by President Trump.

      Apr 20, 2026 · Passed 60–13 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026.

      Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment assistance for first-time home buyers.

      Jun 25, 2026 · Passed 61–7 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      International trade: tariffs: impact study.

      Existing law establishes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (”GO-Biz”) to, among other duties, serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Existing law requires the Transportation Agency to establish a freight advisory committee to, among other things, participate in the development of the state freight plan.

      Sep 9, 2025 · Passed 69–5 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All foreign affairs & defense votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 1 of 729 party-divided votes on file.

  • Single-family residential real property: corporate entity: ownership.

    What it does: Existing law provides that real property within the state is governed by the law of this state, except where title is in the United States. Existing law generally regulates the obligations of owners with respect to re…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 41–5, Republicans 1–13

    Jun 3, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

AB 1128 · CA ASSEMBLY

Mobilehome parks: rent caps: City of Torrance.

Not votingNO VOTE

Motion: AB 1128 Muratsuchi Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law, the Mobilehome Residency Law, prescribes various terms and conditions of tenancies in mobilehome parks. The law defines “mobilehome park” for these purposes to mean an area of land where 2 or more mobilehome sites are rented, or held out for rent, to accommodate mobilehomes used for human habitation. The law caps the amount by which management of a qualified mobilehome park may increase the gross rental rate for a tenancy over the course of any 12-month period.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Failed 28–18·Substantive·Sep 1, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 113 · CA ASSEMBLY

Budget Act of 2026.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 113 GABRIEL Concurrence in Senate Amendments

The Budget Act of 2026 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2026–27 fiscal year. This bill would amend that budget act by amending, adding, and repealing items of appropriation and making other changes. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill. This bill would declare that it makes an appropriation for the usual current expenses of the state, and shall go into immediate effect. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 61–11·Substantive·Sep 1, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1156 · CA ASSEMBLY

Williamson Act contracts: cancellation fees: photovoltaic solar facilities.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1156 WICKS Concurrence in Senate Amendments

The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (act), otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land to agricultural use if the land is located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county, as specified. Existing law authorizes the county or city to cancel a contract under certain circumstances and conditions.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 56–6·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1159 · CA ASSEMBLY

Student personal information.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1159 Addis Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law, the K–12 Pupil Online Personal Information Protection Act (KOPIPA), generally protects the personal information of a student enrolled in a K–12 course of instruction, defined as a “pupil,” by prescribing requirements and prohibitions applicable to an operator of an internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application with actual knowledge that the site, service, or application is used primarily for K–12 school purposes and was designed and marketed for K–12 school purposes.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 70–4·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1294 · CA ASSEMBLY

Real property tax: welfare exemption: moderate-income housing.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1294 Haney Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing property tax law, pursuant to constitutional authorization, provides for a “welfare exemption” for property used exclusively for religious, hospital, scientific, or charitable purposes and that is owned or operated by certain types of nonprofit entities, if certain qualifying criteria are met.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 64–5·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1307 · CA ASSEMBLY

Licensed Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1307 Ávila Farías Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law, the Licensed Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program, requires the Dental Board of California to issue 3-year nonrenewable permits to practice dentistry to dentists from Mexico who meet specified criteria. This bill would repeal those provisions and replace them with a new Licensed Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program. Under that new program, the bill would require the board to issue a 3-year nonrenewable license to practice dentistry to an applicant who meets specified criteria, and require participants in the program to comply with specified requirements.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 77–1·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1331 · CA ASSEMBLY

Workplace surveillance.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1331 Elhawary Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within the Department of Industrial Relations. Existing law authorizes the division, which is headed by the Labor Commissioner, to enforce the Labor Code and all labor laws of the state the enforcement of which is not specifically vested in any other officer, board, or commission. This bill would limit the use of workplace surveillance tools, as defined, by employers, including by prohibiting an employer from monitoring or surveilling employees in a bathroom located in the workplace, except as specified.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 61–7·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1349 · CA ASSEMBLY

Consumer protection: ticket sellers.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1349 BRYAN Concurrence in Senate Amendments Move The Previous Question By AGUIAR-CURRY

Existing law provides comprehensive regulation of ticket sellers, defined as a person who, for compensation, commission, or otherwise, sells admission tickets to a sporting, musical, theater, or any other entertainment event. In this regard, existing law, among other things, prohibits specified ticket selling practices and imposes certain recordkeeping and disclosure requirements. If an event is canceled, existing law requires that the ticket price be fully refunded to the consumer whether by an original seller, event presenter, ticket reseller, or ticket resale marketplace, as specified.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 59–12·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1609 · CA ASSEMBLY

Customer service chatbots.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1609 Zbur Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law prohibits a person from using a bot, as defined, to mislead another person about the bot’s artificial identity to incentivize the purchase or sale of goods or services, among other things. Existing law requires an operator of a companion chatbot, as defined, to provide a disclosure regarding the companion chatbot’s artificial identity if a reasonable person interacting with the companion chatbot would be misled to believe that the person is interacting with a human.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 58–18·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1642 · CA ASSEMBLY

Wildfires: contamination standards.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1642 HARABEDIAN Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law establishes the Department of Toxic Substances Control, which regulates the handling and management of hazardous waste and hazardous materials, and establishes the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the State Air Resources Board. Existing federal law sets action levels for lead in dust and emission standards for asbestos, and existing state law sets workplace standards for asbestos. Existing law authorizes local health officers to take specified actions to protect public health and establishes procedures for the remediation of certain contaminated properties.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 61–1·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 1414 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.