SCR 11: Epilepsy Awareness Month.

WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a disease characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition; and

WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a condition of the brain causing seizures. A seizure is a disruption of the electrical communication between neurons. A person is said to have epilepsy if they experience two or more unprovoked seizures separated by at least 24 hours or if the person experiences one seizure and is at a high risk of having more; and

WHEREAS, About 1 in 10 people in the United States has had a single, unprovoked seizure or has been diagnosed with epilepsy, 3,400,000 people in the United States have epilepsy, and over 65,000,000 people worldwide live with epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, There are 150,000 new cases of epilepsy in the United States each year. However, seizures may occur more frequently in certain age groups, including in the very young and older people, in people of certain races, and in certain areas of the world; and

WHEREAS, One in 26 people will develop epilepsy during their lifetime, and people with certain conditions may be at greater risk for developing epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, It is important that people understand what a seizure looks like and what to do if they see someone having a seizure. The more familiar people are with epilepsy, the less people living with the condition have to fear discrimination, worry about receiving improper first aid, or keep their epilepsy hidden; and

WHEREAS, Seizures impact people’s lives in many ways, including creating barriers to employment and education and facing a sense of discrimination and isolation from their peers; and

WHEREAS, One-third of people living with epilepsy have seizures that cannot be controlled with current treatments and all people living with epilepsy have the risk of a potential “breakthrough” seizure; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims November 2025 as Epilepsy Awareness Month and calls upon all Californians to recommit their communities to increasing awareness and understanding of those living with epilepsy; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.