California bill recognizing 2 Islamic holidays nears Newsom’s desk
California Legislature Moves to Recognize Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha as State Holidays
A bill that would formally add two of Islam’s most important holy days to California’s holiday calendar is poised to reach the governor’s desk, after it won a 64‑to‑1 vote in the state Assembly and is awaiting passage in the Senate. If signed, the measure would let state employees use their paid holiday credits to observe either Eid al‑Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast, or Eid al‑Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Public schools and community colleges could also close for the celebrations.
Assembly Bill 2017 was introduced in March by San Francisco Democrat Matt Haney, a member of the Assembly’s Democratic caucus. The bill passed the Assembly on May 20 and now must clear the Senate before the session ends Monday in order for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign it into law. If enacted, the two Eid holidays would join existing state‑recognised observances such as Lunar New Year and Diwali.
What the Bill Would Do
Under the bill, state employees would be able to use their existing paid holiday credits for either Eid, meaning that a day off would not require them to draw down vacation or sick leave. Public schools and community colleges would be allowed to close for the holidays, and the State Board of Education could develop a model curriculum guide to help teachers “acknowledge and celebrate the meaning and importance” of the occasions.
“The measure gives state workers the flexibility they need to observe these important religious holidays without sacrificing their pay,” said Haney in a March news release. “No student should have to choose between celebrating one of the holiest days of their faith and showing up to school, and no worker should feel they have to sacrifice their religious observance.”
Supporters’ Viewpoint
Supporters say the bill reflects the diversity of California’s population and offers a practical accommodation for Muslim employees and students. “For decades, Muslim families across the state have had to navigate an unfair balancing act between their faith and their academic or professional obligations,” said Oussama Mokeddem, the legislative and government affairs director for the Council on American‑Islamic Relations’ California chapter. “AB 2017 is a meaningful step toward ensuring Muslim students can celebrate Eid with the same dignity, respect, and accommodation afforded to other faith communities.”
Hala Hijazi, founder of the Muslim Impact Council, recalled how she and her family had to miss an Eid celebration while she worked for the city of San Francisco. “It was really painful to not be with my family,” she told the Sacramento Bee. “We would go to lunch after the services and give gifts to the children.”
Haney framed the bill as part of a broader effort to treat “Muslim Californians as seen, valued, and treated with the same dignity as every other community in our state.”
Opposition
The California Family Council, a conservative Christian advocacy group, has objected to the bill’s school provisions. In a statement issued in May, the group criticized the language that would allow public schools to hold exercises “acknowledging and celebrating the meaning and importance” of Eid. The council argued that “No California statute authorizes public schools to hold exercises celebrating the meaning of Christmas, Easter, or Good Friday.” They said the law creates an asymmetry that favors Muslim holidays while leaving Christian and Jewish holidays without comparable treatment.
The council’s concerns reflect broader debates in some states about whether public schools can or should celebrate religious holidays. Washington was the first state to recognize the Eid holidays, allowing unpaid time off for state workers. California’s proposal would go further by permitting workers to use paid holiday credits, a distinction that supporters view as a step toward greater equality.
Broader Context
California already recognizes Lunar New Year and Diwali as state holidays, reflecting the state’s large Asian and Indian populations. The inclusion of Eid would make California one of the few states to formally acknowledge Muslim observances at the state level, following Washington and a handful of other jurisdictions.
If the bill becomes law, state employees would be able to schedule an Eid break without dipping into vacation or sick leave, and students in public schools could have a full day to attend prayer services and gather with family. The bill’s language also allows for the State Board of Education to provide guidance on how schools can educate students about the significance of the holidays, a provision that has drawn criticism from groups who fear it may blur the line between church and state.
Current Status
Assembly Bill 2017 is currently waiting in the Senate. It must be passed before the end of the legislative session on Monday, after which it would be sent to Gov. Newsom. If signed, the law would become effective shortly thereafter, and state agencies would need to update their holiday calendars and payroll systems accordingly.
For Muslim Californians, the bill represents recognition and respect for a faith tradition that is already one of the largest in the United States. For critics, it raises questions about the appropriate scope of state‑endorsed religious observances. The next week will determine whether the bill’s provisions will be adopted, setting a new precedent for how California accommodates the religious diversity of its residents.
