Legislation that would formally recognize two significant Islamic holidays in California is advancing toward the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Assembly Bill 2017, if signed into law, would allow state employees to use existing paid holiday credits to observe Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and would permit public schools and community colleges to close for these occasions.
The bill, introduced by San Francisco Assemblymember Matt Haney, passed the state Assembly with a 64-1 vote in late May and now requires Senate approval before the legislative session concludes. Supporters argue the measure is crucial for ensuring Muslim Californians are treated with the same dignity and respect as other communities.
"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," Haney said in a March news release. He added that the bill is about ensuring Muslim Californians "are seen, valued, and treated with the same dignity as every other community in our state."
Eid al-Fitr, known as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," marks the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid al-Adha, the "Festival of Sacrifice," commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son.
Supporters, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ California chapter and the Muslim Impact Council, state that the bill would ease the burden on Muslim families who have historically had to balance religious observances with professional and academic commitments. Oussama Mokeddem, legislative and government affairs director for CAIR's California chapter, stated that 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, shared a personal account of missing family celebrations during Eid al-Fitr earlier in her career while working for the city of San Francisco, describing the experience as "painful."
However, the California Family Council, a conservative Christian advocacy group, has expressed opposition to the school-related provisions of the bill, while supporting the concept of allowing students time off for religious holidays. The group specifically objects to language that would allow schools to hold exercises "acknowledging and celebrating the meaning and importance" of Eid, as well as a provision for the State Board of Education to develop a model curriculum guide for such exercises. The organization argued that public schools are not statutorily authorized to hold exercises celebrating the meaning of Christmas, Easter, or Good Friday, and that the bill creates an "asymmetry."
If enacted, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha would join other holidays officially recognized in California, such as Lunar New Year and Diwali. Washington state was the first to recognize the Eid holidays, though California's proposal would extend recognition further by allowing state workers to use paid holiday credits, whereas Washington offers unpaid time off.