Legislation in California to designate two Muslim holy days as official state holidays is moving closer to being sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature. Assembly Bill 2017 would recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays, allowing state workers to use holiday credits to take days off. Public schools and community colleges could also choose to recognize these days and incorporate educational components about them.
The bill, authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D), passed the State Assembly with a 64-1 vote in late May and is currently awaiting a vote in the State Senate. The legislative session is expected to conclude soon, with the bill needing to reach the governor's desk before then.
Eid al-Fitr, which signifies the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is known as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast." Eid al-Adha, the "Festival of Sacrifice," commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. Both holidays are determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, causing their dates to vary annually on the Gregorian calendar.
"California is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Muslim communities in the country," Haney stated. "AB 2017 is about making sure Muslim Californians are seen, valued, and treated with the same dignity as every other community in our state."
If enacted, these designations would add to California's recognition of other community-specific holidays, such as Diwali and Lunar New Year. Muslim advocacy groups have supported the bill, highlighting that California has over a million Muslim residents. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, California, noted that Muslim students often face difficult choices between religious observance and academic participation.
However, the California Family Council has voiced concerns, describing the bill as a potential pathway to "celebrating Islamic theology in schools." The council's objection centers on the possibility of schools teaching about the holidays, drawing a comparison to existing statutes that do not authorize public schools to hold exercises celebrating Christian holidays.
Assemblymember Matt Haney speaks at a press conference.
Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayers in Santa Clara, California.
A child attends Eid al-Fitr prayers in San Diego, California.
