The watchtower for Faith, Family, and Freedom Legislation

California AB2017: State holidays: Eid.

☆ Watch
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed Assembly
  3. Passed Senate
  4. To Governor
  5. Became Law

These editorial notes need review against the latest available bill text.

Overview

Adds Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to California's state holiday calendar, permits locally approved school and community-college closures, and expands state employees' holiday-credit options.

Law Today

California currently designates specific days as state holidays and allows public schools and community colleges to close on certain holidays (such as Native American Day) through memoranda of understanding between governing boards and represented employees. State employees are entitled to paid time off for specified holidays, with the option to use personal leave for other dates.

If Passed

The bill adds Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to California's list of state holidays, allowing public schools and community colleges to close on these dates with board approval. State employees would be permitted to elect to receive holiday pay or use leave time for these Islamic holidays. The bill explicitly excludes these Eid holidays from being judicial holidays (court closures), and includes detailed legislative findings stating that the designation is a civil calendar matter that does not require participation in religious ceremonies or activities.

Should I support this?

The bill text has changed since F3’s review. An updated assessment is pending.

F3 editorial assessment — faith, family, and freedom. This is F3’s policy judgment; verify the provisions in the official bill text.

Likely supporters & opponents

Likely support

  • Muslim advocacy and civil rights organizations — Designating Eid as state holidays acknowledges the cultural and religious significance of Islamic observances and provides predictable accommodation for Muslim families and employees.
  • Diversity and inclusion advocates — Adding Muslim holidays to the state calendar reflects California's diverse population and provides equal recognition alongside other cultural and religious observances already designated as holidays.

Likely opposition

  • Religious liberty advocacy organizations — Making specific religious holidays official state designations may inappropriately entangle government with religious practice and could raise concerns about preferential treatment of one faith tradition over others.
  • Conservative family organizations — Expanding the state holiday calendar for religious observances may reduce instructional days and could pressure schools to accommodate religious practices in ways that conflict with parental values and control over children's education.

Editorially reviewed typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.

💬 Chat about this bill ↗Official bill text ↗View on LegiScan ↗

Official summary

An act to amend Section 135 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to amend Sections 37220.7, 45203, 79020, and 88203 of the Education Code, and to amend Sections 6700, 19853, and 19853.1 of the Government Code, relating to state holidays.

Sponsors

  • Matt Haney (D)
  • Ash Kalra (D)
  • Stephanie Nguyen (D)
  • Aisha Wahab (D)
  • Josh Becker (D)
  • Isaac Bryan (D)
  • Jessica Caloza (D)
  • Sabrina Cervantes (D)
  • Jesse Gabriel (D)
  • Mike Gipson (D)
  • Tina McKinnor (D)
  • Esmeralda Soria (D)

Status timeline

  1. 2026-09-27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 571, Statutes of 2026.
  2. 2026-09-27Approved by the Governor.
  3. 2026-09-10Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
  4. 2026-08-30Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 62. Noes 3. Page 6934.).A
  5. 2026-08-30In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.A
  6. 2026-08-30Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 4.).S
  7. 2026-08-28Read second time. Ordered to third reading.S
  8. 2026-08-27Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.S
  9. 2026-08-24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.S
  10. 2026-08-21Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.S
  11. 2026-08-17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.S
  12. 2026-08-13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.S
  13. 2026-08-13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (August 13).S
  14. 2026-08-03In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.S
  15. 2026-07-02From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.S
  16. 2026-06-23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on ED.S
  17. 2026-06-16From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on G.O.S
  18. 2026-06-03Referred to Coms. on G.O. and ED.S
  19. 2026-05-27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.S
  20. 2026-05-26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 1.)A
  21. 2026-05-19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.A
  22. 2026-05-18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.A
  23. 2026-05-14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (May 14).A
  24. 2026-05-06In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.A
  25. 2026-04-22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.A
  26. 2026-04-09From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on P. E. & R. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on P. E. & R.A
  27. 2026-04-09Coauthors revised.A
  28. 2026-03-02Referred to Coms. on G.O. and P. E. & R.A
  29. 2026-02-18From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.A
  30. 2026-02-17Read first time. To print.A

H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly