California recognizes Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in state law

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 2017, officially recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in state law. This makes California the second U.S. state to provide such recognition, following Washington in 2025.

The legislation aims to support the state’s more than one million Muslim residents by providing a framework to observe these religious holidays without conflicting with professional or academic obligations. Under the new law, state and school employees may use existing personal holiday credits, vacation, or annual leave to observe the festivals. Additionally, K-12 schools and community colleges are permitted to close for the holidays through locally negotiated agreements with employees.

The bill, authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney, was supported by several organizations, including the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA). Advocates noted that the measure helps remove structural barriers for students and workers who previously faced difficult choices between religious observance and their duties.