AB2017 - State holidays: Eid.

Amended IN Senate August 27, 2026 Amended IN Senate August 21, 2026 Amended IN Senate August 13, 2026 Amended IN Senate June 16, 2026 Amended IN Assembly May 18, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2017 Introduced by Assembly Member Haney (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Kalra and Nguyen) (Principal coauthor: Senator Wahab) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bryan, Caloza, Gabriel, Gipson, McKinnor, and Soria) (Coauthors: Senators Becker and Cervantes) February 17, 2026 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. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2017, as amended, Haney. State holidays: Eid. Existing law designates specific days as holidays in this state. Existing law adopts state holidays as judicial holidays, with certain exceptions, including Admission Day and Columbus Day. Existing law designates holidays on which community colleges and public schools are authorized to close pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the governing board and represented employees, including “Native American Day” on the 4th Friday in September. This bill would add “Eid al-Fitr” and “Eid al-Adha” to the list of state holidays. The bill would exclude “Eid al-Fitr” and “Eid al-Adha” from designation as judicial holidays. The bill would authorize community colleges and public schools to close on “Eid al-Fitr” and “Eid al-Adha,” as specified. Existing law entitles state employees, with specified exceptions, to be given time off with pay for specified holidays. Existing law, in addition, authorizes state employees to elect to use 8 hours of vacation, annual leave, compensating time off, or personal holiday credit corresponding with specified dates. This bill would, similarly, permit the employee to elect to receive the holiday credit for the holidays of “Eid al-Fitr” or “Eid al-Adha,” as specified. The bill would, for those holidays whose dates vary annually, instead authorize the above-described election to be made on the date designated by their group. The bill would make findings and declarations related to the purpose of the Eid holidays. The bill would make its provisions severable. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 135 of the Code of Civil Procedure proposed by AB 2294 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2294 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The bill also would incorporate additional changes to Sections 45203, 79020, and 88203 of the Education Code proposed by SB 1394 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1394 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The bill further would incorporate additional changes to Section 6700 of the Government Code proposed by AB 2294 and SB 1394 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The bill further would incorporate additional changes to Sections 19853 and 19853.1 of the Government Code proposed by SB 1394 and AB 1841 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. (a) California is home to communities with diverse cultural traditions. The state has an interest in administering its public calendars, educational institutions, and workforce policies in a manner that reflects California’s population and provides equal access to public education, public employment, and civic life. (b) Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are culturally significant and this act seeks to accommodate individuals’ abilities to celebrate these holidays. (c) Predictable, highly concentrated spikes in student and public employee absenteeism occur annually during these periods. California law acknowledges several dates associated with cultural and historical traditions as state holidays. Inclusion in the state’s civil holiday calendar does not, by itself, require the closure of courts, state offices, public schools, community colleges, local agencies, or private businesses. (d) The designation of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays is a civil calendar determination that acknowledges their cultural significance to California communities. The designation does not require any person or public institution to participate in a ceremony, event, or other activity. (e) The civil purposes of this act are to provide predictable notice of dates on which Californians may request leave or an excused absence, facilitate orderly staffing and academic planning, reduce avoidable scheduling conflicts, protect public school average daily attendance funding metrics, and administer state holiday and leave policies consistently across comparable cultural observances. (f) Following the standard established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Groff v. DeJoy (2023) 600 U.S. 447, public employers face significantly heightened legal burdens when reviewing individual accommodation requests. This act supplements, and does not diminish, existing protections permitting pupils to receive excused absences and permitting employees to use otherwise available leave benefits for personal and cultural observances. (g) A public school or community college may modify its calendar only through otherwise applicable local decisionmaking and collective bargaining procedures and in compliance with instructional and educational requirements. This local process allows consideration of regional attendance patterns, staffing needs, instructional continuity, fiscal effects, and community circumstances. (h) Any civil benefit provided under this act shall be available without regard to a person’s cultural background or personal beliefs. A person shall not be required to participate in an event or demonstrate adherence to any custom or tradition. (i) Public educational institutions may provide objective academic instruction concerning the history, cultural traditions, and civic significance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Nothing in this act requires a pupil or employee to participate in an instructional exercise, ceremony, or cultural activity. (j) The dates identified pursuant to this act are civil reference dates established for predictable public administration. The designation of a civil reference date does not limit an individual’s ability to request leave or an excused absence on another date associated with that individual’s cultural practices. (k) The Legislature intends through this act to acknowledge the cultural significance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha while preserving local control, maintaining continuity of public services, and avoiding unnecessary fiscal, educational, and operational burdens. (l) The Legislature intends this act to be interpreted and implemented consistently with the United States Constitution and the California Constitution. SEC. 2. Section 135 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read: 135. Every full day designated as a holiday by Section 6700 of the Government Code, including that Thursday of November declared by the President to be Thanksgiving Day, is a judicial holiday, except the date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, known as “Lunar New Year,” the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar, known as “Eid al-Fitr,” the 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year, known as “Diwali,” April 24, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day,” the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar, known as “Eid al-Adha,” September 9, known as “Admission Day,” the second Monday in October, known as “Columbus Day,” and any other day appointed by the President, but not by the Governor, for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday. If a judicial holiday falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the Judicial Council may designate an alternative day for observance of the holiday. Every Saturday and the day after Thanksgiving Day are judicial holidays. Officers and employees of the courts shall observe only the judicial holidays established pursuant to this section. SEC. 2.5. Section 135 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read: 135. Every full day designated as a holiday by Section 6700 of the Government Code, including that Thursday of November declared by the President to be Thanksgiving Day, is a judicial holiday, except the date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, known as “Lunar New Year,” the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar, known as “Eid al-Fitr,” the 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year, known as “Diwali,” April 14, known as “Sylvia Mendez Day,” April 24, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day,” the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar, known as “Eid al-Adha,” September 9, known as “Admission Day,” the second Monday in October, known as “Columbus Day,” and any other day appointed by the President, but not by the Governor, for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday. If a judicial holiday falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the Judicial Council may designate an alternative day for observance of the holiday. Every Saturday and the day after Thanksgiving Day are judicial holidays. Officers and employees of the courts shall observe only the judicial holidays established pursuant to this section. SEC. 3. Section 37220.7 of the Education Code is amended to read: 37220.7. (a) In addition to the holidays prescribed in Section 37220, public schools may be closed on the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar, known as “Eid al-Fitr,” April 24, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day,” the 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year, known as “Diwali,” the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar, known as “Eid al-Adha,” and the fourth Friday in September, known as “Native American Day,” if the governing board, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, agrees to close schools for that purpose. (b) On the fourth Friday in September, or if schools are closed on that date as specified in subdivision (a), on an alternate day determined by the governing board, public schools and educational institutions throughout this state may include exercises, funded through existing resources, commemorating and directing attention to the many contributions that Native Americans have made to this country. The State Board of Education may adopt a model curriculum guide to be available for use by public schools for exercises related to Native American Day. (c) On April 24, or if schools are closed on that date as specified in subdivision (a), on an alternate day determined by the governing board, public schools and educational institutions throughout this state may include exercises, funded through existing resources, remembering and honoring the many contributions that survivors of genocide have made to this country. The State Board of Education may adopt a model curriculum guide to be available for use by public schools for exercises related to Genocide Remembrance Day. (d) On the 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year, or if schools are closed on that date as specified in subdivision (a), on an alternate day determined by the governing board, public schools and educational institutions throughout this state may include exercises, funded through existing resources, acknowledging and celebrating the meaning and importance of Diwali. The State Board of Education may adopt a model curriculum guide to be available for use by public schools for exercises related to Diwali. (e) On the first day of the month of Shawwal and the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar, known as “Eid al-Fitr” and “Eid al-Adha” respectively, or if schools are closed on those dates as specified in subdivision (a), on alternate dates determined by the governing board, public schools and educational institutions throughout this state may include exercises, funded through existing resources, exploring the history of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The State Board of Education may adopt a model curriculum guide to be available for use by public schools for exercises related to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. SEC. 4. Section 45203 of the Education Code is amended to read: 45203. All probationary or permanent employees that are a part of the classified service shall be entitled to the following paid holidays provided they are in a paid status during any portion of the working day immediately preceding or succeeding the holiday: January 1, February 12 known as “Lincoln Day,” the third Monday in February known as “Washington Day,” the last Monday in May known as “Memorial Day,” July 4, the first Monday in September known as “Labor Day,” November 11 known as “Veterans Day,” that Thursday in November proclaimed by the President as “Thanksgiving Day,” December 25, every day appointed by the President, or the Governor of this state, as provided for in paragraphs (11) and (12) of subdivision (a) of Section 37220 for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday, or any day declared a holiday under Section 1318 or 37222 for classified or certificated employees. School recesses during the Christmas, Easter, and mid-February periods shall not be considered holidays for classified employees who are normally required to work during that period. However, this shall not be construed as affecting vacation rights specified in this section. For purposes of this section, “appointed by the President” includes the President signing into law legislation that creates a nationwide federal holiday, including the legal public holidays listed in subsection (a) of Section 6103 of Title 5 of the United States Code, but does not include Columbus Day. This definition is declaratory of existing law. Regular employees of the district who are not normally assigned to duty during the school holidays of December 25 and January 1 shall be paid for those two holidays provided that they were in a paid status during any portion of the working day of their normal assignment immediately preceding or succeeding the holiday period. When a holiday listed in this section falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be deemed to be the holiday in lieu of the day observed. When a holiday listed in this section falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]