HIBAPRESS
The American state of California has added Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to the state's list of holidays, after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law to this effect, in a move that grants the two Eids recognition within the state's civil calendar.
Newsom signed bill AB 2017 on September 28, 2026, which added Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to the list of holidays stipulated in state law. The decision does not mean that all residents of California will automatically receive two paid days off.
The law provides for state employees to use their vacation and personal holiday credits to celebrate the two Eids in accordance with applicable rules. It also allows public schools and community colleges to close during these holidays under local agreements with employees, without making the closure of educational institutions mandatory throughout the state.
The law also exempts courts from considering the two Eids as judicial holidays and does not impose the closure of government offices, local administrations, or private companies due to the Eids. It states that their inclusion in the list of state holidays is a civil measure that recognizes their cultural significance while maintaining the continuity of public services.
The adoption of the law came after a legislative process that began with the submission of bill AB 2017 in February 2026, before it was approved by the state's Assembly by a majority of 64 votes to one, then passed by the Senate and sent to the Governor for signature.
California has thus become the second US state to include Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha among its state holidays, after Washington, which adopted them in 2025.
