California formally recognises Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha as state holidays

California has formally recognised the Islamic Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha festivals as state holidays, making it the second state of the United States to do so.

Authored by Assembly member Matt Haney, Assembly Bill 2017 (AB 2017) now allows state and school employees to observe both Eids  by using existing personal holiday credits or available leave.

The legislation also permits K-12 schools and community colleges to close for Eid, provided such closures are established through locally negotiated arrangements.

Many states, cities and school districts recognise Eid locally, but not as statewide holidays. Washington state was the first one to officially recognise the two festivals as state holidays in 2025.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha honours Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son.

Eid al-Adha, the most important event in the Muslim calendar, coincides with and marks the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest mosque and site, the Kaaba.

The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) welcomed Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of AB 2017, saying it addresses a longstanding challenge for the state’s more than one million Muslim residents who are often forced to choose between practicing their faith and showing up to school or work.

"For far too long, Muslim students and employees in California have had to make the difficult choice between participating in observances essential to their faith or falling behind on their academic or professional obligations. AB 2017 removes these structural barriers and aligns state policy with the values of inclusion, equity, and respect for cultural diversity that define our state," it said in a statement shared on its website.

CAIR, the United States' largest Muslim organisation, said the passage comes at a time of increased Islamophobia in the country, saying it recently documented a 183% increase in incidents targeting mosques and Islamic centres from May to July compared to the same three-month period last year.

"Officially recognising these holidays sends the necessary and powerful message that California values and protects its Muslim community in the face of growing hostility".

In May, a shooting at the Islamic Centre of San Diego by two gunmen killed a security guard and two community members outside the mosque.