OPPOSE AB 2017 – Muslim Holy Days As Official CA State Holidays 

Bill: California AB 2017

Author: Asm. Matt Haney (D) & Sen. Aisha Wahab (D)

Position: OPPOSE

Summary: Adds two religious holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as official state holidays in California.

Status 4/22/26: Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 2017 would add two religious holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, as official state holidays in California.

If locally approved, this bill allows public schools and community schools to celebrate these two religious holidays and close for the day. It would require schools to give students excused time and permit state employees to use paid leave to observe these days.

California schools are already facing academic challenges; more time off means less classroom learning.

Working parents may be forced to take unpaid time off or pay for daycare.
Additional administrative and operational changes increase costs for taxpayers and strain public resources.

Changing school calendars and staffing not only increases costs but also impacts taxpayers as well. It also raises a key question: Where do we draw the line when adding more religious holidays?