Backed by a Diverse Interfaith Coalition and Major Labor Unions, AB 395 Would Promote Greater Inclusivity and Enable Californians of All Faiths and Backgrounds to Fully Participate in Public Life
SACRAMENTO, CA — Yesterday, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 395, a nation-leading bill that would promote greater religious and cultural inclusivity by requiring officials to consider important religious and cultural holidays when scheduling public meetings and significant academic milestones. Authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, AB 395 passed both houses of the State Legislature with unanimous bipartisan support.
AB 395 closes a quiet but persistent gap. For years, many Californian families have faced difficult choices between religious observance and full participation in education and civic life, particularly when state agencies and universities have scheduled public meetings, graduations, and other events on holidays such as Diwali, Rosh Hashanah, Eid al-Fitr, and the Feast of the Nativity.
To address this problem, AB 395 would require state agencies to take a proactive approach and make a good faith, reasonable effort to avoid scheduling public meetings on important religious, cultural, or ancestral holidays. The bill extends that same standard to public colleges and universities for significant events like graduation ceremonies, the first day of classes, and other major academic milestones. AB 395 likewise encourages local governments and K-12 school districts to follow suit — helping to promote religious and cultural inclusivity across the Golden State.
“California is immensely proud of our diversity, and Californians of all faiths and backgrounds should be able to fully participate in public life,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino). “For too long and in too many communities, religious minorities and other people of faith have been asked to make difficult choices on the days that matter most to them. This legislation would help to prevent that injustice, and ensure that Californians of all backgrounds can fully participate, particularly when important decisions are being made.”
AB 395 was supported by an exceptionally broad and diverse coalition of nearly 80 organizations representing Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Armenian, and Zoroastrian communities, as well as labor unions representing teachers, school employees, and government workers.
"AB 395 ends a quiet but persistent form of exclusion — the choice too many Californians have faced between practicing their faith and fully participating in school and civic life,” said David Bocarsly, CEO of Jewish California. “It's also the first time Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, and other faiths' religious holidays will be recognized in California statute. We thank Assemblymember Gabriel for his leadership, and the remarkably diverse coalition of labor, education, and interfaith partners — including 61 Jewish organizations — who came out in support."
"The passing of AB 395 is a tremendous step forward in achieving true cultural inclusivity and religious freedom in California,” said Salam Al-Marayati, President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. “The freedom to observe sacred days is critical to maintaining one's religious identity, especially for the children of faith communities who too often must make decisions at a young age between religious expression and not being left out. The Muslim Public Affairs Council is proud to have supported this legislation, and we look forward to continuing in the work where all faith communities feel heard in every space they are in.”
“The Hindu American Foundation is grateful for the passage of Assembly Bill 395. It is an important step toward fostering religious accommodation and civic inclusion in California,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., Managing Director of Policy & Programs at the Hindu American Foundation. “Hindu families frequently face scheduling conflicts that force difficult choices between work or school and significant cultural traditions like Diwali. By establishing guidelines for state entities to respect major cultural observances, this bill ensures that California’s government represents and respects the state's diverse population. We are thankful to Assemblymember Gabriel for his leadership on this important legislation and we look forward to continuing this work with policymakers and community partners.”
What’s Next
The legislation now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, where he will have until September 30 to decide whether to veto the bill or sign it into law.