Backed by a Diverse Interfaith Coalition and Major Labor Unions, AB 395 Promotes Greater Inclusivity and Enables Californians of All Faiths and Backgrounds to Fully Participate in Public Life
SACRAMENTO, CA — Yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 395, nation-leading legislation that promotes 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 California 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 requires 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 new law 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.
“Californians of all faiths and backgrounds should be able to fully participate in public life,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and the author of AB 395. “California is proud of our extraordinary diversity, but for too long members of our religious communities have been forced to choose between observing their faith and participating in important public events and academic milestones. This new law will help remove those barriers and ensure that Californians of all backgrounds can fully participate in civic and academic life. We are grateful to the diverse, interfaith coalition that championed this effort and to Governor Newsom for signing this important legislation.”
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 Governor Newsom for his signature, 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.”
“Assembly Bill 395 is an important step toward fostering religious accommodation and civic inclusion in California. The Hindu American Foundation is grateful to Governor Newsom for signing AB 395 into law and appreciates Assemblymember Gabriel’s leadership in advancing it, said Samir Kalra, Esq., Managing Director of Policy & Programs at the Hindu American Foundation. “Scheduling conflicts regularly compel Hindu families to choose between their education or livelihoods and sacred observances like Diwali. This legislation ensures that state public institutions respect and accommodate California’s rich cultural diversity.”
Jesse Gabriel proudly represents the San Fernando Valley in the California State Legislature.