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Senate committee hears bill to recognize Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha as state holidays
Summary
Lawmakers and dozens of witnesses testified in favor of Senate Bill 5106, which would add the two major Islamic holidays to the state holiday calendar to improve visibility, reduce accommodation burdens for students and state workers, and counter anti‑Muslim bias.
Senator Yasmin Trudeau, sponsor of Senate Bill 5106, told the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee on Jan. 28 that the bill seeks official recognition of Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha so Muslim Washingtonians can use state‑allocated leave to observe the holidays. "We're simply asking for recognition of our faith that helps us to feel and be seen by naming that we can utilize those already allocated days," Trudeau said.
The bill would add the two Eid days to the state's calendar of recognized holidays. "Making both Eids state legal holidays will ensure that Muslim students in Washington's K‑12 schools can fully participate in both their religion and in their school community," Catherine Walker, communications director at Care Washington, told the committee.
Why it matters: supporters said recognition would reduce the burden on families and students who now must individually request accommodations, and would send a public message of inclusion amid reports of anti‑Muslim harassment. Leila Saliba of Washington For Peace and Justice said the measure "acknowledges Eid and promotes inclusion." Several testifiers described personal experiences of exclusion when school events, graduations or exams fell on Eid dates.
The hearing featured more than a dozen in‑person and remote witnesses, including organizers, lawyers and longtime Muslim Washingtonians who recounted missing school events and the effort required to request excused absences. Sarah Kareem, who works with schools on belonging, said student surveys show Muslim students "felt most supported when their teachers have acknowledged that it is Ramadan and Eid." A number of speakers said state recognition would reduce the need for individual advocacy by families.
Committee members asked about existing accommodations. Senator Bob Hasegawa noted the legislature has recently authorized two days’ leave for state employees for matters of faith or conscience and reminded the room that public institutions must provide "reasonable accommodations" for students' religious observance. Hasegawa framed those existing requirements as partial protections but said statutory recognition could make scheduling conflicts less frequent.
Supporters also pointed to prior action: Trudeau recalled a 2023 resolution recognizing Ramadan that helped some Washingtonians learn about the observance. Multiple witnesses urged passage to reflect the state's religious diversity and to counter rising Islamophobia. The bill's supporters said it would not compel private employers or individuals to observe the holidays, but would let Muslim residents use leave already provided to observe them.
The committee recessed public testimony after a two‑minute time limit was imposed to accommodate the large number of sign‑ins. The record for SB 5106 closed after remote and in‑person testimony; the clerk reported 1,435 respondents on the bill in the written record (listed as 704 pro, 7 con and 13 other). The committee closed the hearing and returned the bill to the committee calendar for further action.
