Senate panel advances bill allowing schools to observe Diwali as optional holiday

The Senate Education Committee advanced Assembly Bill 268, which would recognize Diwali as a state holiday and permit public schools to close or offer optional instruction related to the festival. The bill’s authors said the measure is intended to expand cultural recognition and inclusion for Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities and that school closures would remain permissive, not mandatory.

Assemblymember Kolra (coauthor) and Assemblymember Patel described Diwali’s cultural reach across South Asian communities and told the committee the measure merely allows schools to observe the holiday or offer educational programming; it does not require districts to promote any religion. Supporters included interfaith and community organizations, Hindu American advocacy groups, county offices of education, charter school associations and education unions.

Opponents included representatives of the Church State Council, who argued that state recognition of a religious holy day sets a precedent the group viewed as contrary to separation-of‑church‑and‑state principles. Supporters countered that schools already teach about religious traditions in a historical context and cited longstanding local practice of Christmas and other cultural observances as precedent for optional recognition.

Because of the small committee present at the time of the hearing, the committee chair placed the bill on call for a complete roll call. The committee later voted to move AB 268 to the Senate Appropriations Committee.