Holidays.

Assembly Member Gabriel's legislation directs California educational institutions and government agencies to avoid scheduling major events on religious, cultural, and ancestral holidays starting in 2026. The bill requires K-12 schools and community colleges to consider alternative dates for significant academic milestones like first days of classes, graduations, and student orientations when they coincide with observances such as Eid al-Adha, Rosh Hashanah, or Diwali.

The measure establishes distinct protocols across different institutional levels. K-12 districts must gather input from affected communities when planning academic calendars. Higher education institutions, including California State University and optionally the University of California, must consult student and faculty organizations before scheduling institutional events like move-in days, exams, and commencement ceremonies. State agencies must make efforts to avoid conducting meetings on specified holidays, while local government bodies are encouraged but not required to follow similar practices.

Implementation begins with the 2026-27 academic year, allowing institutions time to adjust their scheduling processes. The bill includes provisions for state reimbursement to local agencies and school districts if the Commission on State Mandates determines the new requirements impose additional costs. These changes modify both the Education Code and Government Code to create a coordinated approach across California's public institutions.