AB 2156
Holidays: Farmworkers Day.
Vote required
Two Thirds
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Chaptered
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- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill changes California state law to designate March 31st as ‘Farmworkers Day’ instead of Cesar Chavez Day. It requires the Governor to annually proclaim this day as a holiday. The bill was passed as an urgency measure to ensure its immediate implementation for the 2026 calendar year.
Key provisions
- Designates March 31st as ‘Farmworkers Day’.
- Requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 31st as a holiday.
- Replaces Cesar Chavez Day with Farmworkers Day.
- Declares the bill to take effect immediately.
- Amends Government Code Sections 6700 and 6717.
Who is affected
- Farmworkers
- California residents
- Government officials (Governor)
- State government
Notable changes
- Replaces a previously designated holiday (Cesar Chavez Day) with a new one (Farmworkers Day).
- Creates a new state holiday recognizing the contributions of farmworkers.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
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AB2156:v96#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
Assembly Bill No. 2156
CHAPTER 7
An act to amend Sections 6700 and 6717 of the Government Code, relating to state holidays, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
[ Approved by Governor March 26, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State March 26, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2156, Rivas. Holidays: Farmworkers Day.
Existing law designates specific days as holidays in this state, including Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, and requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day.
This bill would instead designate March 31 as Farmworkers Day and would require the Governor to annually proclaim March 31 as Farmworkers Day.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Digest Key
Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 6700 of the Government Code is amended to read:
6700.
(a) The holidays in this state are:
(1) Every Sunday.
(2) January 1.
(3) The third Monday in January, known as “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.”
(4) The date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, known as “Lunar New Year.”
(5) February 12, known as “Lincoln Day.”
(6) The third Monday in February.
(7) March 31, known as “Farmworkers Day.”
(8) April 24, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day.”
(9) The 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year, known as “Diwali.”
(10) The last Monday in May.
(11) June 19, known as “Juneteenth.”
(12) July 4.
(13) The first Monday in September.
(14) September 9, known as “Admission Day.”
(15) The fourth Friday in September, known as “Native American Day.”
(16) The second Monday in October, known as “Columbus Day.”
(17) November 11, known as “Veterans Day.”
(18) December 25.
(19) Good Friday from 12 noon until 3 p.m.
(20) (A) Every day appointed by the President or Governor for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday.
(B) Except for the Thursday in November appointed as Thanksgiving Day, this paragraph and paragraphs (3), (4), and (7) shall not apply to a city, county, or district unless made applicable by charter, or by ordinance or resolution of the governing body thereof.
(b) If this section is in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if those provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.
SEC. 2.
Section 6717 of the Government Code is amended to read:
6717.
The Governor shall annually proclaim March 31 as “Farmworkers Day.”
SEC. 3.
This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
Due to the proximity of the holiday at issue for the 2026 calendar year, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.