— California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 268 to add Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, to the state’s list of official holidays. The Senate approved the bill on September 10, 2025; the Assembly the following day. Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law on October 6, 2025.
The new status as a state holiday will not be in effect this year, however. Since AB 268 has no special effective date, California’s default rule applies: new statutes from a regular session of the Legislature take effect on January 1 of the following year. The first official Diwali state holiday will be November 8, 2026 — with the following effects:
- Public schools and community colleges may close on Diwali
- State employees may take paid time off
- Courts remain open because Diwali is excluded from judicial holidays
Other US states have recently recognized Diwali: Pennsylvania made Diwali an official state holiday in 2024; the law does not require closures. Connecticut followed in 2025, adding Diwali by Public Act 25-59, effective October 1, 2025. North Carolina celebrated Diwali as a state observance in 2024 and might continue the tradition this year as well.