CAIR celebrates introduction of bills to promote civil liberties in California

All three bills will now be enrolled to Governor Gavin Newsom, whose signature would declare the bills law

SACRAMENTO, California – The California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) has praised the adoption of three bills in the California legislature.

The CAIR had proposed and backed these bills.

These bills emphasize strengthening the civil rights and religious liberties of Californians.

Senator Dave Cortese’s proposal, SB 309, seeks to establish a uniform statewide policy on religious dress and grooming in California’s correctional system.

Another bill, SB 461, introduced by Senator Aisha Wahab, allows state employees to use eight hours of leave for their religious, cultural or heritage celebrations, rather than only for certain specified holidays.

The third bill, AB 1503, introduced by Representative Alex Lee, provides K–12 students with one full day off per semester for religious celebrations, an increase from the current four-hour provision.

Nazeehah Khan, CAIR Manager of Policy and Government Affairs, highlighted the importance of these bills, emphasizing their role in combating discrimination and promoting religious freedom in the state. 

Khan thanked legislators and urged Governor Gavin Newsom to sign these bills into law.

“These legislative victories are a testament to the power of advocacy and collaboration in advancing justice. Each bill’s passage through the State Legislature is an important step towards protecting against discrimination and ensuring that all Californians can freely practice their religious beliefs without fear or prejudice,” Khan said in a statement. 

All three bills will now be enrolled to Governor Gavin Newsom, whose signature would declare the bills law.