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AB 1841, Chapter 447, Statutes of 2026 · Friday 25 September 2026

State holidays: Native American Day

California authorizes Native American Day as a paid state holiday, subject to legislative funding.

The law can convert the fourth Friday in September from an optional leave day into a paid holiday for state workers. It also allows every state bargaining unit to negotiate the holiday in its labor agreement.

What the law does ​

  • Makes the fourth Friday in September, Native American Day, a state employee holiday if the Legislature appropriates funding.
  • Replaces employees’ option to use holiday credit, vacation, annual leave, compensating time off, or personal-holiday credit for Native American Day when the paid holiday takes effect.
  • Allows any state bargaining unit to negotiate Native American Day as a paid holiday in its memorandum of understanding.

Who it affects ​

  • State employees, including employees in State Bargaining Unit 5.
  • State bargaining units and state departments administering employee leave and holiday rules.

Context ​

Native American Day had previously been an optional day on which eligible state employees could use available leave or holiday credit.