Vesak Day.
ACR 141
California Bills
20250ACR_014196CHP INTRODUCED 2026-02-19 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-04-16 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2026-05-11 PASSED_SENATE 2026-05-07 ENROLLED 2026-05-12 CHAPTERED 2026-05-18 FILED 2026-05-18 2025 ACR CHP CHR 0 Introduced by Assembly Member Ta (Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Elhawary, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Rivas, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Wicks, Wilson, and Zbur) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Aguiar-Curry COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ahrens COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alanis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alvarez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Arambula COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bains COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bauer-Kahan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bennett COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Boerner COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bonta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Bryan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Calderon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Caloza COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Castillo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Chen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Connolly COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Davies COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY DeMaio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Elhawary COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Fong COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gabriel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gallagher COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Garcia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gipson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jeff Gonzalez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hadwick COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Haney COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Harabedian COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hart COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hoover COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Irwin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jackson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Johnson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Kalra COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Krell COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lackey COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lowenthal COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Macedo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY McKinnor COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Muratsuchi COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Nguyen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ortega COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pacheco COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Papan COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patel COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Patterson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Pellerin COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Petrie-Norris COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Quirk-Silva COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ramos COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ransom COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rivas COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Michelle Rodriguez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Rogers COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sanchez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schiavo COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Schultz COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Sharp-Collins COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Solache COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Soria COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Stefani COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Tangipa COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Valencia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wallis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wicks COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wilson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Zbur Relative to Vesak Day.
Vesak Day Vesak Day. This measure would recognize the significance of Vesak Day to people of Buddhist faith and extend sincere best wishes to the state’s Buddhist community in celebrating Vesak Day. NO
WHEREAS, Vesak Day, one of the most important and sacred holidays to Buddhists worldwide, commemorates the life, enlightenment, and death of Buddha; and
WHEREAS, Born between and B.C.E., the Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama, was the son of an Indian king. After leaving behind his home and his royal title to become an ascetic, he resolved to find an end to human suffering, which led him to identifying the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path toward enlightenment; and
WHEREAS, Some 2,500 years later, followers of Buddhism honor the legacy of the religion’s founder on Vesak Day. Depending on the country where it is celebrated, the holiday occurs on the Day of the Full Moon, which is the first full moon of May or on the full moon of the fourth lunar month; and
WHEREAS, This year Vesak Day will be observed on May 1, according to the lunar calendar; and
WHEREAS, In countries using the Gregorian calendar, Vesak Day is recognized annually on April 8; and
WHEREAS, Many observe the holiday by reaffirming their commitment to the moral precepts of Buddhism, performing good deeds, devoting time to chanting and meditation, and other customs, including lighting lanterns, decorating with flowers, and enjoying traditional Asian dishes; and
WHEREAS, Many Californians have found inspiration and spiritual guidance in the Buddhist faith, and many worship at temples and meditation facilities located in cities across the state; and
WHEREAS, The teachings of Buddha have inspired millions of people around the globe to strive for inner peace and to demonstrate greater compassion, tolerance, and understanding in their lives, and it is fitting to acknowledge the great importance of Vesak Day to the Buddhists who reside in California and beyond; and
WHEREAS, California has a large number of Buddhists, particularly from Asia; and
WHEREAS, The California State Assembly chaplains are a Buddhist married couple; and
WHEREAS, Buddhists have advocated for and made significant efforts to achieve peace, including the Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, DC, organized by Buddhist monks, which gained hundreds of thousands of American supporters from all demographics; and
WHEREAS, The recent pilgrimage and example of mindfulness demonstrated by Thích Minh Tuê has drawn international attention to the enduring power of Buddhist practice, humility, and peaceful devotion, inspiring many to reflect more deeply on the core teachings of compassion and simplicity; and
WHEREAS, Buddhists have advocated for, and made significant efforts to achieve, peace;
now, therefore,
be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the significance of Vesak Day to people of Buddhist faith and extends sincere wishes to the state’s Buddhist community in celebrating Vesak Day; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.