20250HR__009099INT INTRODUCED 2026-03-05 REVISED 2026-03-26 2025 HR INT Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel (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, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, 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, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, and Zbur) LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gabriel 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 Gallagher COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Garcia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gipson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jeff Gonzalez COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Mark González 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 Lee 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 Ta COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Tangipa COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Valencia COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wallis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ward COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wicks COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Wilson COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Zbur Relative to Nowruz.

Nowruz

WHEREAS, Nowruz, the day of the vernal equinox, is celebrated as the beginning of the traditional new year by more than 300,000,000 people around the world. It is celebrated on the exact day of the astronomical northward equinox, which occurs on or around March 21; and

WHEREAS, Since 2010, the United Nations has designated March as the International Day of Nowruz; and

WHEREAS, Nowruz is a combination of two Dari words: the first, “now,” means new, and the second, “ruz,” means day. Together, they mean “new day,” which commemorates the new year for many Afghan and Central Asian communities all over the world; and

WHEREAS, The “new day” symbolizes a commitment to springtime renewal, peace, and overall solidarity between generations, families, and communities. Nowruz symbolizes a time of renewal and community. It harkens the departure from the trials and tribulations of the previous year and brings hope for the new year; and

WHEREAS, During Nowruz, people visit family, reconnect with community members, forgive past wrongs, and exchange gifts as a sign of peace and friendship, and these festivities last multiple days; and

WHEREAS, Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in many countries, such as the United States, Afghanistan, Albania (by Bektashi Muslims), Armenia (by Iranian Armenians, Kurds, and Yezidis), Azerbaijan, Bangladesh (by Bangladeshi Shia Muslims and others), China (by Tajiks and Turkic peoples), Georgia (by Azerbaijanis), India (by Iranis, Parsis, and some Indian Muslims), Iran, Iraq (by Kurds and Turkmens), Israel (by Persian Jews, Kurdish Jews, Mountain Jews, and Bukharan Jews), Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Northern Cyprus, Pakistan (by Balochs, Baltis, Iranis, Parsis, and Pashtuns), Russia (by Tabasarans), Syria (by Kurds), Tajikistan, Turkey (by Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Yoruks), Turkmenistan, Ukraine (by Crimean Tatars), and Uzbekistan; and

WHEREAS, Nowruz is celebrated by Americans of all backgrounds, including those with Baha’i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Zoroastrian, and nonreligious backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, Nowruz, as the embodiment of the unity of cultural heritage and centuries-long traditions, plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good neighborliness; and

WHEREAS, Nowruz serves to remind the United States of the many lasting contributions of the Persian civilization to the world and the noteworthy impact of Afghan Americans and Iranians to the social and economic fabric of society in the United States, including one of the earliest expressions of human rights in the world—the Cylinder of Cyrus the Great. The United States Census Bureau reports that the largest population of Afghans outside of Afghanistan is in California and that percent of Iranian immigrants in America live in California; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed International Nowruz Day in at the enterprise of several countries that uphold this global tradition, and the first global Nowruz festival, held the same year, serves to remind us of the many noteworthy and lasting contributions of Persian culture to the ever-growing social and economic tapestry of our country. After thousands of years in the making, Nowruz remains beloved, universal, and deeply embedded in Persian culture;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly joins all communities throughout the state in celebrating the Spring Equinox, recognizes March 21, 2026, as the International Day of Nowruz, and extends best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous Nowruz to all Californians; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution. REVISIONS: Heading—Line 2.