Washington Recognizes Two Islamic Holidays as State Holidays, First in US
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5106 on April 6, 2025, making Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha state-recognized unpaid holidays, Washington State Standard, reported. The bill, celebrated at the Islamic Center of Tacoma, marks Washington as the first state in the U.S. to designate these Islamic holidays.
Sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau and Rep. Osman Salahuddin, the bill addresses challenges faced by Muslim students and employees who previously had to choose between observing their faith and meeting academic or professional obligations. It allows employees to take two unpaid faith-based holidays annually and requires postsecondary institutions to accommodate student absences for religious reasons.
The bill received strong legislative support, reflecting Washington’s efforts to recognize diverse cultural and religious practices, following last year’s recognition of Lunar New Year. Other unpaid state holidays include Korean-American Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Blood Donor Day, and Water Safety Day.
“This is something our community has long been asking for,” said Salahuddin, highlighting the significance of representation in state law. In recent years, the Legislature has taken initiative to expand the list of recognized holidays that celebrate cultural and religious practices. Last year, Lunar New Year was recognized as an unpaid holiday.
