The Bill AB-2596 was introduced by Assembly member Evan Low who is the leading author in February 2022. The bill has received strong support and was passed on May 25 by 76 yes votes and zero no votes. The status now is waiting for the first read result at the State Senate.
Assemblymember Low said, the result of overwhelming support to the Lunar New Year Holiday shows that Asian American Cultures has earned well-received recognition.
AB-2596 would repeal provisions requiring the Governor to annually proclaim the Lunar New Year, and would instead recognize the Lunar New Year as a state holiday. The bill would authorize state employees, with specified exceptions, to elect to receive 8 hours of holiday credit for the Lunar New Year in lieu of receiving 8 hours of personal holiday credit, and to elect to use 8 hours of vacation, annual leave, or compensating time off, consistent with departmental operational needs and collective bargaining agreements, for Lunar New Year, as specified.
加州眾議會5月25日以76票全票無異議通過代表矽谷選區州眾議員羅達倫Evan Low所提AB 2596法案，希望將農曆新年定為加州假日。本提案已經在參議會一讀，如無意外可望於短期内順利通過三讀，等待州長同意簽署成爲法令。消息傳出，華、韓、越南等族裔社區都歡迎，肯定民意代表和州政府對亞裔文化的重視。
羅達倫表示，美國各州亞裔人口在加州最多，亞裔也是美國成長最快的族裔，農曆新年為亞裔傳統節慶。他表示：「對推出AB 2596法案引以為榮，對數百萬加州人而言，農曆新年能定為法定假日，意義深遠。」農曆新年具有循環更新與社區結合的普世意義，也是亞洲與亞裔文化的重要特徵，三分之二以上美國亞裔人口慶祝農曆新年，包括華裔、越南裔、韓裔、馬來西亞裔在內。在仇亞暴力尚未淡化的背景之下，設農曆新年為州定假日不僅鼓舞亞裔士氣，也同時彰顯出加州領導包容性社會的魄力。
雖然法案本身只是給予州級政府雇員法源來選定每年農曆這一天為法定假日，而無需州長逐年宣佈，但是按照往例一旦成爲州法，各級機關通常會遵行而成爲州政府的假日。