Politics

California Assembly passes bill allowing voluntary Jewish identity on state forms

The measure requires state agencies collecting demographic data to include 'Jewish' as an ethnicity or ancestry option.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 04:21 UTC3 reports

The short version

The California Assembly passed a bill on Monday allowing individuals to voluntarily select 'Jewish' as an ethnicity or ancestry option on state demographic forms.
Proponents argue the option will provide better data on hate crimes, school representation, and economic needs, while critics cite privacy risks and historical concerns over government tracking.
The legislation requires a final procedural vote in the state Legislature before advancing to Governor Gavin Newsom.

The California Assembly passed a bill requiring state agencies that gather demographic information to include 'Jewish' as an option for ethnicity or ancestry.[Associated Press · ABC News · ABC News]
The legislation prohibits state agencies from releasing personally identifying information and exempts agencies if adding the field would risk losing federal funding.[Associated Press · ABC News · ABC News]
Bill author Senator Henry Stern and advocacy groups stated the data will help measure community needs and track hate crimes, while maintaining that existing privacy protections are sufficient.[Associated Press · ABC News]
Representatives from Jewish Voice for Peace expressed concern regarding state-maintained lists of Jewish people given historical persecution during the Holocaust, and argued against treating Jewish identity as a uniform ethnic group.[Associated Press · ABC News]
The measure must pass one final vote in the California Legislature before reaching Governor Gavin Newsom for signature.[Associated Press · ABC News]

Whether Governor Gavin Newsom will sign the measure into law if it receives final legislative approval.[Associated Press · ABC News]