The California Legislature has given final approval to Senate Bill 1387, bringing the state closer to becoming the first in the United States to formally recognize Jewish identity as both an ethnicity and a religion in state law. The Assembly passed the measure unanimously with a 62-0 vote, followed by a 38-0 vote in the Senate. The bill now awaits the signature or veto of Governor Gavin Newsom before the September 30 deadline.

Introduced by Senator Henry Stern (D-Sherman Oaks) and sponsored by the advocacy group Jewish California, SB 1387 mandates that state agencies collecting demographic data on ancestry or ethnic origin include a distinct category for Jewish identity. Proponents argue this change will improve the accuracy of data related to hate crimes, public health, and educational outcomes for Jewish Californians.

Supporters cite research from a 2020 Pew Research Center study on American Jews, which found that 52% of respondents consider ancestry essential to their Jewish identity, 55% emphasize cultural elements, and 36% define their identity solely through religion. Until now, state data collection methods have not reflected this multifaceted identity, leading advocates to call for recognition beyond the religious classification.

“SB 1387 makes sure that we are seen and included when the state counts ethnic communities, a national first,” said David Bocarsly, CEO of Jewish California. He highlighted the bill's expected impact on hate crime reporting, health surveys, and educational data, underscoring the importance of accurate demographic information for policymaking. Bocarsly credited Stern’s leadership, support from the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, and a coalition of 59 Jewish organizations that promoted the legislation.

The bill emphasizes voluntary participation and will add the Jewish ethnicity option without removing existing religious categories. To address privacy concerns, the law prohibits the use of the collected information for establishing individual registries or for enforcement by law enforcement or immigration authorities. All reports will present data strictly in aggregate form.

The provisions of SB 1387 are scheduled to take effect in January 2029, with the first official reports anticipated by January 2030. The legislation highlights California’s role in pioneering state-level approaches to demographic accounting.

SB 1387 is one of six bills sponsored by Jewish California currently awaiting final action from Governor Newsom. Other measures aim to establish 100-foot safe zones around houses of worship, strengthen K-12 protections against antisemitism, reform voter guides to remove hate speech, address campus disruptions, and enhance care for Holocaust survivors.