Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Sophie Austin

California lawmakers pass bill allowing people to identify their Jewish ancestry on state forms

California Legislature - (Copyright 2026. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

California would allow Jews to voluntarily identify their Jewish heritage on state forms under a bill the state Assembly passed Monday.

The bill, which needs a final vote in the Legislature to head to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, would require state agencies that collect demographic information to add “Jewish” as an option for ethnicity or ancestry. The goal is to give state officials and researchers better data on Jewish Californians, including their unemployment rates and representation in schools.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.