Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

California Senate Committee to Vote on Jewish Ethnicity Box

8/13/2026

39 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

California's Senate committee will vote this week on SB 1387 to add an optional “Jewish” ethnicity box to state forms.
The bill would make California the first state to record Jewish identity as an ethnicity, not just a religion.
Supporters say the measure would improve data for hate-crime monitoring and public-health efforts such as genetic-screening.
A 2021 Pew survey found only 11 percent of Jews view Judaism mainly as a religion.

1 of 1

Story summary

California's Senate committee will vote this week on SB 1387 to add an optional “Jewish” ethnicity box to state forms.
The bill would make California the first state to record Jewish identity as an ethnicity, not just a religion.
Supporters say the measure would improve data for hate-crime monitoring and public-health efforts such as genetic-screening.
A 2021 Pew survey found only 11 percent of Jews view Judaism mainly as a religion.