The California Assembly on Monday advanced a bill that would allow residents to identify their Jewish ancestry on state demographic forms, while lawmakers separately passed a measure requiring large companies to disclose ties to slavery.
Assembly passes Jewish ancestry data bill
The California Assembly voted to approve a bill that would require state agencies collecting demographic information to include “Jewish” as an option for ethnicity or ancestry. The legislation, authored by Democratic state Sen. Henry Stern, now heads to the state Senate for a final vote before moving to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Supporters, including David Bocarsly, CEO of Jewish California, say the change would improve data collection on Jewish residents to inform policy decisions. “It’s about inclusion as a community,” Bocarsly said. The bill includes provisions to protect personal identifying information, though some opponents remain concerned about government-held records.
Legislature advances slavery disclosure requirement
Separately, the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 2599, which mandates that large companies operating in California disclose past involvement in slavery. The bill requires qualifying companies—those with annual gross receipts exceeding $100 million and in operation before December 1964—to publicly acknowledge whether they or their predecessors bought, sold, or facilitated transactions involving enslaved persons. The disclosures would be published on a state-run digital platform. Major companies, including insurers, have raised objections, arguing existing laws already address some of these disclosures.
Policy goals and privacy concerns
Proponents of the Jewish ancestry bill argue it aligns with recent efforts to expand demographic data collection for Middle Eastern, North African, and LGBTQ+ communities. Critics, such as Sydney Levy of Jewish Voice for Peace, question the state’s ability to safeguard such data, stating, “When it comes to government holding lists of Jews, we do not trust your privacy guardrails.” Marc Dollinger, a Jewish studies professor at San Francisco State University, noted traditional Jewish teachings caution against being counted, adding the debate hinges on whether Jews in California trust the state’s data protections.
Implementation and next steps
The slavery disclosure bill, if signed by Newsom by Sept. 30, would create a public database of corporate ties to slavery. Companies would have until 2028 to submit their disclosures. The Jewish ancestry bill awaits a final Senate vote before Newsom’s potential approval. Both measures reflect ongoing legislative efforts to address historical injustices and demographic representation in California.