New York, NY – Today, Governor Kathy Hochul joined New York Assembly Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force Co-Chairs Assemblymember Grace Lee and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, bill sponsors Assemblymember William Colton and Senator Brian Kavanagh, and other Majority officials to sign A07768/S07573 – legislation to make Lunar New Year a statewide public school holiday in New York.

This historic new law solidifies New York as the first state in the country to mandate statewide school closures in observance of Lunar New Year and marks a significant milestone for the Asian American community. This law will ensure families across New York can celebrate Lunar New Year together, and it will promote diversity and inclusion by raising awareness of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) culture and heritage. This law was passed through the advocacy of the Majority lawmakers in New York’s Assembly and Senate who have fought throughout the year to support AAPI New Yorkers and curb the severe rise in anti-Asian hate that has taken place since the pandemic.

“Making Lunar New Year a holiday for New York's public schools is a direct result of the hard work of the Assembly Majority and the dedicated members of our Asian Pacific Task Force,” said Speaker Carl Heastie. “New York State is beautifully diverse, with people from different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds living, working and raising families together. The Lunar New Year holiday will give thousands of Asian students in our state the ability to gather together and celebrate with family and friends without having to sacrifice their education. I hope this will also shine a light on the culture and traditions of our Asian friends and neighbors, and in a time where we have seen hate and violence against Asian communities, this will open people’s eyes, encouraging tolerance and acceptance.”

“It is an honor to have led this historic effort to recognize Lunar New Year as a statewide holiday in New York,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee, Co-Chair of the New York Assembly’s Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force. “As Asian Americans, we have gone unseen and unheard in New York for too long, and this bill is recognition for our contributions to New York’s history, and validation that our voices and our stories matter. Now, I will be able to join thousands of families across the state in celebrating Lunar New Year at home with my kids. This law will expose new generations to Asian culture, and it will promote diversity and inclusion at a time when Asian New Yorkers are suffering from anti-Asian hate. By making New York the first state in the country to mandate statewide school closures in observance of Lunar New Year, we are setting a valuable example for other states to follow. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and all my colleagues who supported this effort to secure this historic achievement for New York’s AAPI community.”

“I am proud that 2023 will mark the final year that we force hundreds of thousands of Asian New Yorkers to decide between attending school or celebrating the Lunar New Year with their friends and family,” said Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Co-Chair of the New York Assembly’s Asian Pacific American Task Force. “We are honored to move beyond this binary of culture versus classwork, and to finally grant these traditions the holiday that has been denied to them for decades. The work always continues, but this is a fantastic step forward.”

Assemblymember William Colton said, “Asian Americans have played a vital role in shaping our state and nation while continuously struggling to overcome many obstacles of discrimination and hardship. Making Asian Lunar New Year a state school holiday will benefit not only Asian American but will promote a strong message of hope in obtaining the American Dream for all groups. This historic legislation could not be possible without the leadership of the Governor, the Legislative Leadership and the support of Assembly Member Grace Lee, the bill’s prime co-sponsor and so many of my colleagues. “

Assemblymember Ron Kim, co-founder of the Asian Pacific American Task Force, said, “It took multiple generations of lawmakers to finally make Lunar New Year a recognized statewide holiday and I want to thank Governor Hochul for recognizing Asian Americans in a meaningful way. From former members Jimmy Meng, Ellen Young and Grace Meng to new members like APA Task Force co-chair Grace Lee making this legislation a top priority, I’m grateful for all of their contributions. Lastly, I want to thank Speaker Carl Heastie for his leadership and guidance in celebrating Asian Americans in New York State.”

Assemblymember Steven Raga, said, “As a proud member of the APA Task Force, I am deeply honored to witness Governor Hochul signing the Lunar New Year Bill (A07768/S07573). This moment marks an immense milestone for us, serving as a testament to the cultural significance and contributions of New York's AAPI community. We celebrate this historic achievement and recognize the profound impact it will have on future generations in New York State.”

Assemblymember Jennifer Rajkumar said, “As the first South Asian woman ever elected to New York State Office, I thank Governor Kathy Hochul for signing this historic bill recognizing the rich diversity of our State and its AAPI community. Over 1 million New Yorkers across the State celebrate Lunar New Year, and today we say to all of them that we see you and we recognize you. I was proud to help drive this historic bill to passage. Today, we are making our education system work for all the diverse communities in our State, just as we did by passing my bill establishing the Diwali school holiday in New York City. In an era of rising hate against the AAPI community nationwide, New York is a beacon of respect, tolerance, and love for people of every faith and background.”

Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas said, “Lunar New Year is an important holiday for many cultures practiced and represented by our neighbors across New York City and State. With the signing of this bill into law we can continue to validate that all cultures should be celebrated by New Yorkers including our school children. Thank you to the prime sponsors and advocates for getting this done.”

Assemblymember Gina Sillitti said, "Lunar New Year's official recognition in New York State is a momentous milestone that reflects our State's commitment to embracing our rich cultural diversity and honoring the important contributions of our growing Asian American community. Recognizing Lunar New Year as an official public school holiday not only honors the traditions of New York's Asian American community but also provides a wonderful opportunity for all our students to learn and celebrate the heritage of Lunar New Year, fostering greater understanding and unity among all of us."

Assembly Member Sarah Clark said, "Lunar New Year's official recognition in New York State is a momentous milestone that reflects our State's commitment to embracing our rich cultural diversity and honoring the important contributions of our growing Asian American community. Recognizing Lunar New Year as an official public school holiday not only honors the traditions of New York's Asian American community but also provides a wonderful opportunity for all our students to learn and celebrate the heritage of Lunar New Year, fostering greater understanding and unity among all of us."

"It is long past time that Lunar New Year be recognized as a statewide public school holiday in New York," said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic. "I am proud to support this effort as we ensure families of all cultures, backgrounds, and religions can celebrate their holidays without conflicts."