By Joseph Edelen

DOVER — One of the Delaware Muslim community’s top legislative priorities – adding Eid ul-Fitr to the list of state holidays – is heading to its next step in the lawmaking process.

Also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast, Eid ul-Fitr marks the end to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in which Muslims partake in fasting and religious reflection.

It is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month of the lunar Islamic calendar. It was marked on April 9 this year

House Bill 360, which is sponsored by Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark, was passed in the House of Representatives’ Administration Committee on May 22 and has since been assigned to the chamber’s budget-approval committee.

The Newark Democrat became the first practicing Muslim elected to Delaware’s General Assembly in 2020 and has since spearheaded an inaugural Muslim Capitol Day at Legislative Hall, which was held for the first time on April 25.

The occasion welcomed members of the faith to meet with their respective legislators regarding their legislative priorities. This year, those objectives included House Bill 360 and other religious accommodations, improving inclusivity of state services, measures to support small businesses and advocating for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Palestine.

“I am excited that members of our community continue to be civically engaged,” Rep. Wilson-Anton said. “The Muslim community is incredibly diverse, and our state’s progress depends on our elected officials hearing from their constituents from all backgrounds on the issues that our communities face.”

There was bipartisan support for House Bill 360’s intent during its consideration in the chamber’s leadership committee, though lawmakers did raise some concern regarding the price of the policy and if it could lead to additional requests to recognize holidays of other religious affiliations.

“The number of employees who are not Muslim that would be benefiting from this in having a day off, and the impact to the state … I oppose the bill for adding additional time off for, not just around this particular holiday, but additional holidays that could be faith-based or not,” said House Minority Whip Lyndon Yearick, R-Magnolia.

Originally, the legislation also included the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Adha, but an amendment attached to the bill removed the celebration from the bill’s purview.

This change would bring the total fiscal note of House Bill 360 down from more than $1.4 million to around $700,000, Rep. Wilson-Anton told committee members.

Throughout the bill’s consideration, lawmakers discussed inclusivity improvements the legislature has taken; specifically, a law enacted in 2021 that was led by Rep. Wilson-Anton and mandated excused absences for students who observe a religious holiday.

Several members of Delaware’s Muslim community testified in support of the bill, explaining the discrepancies between the state’s observation of other religious holidays. Members of the public also noted how the legislation extends representation to a large sector of the state’s population.

House Minority Leader Mike Ramone, R-Newark, praised the bill’s intent despite his fiscal concerns, and called for further education on holidays that are not currently recognized in Delaware Code.

House Bill 360 was ultimately released from committee with bipartisan support. While the legislation awaits consideration in the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Wilson-Anton committed to furthering discussions on how to improve the proposal’s framework.