California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 91, The MENA Inclusion Act, into law, reports Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR).
Authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian, Chair of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus and the only Armenian-American currently serving in the California State Legislature, AB 91 marks a historic step forward for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities, including Armenian Americans, across the state.
For decades, MENA populations have been classified under the broad “White” racial category in government data collection, obscuring their distinct identities and masking significant disparities in access to services, education, and public health. AB 91 directly addresses this gap by requiring state and local agencies, beginning January 1, 2027, to collect and publicly report disaggregated demographic data for MENA communities, including a distinct designation for Armenian-Americans.
The legislation mandates that all state agencies, boards, and commissions collecting demographic data on ancestry or ethnic origin include separate reporting for the largest MENA groups in California, beginning with those identified in the most recent U.S. Census. Categories must be updated within 18 months of each census cycle, and public reporting must be conducted with full respect for individual privacy protections.
“This is a major step forward in ensuring that Armenian-Americans and our broader MENA community are no longer invisible to the state of California,” said Oshin Harootoonian, Chairman of the ANCA-WR. “By being accurately counted, we are better positioned to advocate for equitable funding, resources, and services that meet the real needs of our communities. We are especially proud that this achievement comes under the leadership of Assemblymember Harabedian, whose commitment to fairness and inclusion reflects the very best of public service.”
