Colorado lawmakers moved at high speed this week to strip César Chávez’s name from the state’s optional March 31 observance, voting to rename the holiday “Farm Workers Day.” The Legislature approved the change on Monday and sent the bill to the governor’s desk. Supporters say the shift is meant to center survivors and the thousands of farmworkers whose labor powered the movement in the first place.
What the bill does
House Bill 26-1339 would change the voluntary legal holiday observed on March 31 from “Cesar Chavez Day” to “Farm Workers Day,” according to the Colorado General Assembly. The measure lists Rep. Monica Duran and Rep. Lorena García as prime sponsors and cleared both chambers with broad bipartisan support in late-March floor votes. Lawmakers backing the bill say the new name is intended to highlight farmworkers as a whole rather than a single figure.
Bill text cites survivors and sets a short window
The bill’s legislative declaration cites “deeply disturbing allegations of sexual abuse by Cesar Chavez,” and says the General Assembly “cannot, in good conscience, continue to celebrate a state holiday that bears his name,” language taken directly from the measure. The updated statute specifies that March 31, 2026, and March 31, 2027, will be marked as “Farm Workers Day” and notes that any name for future observances will require additional legislative action, according to the Colorado General Assembly. Sponsors also included a safety clause so the change would take effect immediately once the governor signs the bill.
Sponsors and supporters
Sponsors have framed the move as both a show of support for survivors and a course correction that more clearly honors farmworkers’ contributions, particularly the work of women in the fields and in the movement. “The responsible way to stand with survivors while continuing to uplift the people who created the labor protections that we all benefit from today,” Rep. Monica Duran said, while Rep. Lorena García added that the movement’s accomplishments “are due to the sacrifices of farm workers, especially the women in the movement,” as reported by Colorado Politics. Community leaders who gathered in Denver before the vote urged legislators to put survivors and the day-to-day labor of field workers at the center of the observance.
A national reckoning
Colorado’s move is unfolding against the backdrop of a wider national response following a major investigation that detailed allegations against Chávez and pushed institutions across the country to reconsider honors bearing his name. Cities and states have canceled events and launched rebranding efforts, while unions and organizers say they are prioritizing survivor support, according to reporting by The Associated Press. Supporters of the Colorado bill argue that keeping the focus on farmworker struggles and workplace protections, rather than on one person now facing serious accusations, preserves the spirit of the day.
What comes next
After final passage on Monday, the measure was sent to Gov. Jared Polis for his signature, and supporters say the new name would kick in as soon as he signs it, according to 9NEWS. If enacted, the law will guide how Colorado marks March 31 in 2026 and 2027 while lawmakers debate any longer-term replacement. In the meantime, organizers and city officials say they are concentrating on honoring farmworkers and supporting survivors ahead of next week’s events.
