Assembly Advances Bill to Honor Bruce Lee With State Day

SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers took time during the May 14, 2026, Assembly session to spotlight legislation that would create an official Bruce Lee Day. Assembly Bill 2455 designates May 17 each year as Bruce Lee Day. The measure requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation. It also encourages public schools and educational institutions to conduct exercises that remember Bruce Lee’s life and recognize his accomplishments and contributions to the state.

Assemblyman Matt Haney, a Democrat from San Francisco, introduced the bill on February 20, 2026. Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1940. He rose to global fame as a martial artist, actor, and philosopher who broke barriers for Asian Americans in film and television during an era of limited representation. The bill marks the first time California law would commemorate a Chinese American with a dedicated day.

The Assembly passed AB 2455 on April 16, 2026, by a vote of 68 to 0. The bill now sits in the Senate, where it was referred to the committees on Education and Governmental Organization. No further action has occurred in the upper house.

During the Assembly session on May 14, Haney recognized Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee’s daughter, as a special guest in the chamber. “It is my honor to welcome Miss Shannon Lee to the California State Assembly,” Haney said. “Miss Lee is an actress, producer, author, entrepreneur, and the daughter of the legendary martial artist and cultural icon Bruce Lee.” He detailed her father’s impact. “Although he is best known for his influence on martial arts, Bruce Lee’s impact extends far beyond it. He broke barriers for Asian Americans in film and television at a time when AAPI representation was deeply limited and often defined by harmful stereotypes.”

Haney continued by noting Lee’s broader contributions. “Through his talent, discipline, and philosophy, he became one of the first Asian global superstars and inspired generations of Asian Americans to see themselves reflected with strength, confidence, and dignity.” Shannon Lee serves as CEO of the Bruce Lee Family Companies and co-founded the Bruce Lee Foundation with her mother, Linda Lee Caldwell. She has worked to preserve her father’s philosophy and has authored books such as Be Water, My Friend.

The assemblyman thanked Shannon Lee for her involvement with the bill. “I want to thank Miss Lee for her help and guidance on AB 2455 legislation,” Haney stated. “We are proud to be advancing to establish a Bruce Lee Day in California… This bill honors not only Bruce Lee’s extraordinary achievements in martial arts and film, but his lasting cultural impact on California.” He added that California has long been central to Bruce Lee’s story. “It is fitting that our state recognizes his enduring legacy.”