Assembly Concurrent Resolution ACR 128 declares February 24, 2026, a statewide Day of Solidarity with Ukraine and urges public and community institutions across California to mark the date with educational, cultural, and support activities. The resolution is ceremonial: it does not appropriate funds or create new regulatory duties, but it asks schools, universities, local governments, cultural organizations, youth groups, and state agencies to coordinate programming and services that emphasize democracy, human rights, and refugee integration.
The measure matters because it formalizes state-level recognition of the humanitarian impact of the Ukraine war on California’s sizable Ukrainian diaspora and refugees, signals support for mental-health and integration services, and directs public attention toward civic education activities tied to the anniversary. For practitioners, the resolution creates expectations (not mandates) that public institutions will host or facilitate events and resource connections on and around February 24, 2026 — a consideration for planners in education, social services, and cultural programming.
At a Glance
What It Does
ACR 128 designates Feb. 24, 2026 as a Day of Solidarity with Ukraine and encourages — but does not require — schools, universities, youth organizations, local governments, cultural institutions, and state agencies to hold programming, cultural events, and outreach supporting Ukrainian refugees and diaspora communities. It also asks the Governor to raise the Ukrainian flag at the State Capitol at noon on Feb. 24, 2026 and again at noon on Aug. 24, 2026.
Who It Affects
The resolution directly targets public institutions (K–12 districts, universities, state agencies), community organizations (nonprofits, cultural centers), and local governments that are expected to design or host activities. Indirectly affected groups include Ukrainian Americans, recent Ukrainian refugees in California, educators planning curriculum, and social-service providers who may be asked to coordinate supports.
Why It Matters
Although symbolic, the resolution sets public expectations about civic education and community response to an international humanitarian crisis and increases visibility for refugee-support needs. Professionals overseeing programming, mental-health services, or local events will likely be asked to operationalize the resolution’s encouragements within existing budgets and schedules.
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What This Bill Actually Does
ACR 128 is a concurrent resolution — a formal statement from the Legislature and Senate that expresses state sentiment rather than imposing binding legal duties or new funding. It opens with several findings about California’s Ukrainian population, including a cited figure of more than 100,000 Ukrainian Americans and a note that Sacramento ranks high in share of Ukrainian immigrants.
Those facts form the social and cultural rationale for the recognition.
The operative text names February 24, 2026 as a Day of Solidarity with Ukraine and asks a range of institutions to participate. Specifically, it invites K–12 schools, school districts, universities, and youth-serving organizations to work with community partners to provide age-appropriate lessons and public learning opportunities focused on democracy, peacebuilding, human rights, and Ukrainian history and culture.
The resolution explicitly encourages events to be suitable for youth audiences and points to youth-led activity as a valued component.Beyond education, the resolution urges local governments, cultural institutions, and community organizations to hold cultural events, awareness campaigns, and solidarity gatherings to amplify Ukrainian voices and strengthen cross-cultural ties. It also contains an explicit expression of ongoing support for Ukrainian refugees and immigrant families in California, encouraging state agencies and nonprofit partners to provide resources that promote safety, housing stability, education access, mental health support, and community integration.Finally, ACR 128 makes two specific ceremonial requests: that the Governor raise the Ukrainian flag at the State Capitol at noon on Feb. 24, 2026 and again at noon on Ukrainian Independence Day, Aug. 24, 2026; and that the Chief Clerk transmit copies of the resolution for appropriate distribution.
Because the measure is nonbinding, the practical effect will depend on how state and local actors choose to respond within their existing programmatic and budgetary constraints.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The resolution designates February 24, 2026, as a Day of Solidarity with Ukraine statewide in California.
It urges K–12 schools, districts, universities, and youth-serving organizations to develop age-appropriate programming on democracy, human rights, Ukrainian history, and peacebuilding for that date.
Local governments, cultural institutions, and community organizations are encouraged to host cultural events, public awareness campaigns, and youth-led initiatives around Feb. 24, 2026.
The resolution expresses support for Ukrainian refugees and immigrant families and encourages state agencies and community partners to provide resources for housing, education, mental health, and integration — but it contains no funding directive.
It requests the Governor raise the Ukrainian flag at the State Capitol at noon on Feb. 24, 2026, and at noon on Aug. 24, 2026 (Ukrainian Independence Day).
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Context and stated reasons for the recognition
The preamble compiles demographic and historical findings — including an estimated Ukrainian-American population of 100,000+ in California, regional concentrations, and a brief history of Ukrainian migration — to justify the symbolic recognition. For practitioners, these findings signal the Legislature’s intent to connect the resolution to local diaspora communities and refugee needs rather than treating it as a purely foreign-affairs statement.
Official designation of the Day of Solidarity
This clause formally names Feb. 24, 2026 as the Day of Solidarity with Ukraine. Legally, a concurrent resolution has no binding regulatory force; its purpose is to set policy tone and public expectations. Compliance officers should note that the designation itself does not change legal obligations but may create political or community pressure to act.
Encouragement for schools and youth-serving organizations
The resolution asks K–12 schools, districts, universities, and youth-serving groups to collaborate with community partners on age-appropriate educational programming and classroom activities focused on democracy, human rights, and Ukrainian culture. Practically, this puts curriculum and program directors on notice that legislators expect instructional activity tied to the date, which schools must integrate alongside existing curricular requirements and local board policies.
Encouragement for local governments and cultural institutions to host events
Local governments, cultural organizations, and community groups are encouraged to hold cultural events, public awareness campaigns, and solidarity gatherings to uplift Ukrainian voices. For event planners and municipal staff, this is a request to prioritize programming resources and logistical support; it does not compel spending but creates a public-facing expectation about civic engagement.
Expression of support for refugees and prompt to provide resources
The resolution expresses support for Ukrainian refugees, immigrant families, and youth, and encourages state agencies and community partners to provide resources promoting safety, housing stability, education access, mental-health care, and community integration. The clause is aspirational: it encourages coordination and resource provision but includes no appropriation or enforcement mechanism, leaving implementation to existing programs and budgets.
Ceremonial flag-raising requests and distribution of the resolution
The Legislature asks the Governor to raise the Ukrainian flag at the State Capitol at noon on Feb. 24, 2026 and at noon on Aug. 24, 2026, and directs the Chief Clerk to send copies of the resolution. These are ceremonial actions that carry symbolic weight and optics considerations for the Governor’s office and Capitol operations staff.
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Who Benefits
- Ukrainian Americans and recent Ukrainian refugees in California — the resolution elevates their visibility, signals state solidarity, and encourages public agencies and community partners to prioritize supports for housing, education, and mental-health services.
- Schools, universities, and youth-led organizations — they gain a legislative prompt and public legitimacy to develop programming on democracy, human rights, and Ukrainian history, which can be used to attract community partners and funding.
- Cultural institutions and local governments — the resolution offers a public mandate to host cultural diplomacy activities, potentially increasing attendance, donor interest, and partnership opportunities.
- Nonprofit and service providers focused on refugee integration — the heightened attention can help these organizations mobilize volunteers, fundraising, and collaboration with state agencies.
- Students and youth participants — the encouragement of age-appropriate programming creates opportunities for civic education and youth leadership tied to global events and human-rights themes.
Who Bears the Cost
- State agencies and departmental staff — they are encouraged to provide resources for refugees and integration without accompanying new funding, which may require reallocation of existing program budgets or staff time.
- School districts and educators — developing and delivering age-appropriate lessons, assemblies, or events requires planning time and potentially materials or guest facilitators drawn from existing school budgets.
- Local governments and cultural organizations hosting events — logistical, staffing, permitting, and security costs fall on municipal budgets or local sponsors unless outside funding is secured.
- Nonprofits and community partners — increased demand for services and coordination duties (e.g., mental-health support, legal aid) can strain organizations already operating at capacity.
- Governor’s office and Capitol operations — ceremonial flag raisings require coordination and small operational costs, plus political-management resources to handle public messaging and reception.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is symbolic solidarity versus material responsibility: the resolution elevates public attention and urges actions that would help refugees and educate students, but it stops short of funding or mandating those actions — forcing local agencies and institutions to choose whether to absorb new obligations within existing budgets or to let the resolution remain primarily a public statement.
ACR 128 is symbolic by design, which creates two practical tensions. First, the resolution asks multiple public actors to expand programming or provide services but contains no appropriation; implementation therefore depends on existing budgets and discretionary priorities at the local and agency level.
Practically, that can lead to uneven uptake: better-resourced districts and cities will be able to deliver robust programming and supports, while under-resourced communities may not, potentially reinforcing inequities the resolution seeks to address.
Second, the call for age-appropriate instruction and public events raises implementation questions about curriculum scope, trauma-informed practice, and political neutrality. Educators must balance educational objectives (democracy, history, human rights) with sensitivity to students who may be refugees or have family affected by the war.
The resolution does not provide guidance on content standards, professional development, or safeguarding, which leaves school boards and districts to set boundaries and procedures. Finally, the ceremonial flag-raising and public posture toward a foreign conflict expose state actors to diplomatic optics and domestic political scrutiny, which can complicate otherwise straightforward civic and cultural programming.
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