California lawmakers are expected to vote Thursday to rename César Chávez Day as Farmworkers Day, following sexual abuse allegations against the prominent labor leader that became public last week.

The California Assembly passed the bill with bipartisan support on Monday, and the state Senate is expected to follow suit. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the legislation quickly, ahead of the March 31 state holiday.

The allegations include claims that Chávez sexually abused girls and women during his leadership of the farmworker labor rights movement in California's agricultural regions during the 1960s. Among those making accusations is Dolores Huerta, who co-led the movement that became the United Farm Workers.

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry stated before Monday's vote that "we cannot ignore wrongdoing and we should not continue to celebrate a single person when the movement itself is so much bigger." Republican Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo emphasized that the change honors workers "who are in the orchards, in the fields, before the sun even touches the horizon."

California was the first state to designate Chávez's birthday as a holiday nearly 30 years ago, later making it an official paid day off for state employees in 2000. The state also requires students to learn about his legacy and role in California's labor movement.

Since the allegations surfaced, California State University, Fresno has covered Chávez's campus statue, while cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento have begun removing his name from public landmarks. Several states have indicated they will no longer observe the holiday.