HB59 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

State holidays, adding Juneteenth as a state holiday, list of state holidays revised, Sec. 1-3-8 am'd.

Summary

HB59 would add Juneteenth as an official state holiday in Alabama, update holiday language, and establish Rosa Parks Day with related administrative provisions.

What This Bill Does

It adds Juneteenth (June 19) to the list of official state holidays and sets standard observance rules (holiday on a weekday if the date falls on a weekend). It designates December 1 as Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day, with counties and municipalities allowed to observe it as a holiday. It also creates a personal leave day for most state employees (Jan 1 each year), requires scheduling and provides pay or compensatory leave if the day is not taken, and includes related rules about holiday closures, bank closures, and compensatory leave when working on holidays. In addition, it preserves or clarifies existing holiday observance rules (including Mardi Gras as a holiday in Mobile and Baldwin Counties) and makes nonsubstantive, technical updates to the code language, with an effective date of January 1, 2023.

Who It Affects

• State employees and state offices (including banks) would see official holidays require office closures, eligibility for one personal leave day per year (except in Baldwin and Mobile Counties), scheduling requirements, and compensatory or paid leave when working on holidays.
• Public and local communities, including K-12 and higher education institutions and residents, would experience holiday closures or observances (e.g., Rosa Parks Day may be observed locally; Juneteenth and Mardi Gras observances in certain counties; general public impact from holiday closures).

Key Provisions

• Adds Juneteenth (June 19) as an official state holiday in Section 1-3-8 and defines its observance (if on Sunday, following Monday; if on Saturday, preceding Friday).
• Designates December 1 as Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day; allows counties and municipalities to observe it as a holiday.
• Creates a personal leave day for most state employees each year on January 1, with exceptions for Baldwin and Mobile Counties; requires use by year-end and requires supervisor approval; provides pay if the day is not taken.
• Establishes compensatory leave for state employees who work on a state holiday, with scheduling rules and payment if not used.
• Maintains or clarifies holiday-related closures of state offices and, where applicable, bank closures and school closures on certain holidays; allows openings on holidays with 60 days' notice and emergency exceptions.
• Specifies Mardi Gras shall be a holiday in Mobile and Baldwin Counties with corresponding office closures there.
• Includes technical revisions to remove duplicative language and update the code language to current style.
• Effective date: January 1, 2023.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Holidays