HB97 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to state holidays; to amend Section 1-3-8, Code of Alabama 1975; to specify that the State of Alabama shall observe as holidays days designated as a holiday by the federal government; and to delete duplicative language and make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Summary

HB97 would require Alabama to observe all federal holidays as state holidays, add Rosa Parks Day, create a personal leave day for most state employees, and update the holiday rules for state offices, banks, and schools.

What This Bill Does

The bill makes state government observe every day designated as a federal holiday and updates the code to remove duplication and use current language. It adds new observances (notably Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day) and sets rules for closing state offices, handling holidays on weekends, and compensating employees who work on holidays. It also creates a personal leave day for most state employees, outlines banking closure permissions, and allows county-specific Mardi Gras observances.

Who It Affects

• State government offices, agencies, and public schools would be closed or partially closed on holidays designated by federal law, with a mechanism to handle weekend observances and emergencies.
• State employees (excluding those in Baldwin and Mobile Counties) would receive one personal leave day per year to be used by December 31, with pay if not taken; Baldwin and Mobile Counties would not receive this personal leave.
• Banks and their employees would be affected by provisions allowing closings on holidays with approval from the Superintendent of Banks and the state Banking Board, and the Governor could designate holidays affecting banking closings.
• The general public would be affected by the addition of Rosa Parks Day and other governor-designated holidays, with counties/municipalities allowed to observe these days as well; students and public institutions would be subject to closures on applicable holidays.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 1-3-8 to require observation of all federal holidays and to remove duplicative language, updating the code to current style.
• Enumerates holidays to be observed, including federal-designated days and certain governor-proclaimed days, with weekend observance rules (Sunday or Saturday shifts to adjacent days).
• The Governor must designate additional holidays and specify dates for observance, with options including the third Monday in January, the fourth Monday in April, the first Monday in June, or an alternate date.
• Requires state offices to close on holidays, with potential openings for emergencies or essential services and 60 days’ advance notice for non-emergency openings.
• The Superintendent of Banks, with caution from the Banking Board, may authorize bank closures on holidays; provisions also allow for special half-day closings around Christmas and New Year’s if permitted.
• Mardi Gras is made a holiday in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, requiring closures of state offices in those counties.
• The first day of December is designated as Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day, with citizens encouraged to observe and counties/municipalities allowed to observe as holidays.
• A personal leave day is created for state employees (except in Baldwin and Mobile Counties), to be granted annually and used by year-end; if not scheduled or used, pay is provided; scheduling requires supervisor approval.
• If a holiday falls on a workday, employees may receive compensatory leave or pay in lieu of the holiday.
• Effective date: January 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

State holidays, observance of all federal holidays provided for