HB160 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

State holidays, observance of all federal holidays provided for

Summary

HB160 would require Alabama to observe all federally designated holidays as state holidays and update the state's holiday rules.

What This Bill Does

It amends the state’s holiday law to require observing every day designated as a federal holiday, and it trims duplicative language while making non-substantive, technical updates. It sets weekend-shift rules for holidays, specifies which state offices, banks, and schools close for holidays, and allows the Governor to designate additional days and close offices accordingly. It adds new provisions for Mardi Gras in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, assigns Rosa Parks Day, creates a personal leave benefit for most state employees, and provides a date for the effective implementation (January 1, 2025).

Who It Affects

• State government offices and facilities, which would be required to observe federal holidays and may be closed on designated days (with an annual minimum of 13 office-closure days and rules for when offices can remain open).
• State employees, who would receive one personal leave day per year (except in Baldwin and Mobile Counties), must schedule it, and may receive compensatory leave or pay if working on a holiday; those in Baldwin and Mobile Counties would not receive personal leave under this act.

Key Provisions

• Amend Section 1-3-8 to require observance of all federal holidays and to delete duplicative language; update language to current style.
• List and recognize federal holidays and Governor-designated holidays; establish weekend-shift rules (if Sunday, following day; if Saturday, preceding day) for holiday observance.
• Governor shall close state offices and facilities for a minimum of 13 days per year to observe public holidays; may designate additional days and specify which offices close.
• Superintendent of Banks, with Banking Board concurrence, may authorize state banks to close on holidays, and may allow Friday holidays to extend to Saturday or days before holidays; banks may close early on December 24 or 31 if those days are business days.
• Specific holiday dates include traditional federal holidays and certain state-designated holidays (e.g., MLK Jr. Day, Veterans Day, National Memorial Day, etc.). Mardi Gras shall be a holiday in Mobile and Baldwin Counties with corresponding closures.
• Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day is designated for December 1; citizens are asked to observe, and counties may elect to observe it as a holiday.
• Personal leave: all state employees (except those in Baldwin and Mobile Counties) shall receive one personal leave day per year, to be used by year-end and scheduled with a supervisor; failure to schedule can result in pay or carryover rules; Baldwin/Mobile employees do not receive this personal leave.
• National Memorial Day observance requires closure of state offices, with other holiday observances governed by the act; emergency openings permitted with approval.
• Effective date: January 1, 2025.

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

Subjects

Government Administration