HB155 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

State holidays, observance of all federal holidays provided for

Summary

HB155 would require Alabama to observe all federal holidays as state holidays and update the related holiday rules and scheduling.

What This Bill Does

It adds every federal holiday to Alabama's official list of holidays and aligns observance with weekend rules (holidays on Sunday shift to Monday, holidays on Saturday shift to Friday). It requires state offices, banks, public schools, and two-year colleges to close on holidays, with a governor-driven schedule that caps closings at 13 days per year, while allowing for emergencies or certain offices to stay open. It creates pay and leave rules for holiday work (compensatory leave or pay) and adds a personal leave day for most state employees (except in Baldwin and Mobile counties), to be used by year-end; it also introduces local observances like Mardi Gras in certain counties and Rosa Parks Day, with the governor and local governments given some flexibility. It also specifies how federal and state holidays interact with existing holidays and sets an effective date of October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• State employees and state-operated entities (state offices, banks, and public schools/higher education) who would gain holiday closures, compensatory leave or pay for holiday work, and a new personal leave day (with scheduling and payout rules).
• Residents and local governments in Alabama, particularly in Baldwin and Mobile counties, who would be affected by county-specific observances (Mardi Gras in those counties) and the Rosa Parks Day observance with optional local adoption.

Key Provisions

• All federal holidays shall be observed as state holidays in Alabama, in addition to existing state holidays.
• If a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is observed; if it falls on Saturday, the preceding Friday is observed.
• State offices and facilities are to be closed on holidays; the Governor must designate at least 13 days per year for closures, with a cap of 13 days for observances.
• Banks can be authorized to close on holidays and may have special closures (e.g., 12:00 noon the day before Christmas or New Year’s if these fall on business days); closures may also occur for holidays declared by the Governor or the President for special events.
• Employees working on a holiday receive compensatory leave or pay in lieu of the holiday.
• Most state employees shall receive one personal leave day per year (not available to employees in Baldwin or Mobile counties), to be used by January 1 of each year; unused days may be paid at the employee’s usual rate if not scheduled.
• The bill adds Mardi Gras as a holiday in Mobile and Baldwin counties, with state offices closed in those counties on Mardi Gras.
• December 1 is designated as Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day, with a statewide invitation to observe the day and optional local observance by counties or municipalities.
• Effective date: October 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

State Government