HB64 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ontario J. TillmanRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

State holidays, adding Election Day as a state holiday

Summary

HB64 would add Election Day as a state holiday in Alabama, causing state offices to close on that day and establishing related employee leave and observance rules.

What This Bill Does

It adds Election Day to the list of state holidays in Section 1-3-8, with Election Day defined as the next Tuesday after the first Monday in November when there is a presidential or gubernatorial election. Holidays trigger closing of state offices, though an office may stay open with written notice, and employees working on a holiday receive compensatory leave or pay. The bill also creates a January 1 personal leave day for most state employees (fewer exceptions in Baldwin and Mobile counties) and designates December 1 as Rosa Parks Day (with optional local observance); it also adds a Mardi Gras holiday in Mobile and Baldwin Counties and allows the Governor to declare other holidays, with bank closings possible under banking board rules. The measure takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• State employees across Alabama, who would gain Election Day as a holiday, may receive compensatory leave or pay if they work on the holiday and would be eligible for a personal leave day on January 1 (except in Baldwin and Mobile counties).
• State offices, banks, and local governments (via county-specific observances) that close on holidays or may arrange limited openings, with banks having the option to close on holidays under banking-board approvals; counties like Mobile and Baldwin would see additional local observance rules (Mardi Gras) and Rosa Parks Day observances.

Key Provisions

• Election Day added to the enumerated state holidays in Section 1-3-8, defined as the next Tuesday after the first Monday in November for years with presidential or gubernatorial elections.
• If a holiday falls on Sunday or Saturday, the observed holiday shifts to the following Monday or preceding Friday, respectively.
• State offices close on holidays unless the appointing authority authorizes a stay-open option with advance notice; employees working on a holiday receive compensatory leave or paid compensation.
• Most state employees would receive one personal leave day per year on January 1 (excluding Baldwin and Mobile counties), to be scheduled during the year or paid out if not used.
• Mardi Gras is a holiday in Mobile and Baldwin Counties with all state offices in those counties closed on that day.
• December 1 is designated as Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day, with optional local observance by counties and municipalities.
• The Governor can declare other holidays or special-event holidays, and banks may close on those days with banking-board approval; some bank-closure provisions apply (e.g., possible 12:00 noon closings on Christmas Eve/New Year’s Eve when they fall on business days).
• 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