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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 996 FILED ON: 1/14/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3326 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Rodney M. Elliott |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act designating Diwali Day as a state holiday. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex1/14/2025Estela A. Reyes4th Essex2/6/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/27/2025 1 of 1 |
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| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 996 FILED ON: 1/14/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3326 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Representative Elliott of Lowell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3326) of |
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| 19 | 19 | | Rodney M. Elliott, Estela A. Reyes and Natalie M. Higgins for legislation to designate Diwali as |
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| 20 | 20 | | a legal holiday in the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. |
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| 21 | 21 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 22 | 22 | | _______________ |
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| 23 | 23 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 25 | 25 | | _______________ |
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| 26 | 26 | | An Act designating Diwali Day as a state holiday. |
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| 27 | 27 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 28 | 28 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | 1 Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby |
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| 30 | 30 | | 2amended by adding after Section 15ZZZZZZ, the following section:- |
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| 31 | 31 | | 3 Section 15AAAAAAA. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting aside |
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| 32 | 32 | | 4the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik as the official Diwali Day, establishing |
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| 33 | 33 | | 5the day as a state holiday, recommending its observance by the people as a period of special |
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| 34 | 34 | | 6attention in recognition of the Diwali celebration known as the “Festival of Lights”, a five day |
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| 35 | 35 | | 7long festival where the third day is a day of thanksgiving and reflection celebrated worldwide |
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| 36 | 36 | | 8and by millions of Americans. |
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