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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1852 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3430
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marcus S. Vaughn and Hannah Kane
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act designating Diwali Day as a state holiday.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk1/15/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/22/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/18/2025James Arciero2nd Middlesex2/24/2025Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex3/9/2025Francisco E. Paulino16th Essex3/11/2025Joshua Tarsky13th Norfolk2/27/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1852 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3430
By Representatives Vaughn of Wrentham and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 3430) of Marcus S. Vaughn, Hannah Kane and others for the issuance of an
annual proclamation by the Governor to designate the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month
of Kartik as Diwali day. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act designating Diwali Day as a state holiday.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is
2hereby amended by adding after Section 15ZZZZZZ, the following section:-
3 Section 15AAAAAAA. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting aside
4the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik as the official Diwali Day, establishing
5the day as a state holiday, recommending its observance by the people as a period of special
6attention in recognition of the Diwali celebration known as the “Festival of Lights”, a five day
7long festival where the third day is a day of thanksgiving and reflection celebrated worldwide
8and by millions of Americans.