Enrolled Copy S.B. 259
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State Holy Days
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton
House Sponsor: Michael J. Petersen
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill amends provisions relating to certain days and commemorative periods recognized
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by the state.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ designates certain days and time periods of special religious significance as state holy
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days;
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▸ provides that a state holy day is not a legal holiday, unless expressly provided otherwise;
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▸ designates Easter Sunday as a legal holiday, but one that is not recognized on the
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preceding Friday or the following Monday; and
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▸ provides that a state employee may use the state employee's personal preference day to
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recognize a state holy day or for any other purpose.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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This bill provides a special effective date.
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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63G-1-301 (Effective upon governor's approval), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022,
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Chapter 331
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63G-1-401 (Effective upon governor's approval), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024,
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Chapter 377
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ENACTS:
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63G-1-1101 (Effective upon governor's approval), Utah Code Annotated 1953 S.B. 259 Enrolled Copy
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 63G-1-301 is amended to read:
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63G-1-301 [(Effective 05/04/22) ] (Effective upon governor's approval). Legal
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holidays -- Personal preference day -- Governor authorized to declare additional days.
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(1)(a) The following named days are legal holidays in this state:
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(i) every Sunday, except as provided in Subsection (1)(e);
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(ii) the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox,
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called Easter Sunday;
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[(ii)] (iii) January 1, called New Year's Day;
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[(iii)] (iv) the third Monday of January, called Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day;
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[(iv)] (v) the third Monday of February, called Washington and Lincoln Day;
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[(v)] (vi) the last Monday of May, called Memorial Day;
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[(vi)] (vii) on the day described in Subsection (1)(f), Juneteenth National Freedom
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Day;
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[(vii)] (viii) July 4, called Independence Day;
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[(viii)] (ix) July 24, called Pioneer Day;
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[(ix)] (x) the first Monday of September, called Labor Day;
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[(x)] (xi) the second Monday of October, called Columbus Day;
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[(xi)] (xii) November 11, called Veterans Day;
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[(xii)] (xiii) the fourth Thursday of November, called Thanksgiving Day;
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[(xiii)] (xiv) December 25, called Christmas; and
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[(xiv)] (xv) all days which may be set apart by the President of the United States, or
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the governor of this state by proclamation as days of fast or thanksgiving.
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(b) If any of the holidays under Subsections [(1)(a)(ii) through (v)] (1)(a)(iii) through (vi)
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or Subsections [(1)(a)(vii) through (xiv),] (1)(a)(viii) through (xv) falls on Sunday,
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then the following Monday shall be the holiday.
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(c) If any of the holidays under Subsections [(1)(a)(ii) through (v)] (1)(a)(iii) through (vi)
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or Subsections [(1)(a)(vii) through (xiv)] (1)(a)(viii) through (xv) falls on Saturday,
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then the preceding Friday shall be the holiday.
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(d) Each employee may select one additional day, called Personal Preference Day, to be
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scheduled pursuant to rules adopted by the Division of Human Resource Management,
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which the employee may use to observe a state holy day, as described in Section
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63G-1-1101, or any other day the employee chooses to recognize.
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(e) For purposes of Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 16, Subsection (1), regarding
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the exclusion of state holidays from the 45-day legislative general session, Sunday is
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not considered a state holiday.
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(f)(i) The Juneteenth National Freedom Day holiday is on June 19, if that day is on a
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Monday.
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(ii) If June 19 is on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, the Juneteenth
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National Freedom Day holiday is on the immediately preceding Monday.
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(iii) If June 19 is on a Saturday or Sunday, the Juneteenth National Freedom Day
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holiday is on the immediately following Monday.
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(2)(a) Whenever in the governor's opinion extraordinary conditions exist justifying the
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action, the governor may:
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(i) declare, by proclamation, legal holidays in addition to those holidays under
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Subsection (1); and
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(ii) limit the holidays to certain classes of business and activities to be designated by
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the governor.
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(b) A holiday may not extend for a longer period than 60 consecutive days.
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(c) Any holiday may be renewed for one or more periods not exceeding 30 days each as
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the governor may consider necessary, and any holiday may, by like proclamation, be
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terminated before the expiration of the period for which it was declared.
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Section 2. Section 63G-1-401 is amended to read:
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63G-1-401 [(Effective 05/01/24) ] (Effective upon governor's approval).
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Commemorative periods.
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(1) As used in this section, "commemorative period" means a special observance declared
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by the governor that annually recognizes and honors a culturally or historically
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significant day, week, month, or other time period in the state.
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(2)(a) The governor may declare a commemorative period by issuing a declaration.
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(b) The governor shall maintain a list of all commemorative periods declared by the
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governor.
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(3)(a) The governor's declaration of a commemorative period expires the year
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immediately following the day on which the governor issues the declaration.
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(b) Subsection (3)(a) does not prevent the governor from redeclaring a commemorative
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period before or after the commemorative period expires.
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(4) Notwithstanding Subsections (2) and (3), the following days shall be commemorated
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annually:
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(a) Utah History Day at the Capitol, on the Friday immediately following the fourth
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Monday in January, to encourage citizens of the state, including students, to
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participate in activities that recognize Utah's history;
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(b) Day of Remembrance for Incarceration of Japanese Americans, on February 19, in
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remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II;
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(c) Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;
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(d) Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;
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(e) Utah Railroad Workers Day, on May 10;
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(f) Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Day, on May 11;
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(g) Armed Forces Day, on the third Saturday in May, in honor of men and women who
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are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in
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defense of freedom;
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(h) Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day, on June 30;
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(i) Navajo Code Talker Day, on August 14;
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(j) Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day, on August 26, the
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anniversary of the day three-year-old Rachael Runyan was kidnaped from a
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playground in Sunset, Utah, to:
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(i) encourage individuals to make child safety a priority;
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(ii) remember the importance of continued efforts to reunite missing children with
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their families; and
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(iii) honor Rachael Runyan and all Utah children who have been abducted or
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exploited;
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(k) September 11th Day of Remembrance, on September 11, in honor and remembrance
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of the first responders and persons killed and injured in the terrorist attacks on
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September 11, 2001;
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(l) Constitution Day, on September 17, to invite all Utah adults and Utah school children
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to read directly from the United States Constitution and other primary sources, and
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for students to be taught principles from the United States Constitution that include
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federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, limited
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government, and the necessary and proper, commerce, and supremacy clauses;
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(m) POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;
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[(n) Diwali, on the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik, known as
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Lakshmi puja, or the Hindu festival of lights;]
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[(o)] (n) Victims of Communism Memorial Day, on November 7;
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[(p)] (o) Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving;
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and
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[(q)] (p) Bill of Rights Day, on December 15.
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(5) The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall coordinate activities, special
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programs, and promotional information to heighten public awareness and involvement
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relating to Subsections (4)(g) and (m).
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(6) The month of April shall be commemorated annually as Clean Out the Medicine
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Cabinet Month to:
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(a) recognize the urgent need to make Utah homes and neighborhoods safe from
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prescription medication abuse and poisonings by the proper home storage and
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disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications; and
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(b) educate citizens about the permanent medication disposal sites in Utah listed on
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useonlyasdirected.org that allow disposal throughout the year.
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(7) The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal Care and
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Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the community
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of the services that animal care and control professionals provide.
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(8) The first full week of May shall be commemorated annually as State Water Week to
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recognize the importance of water conservation, quality, and supply in the state.
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(9) The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace Safety
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Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.
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(10) The second Friday and Saturday in August shall be commemorated annually as Utah
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Fallen Heroes Days to:
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(a) honor fallen heroes who, during service in the military or public safety, have
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sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the citizens of the state; and
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(b) encourage political subdivisions to acknowledge and honor fallen heroes.
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(11) The third full week in August shall be commemorated annually as Drowsy Driving
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Awareness Week to:
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(a) educate the public about the relationship between fatigue and driving performance;
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and
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(b) encourage the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to
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recognize and promote educational efforts on the dangers of drowsy driving.
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(12) The month of September shall be commemorated annually as American Founders and
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Constitution Month to:
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(a) encourage all civic, fraternal, and religious organizations, and public and private
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educational institutions, to recognize and observe this occasion through appropriate
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programs, teaching, meetings, services, or celebrations in which state, county, and
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local governmental officials are invited to participate; and
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(b) invite all Utah school children to read directly from the United States Constitution
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and other primary sources, and to be taught principles from the United States
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Constitution that include federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers,
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popular sovereignty, limited government, and the necessary and proper, commerce,
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and supremacy clauses.
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(13) The third full week of September shall be commemorated annually as Gang Prevention
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Awareness Week.
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(14) The month of October shall be commemorated annually as Italian-American Heritage
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Month.
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(15) The month of November shall be commemorated annually as American Indian
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Heritage Month.
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(16) The first full week of December shall be commemorated annually as Avalanche
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Awareness Week to:
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(a) educate the public about avalanche awareness and safety;
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(b) encourage collaborative efforts to decrease annual avalanche accidents and fatalities;
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and
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(c) honor Utah residents who have lost their lives in avalanches, including those who
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lost their lives working to prevent avalanches.
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Section 3. Section 63G-1-1101 is enacted to read:
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Part 11. State Holy Days
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63G-1-1101 (Effective upon governor's approval). State holy days.
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(1) As used in this section, "state holy day" means an annual day or other time period of
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special religious significance that the state officially recognizes and observes as a holy
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day under this section.
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(2) A state holy day is not a legal holiday or state holiday, unless the state holy day is also
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designated as a legal holiday under Section 63G-1-301.
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(3) The following are state holy days:
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(a) Holi, on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Phalguna;
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(b) Lunar New Year, from the lunar calendar's first new moon through the lunar
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calendar's first full moon;
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(c) Good Friday, on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday;
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(d) Easter Sunday, on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the
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spring equinox;
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(e) Eid al-Fitr, on the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Shawwal;
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(f) Passover, for eight days, starting on the fifteenth day of the Hebrew lunisolar month
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of Nisan;
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(g) Vesak Day, on the first full moon of the Hindu lunisolar month of Vaisakha;
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(h) Eid al-Adha, on the tenth day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah;
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(i) Rosh Hashanah, on the first two days of the Hebrew lunisolar month of Tishrei;
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(j) Yom Kippur, on the tenth day of the Hebrew lunisolar month of Tishrei;
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(k) Diwali, on the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik; and
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(l) Christmas, on December 25.
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Section 4. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect:
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(1) except as provided in Subsection (2), May 7, 2025; or
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(2) if approved by two-thirds of all members elected to each house:
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(a) upon approval by the governor;
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(b) without the governor's signature, the day following the constitutional time limit of
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Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8; or
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(c) in the case of a veto, the date of veto override.
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