Bill > HB1843

This bill amends the Code of Virginia to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day as a state legal holiday, effective the second Monday in October. Specifically, the bill removes the reference to Christopher Columbus and his historical discovery of the Americas, and instead designates the day to honor American Indians residing in the Commonwealth. The change is part of a broader shift in recognizing and acknowledging the historical experiences and contributions of Indigenous peoples. The bill maintains the existing provision that also commemorates the Yorktown Victory Day on the same date, which marks the final victory at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, during the Revolutionary War. This modification to the list of legal holidays reflects a growing national movement to recognize Indigenous peoples and move away from celebrating historical figures associated with colonization and harm to Native communities.

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1843