Bill > HB667

This bill establishes November 1 as Maryland Emancipation Day, officially recognizing it as both a state legal holiday and a state employee holiday. The legislation makes two primary changes: first, it adds November 1 to the list of official legal holidays in Maryland's General Provisions Code, which means state offices and many businesses will be closed on this date, and second, it adds the same date to the list of employee holidays in the State Personnel and Pensions Code, which guarantees state employees a paid day off. The bill also removes the previous requirement that the Governor annually proclaim November 1 as Maryland Emancipation Day, instead making it a permanent, automatically recognized holiday. By establishing this holiday, the state is formally acknowledging and commemorating the historical significance of emancipation in Maryland, providing a dedicated day to remember and reflect on the end of slavery in the state. The new holiday will take effect on October 1, 2025, giving state agencies and employers time to prepare for its implementation.

Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0667?ys=2025RS