Bill > HB468

This bill designates the first Monday in February as Emancipation Day in Pennsylvania, commemorating the state's historic role in abolishing slavery. The bill provides extensive legislative findings that highlight key moments in the abolition of slavery, including Pennsylvania's early support for the Thirteenth Amendment, which was passed by the U.S. Senate in 1864 and the House of Representatives in 1865. The bill emphasizes Pennsylvania's progressive stance, noting the state was one of the first to ratify the amendment on February 3, 1865, following its earlier Gradual Abolition Act of 1780. While the day is officially designated, the bill explicitly states that employers are not required to treat it as a legal holiday or provide paid leave to employees. The legislation also recognizes the broader impact of the Reconstruction Amendments (the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments), which not only abolished slavery but also expanded civil rights for Black Americans, leading to increased political participation, including Black individuals being elected to government offices. The act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Government Affairs

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=468