Bill > H0455

This bill modifies Vermont state law to explicitly require all state departments, agencies, and offices to close in observance of Juneteenth, which is a legal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The bill amends the existing list of legal holidays in 1 V.S.A. § 371 by adding a specific provision that mandates state office closure on Juneteenth (June 19), with compensation for any work performed on the holiday to be determined by the relevant collective bargaining agreement. The bill also clarifies how legal holidays are observed when they fall on weekends, with state offices typically observing Saturday holidays on the preceding Friday and Sunday holidays on the following Monday. Unlike other legal holidays where decisions about office closure and compensation are subject to collective bargaining, Juneteenth is now explicitly required to result in state office closure. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage, signaling the state's commitment to recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth as a day of commemoration and reflection.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.455