2026 -- H 7781

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LC004793

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE -- HOLIDAYS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Stewart, Kazarian, Cruz, Alzate, Morales, Kislak, Tanzi,
Donovan, Potter, and Handy

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2026

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 25-1-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 25-1 entitled "Holidays" is

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     25-1-1. General holidays enumerated.

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     The first day of January or, in the event that day is a Saturday or Sunday, then state

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employees will celebrate the holiday on the following Monday (as New Year’s Day), the third

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Monday of January (as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday), the third Monday of February (as

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Washington’s Birthday), the fourth day of May (as Rhode Island Independence Day), the last

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Monday of May (as Memorial Day), the nineteenth day of June or, in the event that day is a

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Saturday or Sunday, then state employees will celebrate the holiday on the following Monday (as

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Juneteenth National Freedom Day), the fourth day of July or, in the event that day is a Saturday or

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Sunday, then state employees will celebrate the holiday on the following Monday (as Independence

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Day), the second Monday of August (as Victory Day) (as Peace and Remembrance Day), the first

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Monday of September (as Labor Day), the second Monday of October (as Columbus Day), the

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eleventh day of November or, in the event that day is a Saturday or Sunday, then state employees

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will celebrate the holiday on the following Monday (as Veterans’ Day), the twenty-fifth day of

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December, or in the event that day is a Saturday or Sunday, then state employees will celebrate the

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holiday on the following Monday (as Christmas Day), and each of the above days in every year, or

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when either of the above days falls on the first day of the week, then the day following it, the

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Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in each year in which a general election of state

 

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officers is held (as election day), the first day of every week (commonly called Sunday), and any

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other days as the governor or general assembly of this state or the president or the Congress of the

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United States shall appoint as holidays for any purpose, days of thanksgiving, or days of solemn

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fast, shall be holidays.

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     SECTION 2. Section 25-1-1.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 25-1 entitled "Holidays" is

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hereby repealed.

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     25-1-1.3. Victory Day — Prohibition against use of other name for holiday.

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     No state or municipal governmental department or agency shall refer to the second Monday

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of August, “Victory Day” by any other name in an advertisement paid for by the department or

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agency.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE -- HOLIDAYS

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     This act would change the name of the holiday on the second Monday of August from

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Victory Day to Peace and Remembrance Day.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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