Is Juneteenth an Alabama state holiday? It’s not on the permanent list

Several bills seeking to make Juneteenth a permanent paid holiday did not pass the Alabama legislature this year.

The U.S. declared June 19 a federal holiday in 2021, celebrating the day in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans were set free in Galveston, Texas. That came two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and months after Congress passed the 13th Amendment.

Read more: Juneteenth celebrations planned across Alabama ahead of Monday holiday

Gov. Kay Ivey first authorized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2021, and again in 2022 and 2023. But the legislature has yet to make June 19th a permanent state holiday.

Lawmakers introduced several bills this year to add Juneteenth to the official list of state holidays, as well as end recognition of certain Confederate holidays, but none made it to the governor’s desk.

The governor has previously voiced support for making Juneteenth a permanent state holiday, but said she wants the legislature to approve it first.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika, both introduced legislation seeking to make Juneteenth a permanent state holiday this year, but neither made it out of committee.

“It’s a sad commentary that we still live in a day and time in the state of Alabama where my colleagues still choose to attempt to erase real history, Black history, African American Black history, here in the state of Alabama,” Givan told AL.com Friday. “And that is evident by what we see with the Juneteenth holiday.”

“I would consider it an honor, and I would have thought they would have considered it an honor to make this a holiday,” she added. “This would have shown how far we have come in the state of Alabama.”

Of the nine bills regarding state holidays, only one – to designate the first Friday in May as Alabama Peace Officers’ Memorial Day – was signed into law. The new holiday will take place on the first Friday in May.

One bill would have removed Jefferson Davis’ birthday and replaced it with State Employee Appreciation Day as a state holiday. Other bills sought to remove Confederate Memorial Day as a state holiday, and to shift or remove a state holiday in remembrance of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, which currently falls on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

None made it to the full House or Senate for a vote.

Another bill, brought by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, sought to recognize all federal holidays as state holidays. Juneteenth is the only federal holiday not recognized by the state of Alabama.

More than half of states across the U.S. now recognize Juneteenth as a permanent state holiday in 2023, according to the Pew Research Center.

Alabama and West Virginia are the only states that have temporarily declared Juneteenth a state holiday. Others observe the holiday, but don’t necessarily count it as a day off.

Below is a full list of 2023 Alabama state holidays:

Sunday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day

Monday, Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert E. Lee’s Birthday

Monday, Feb. 20: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Mardi Gras (Observed only in Baldwin and Mobile Counties)

Monday, April 24: Confederate Memorial Day

Monday, May 29: National Memorial Day

Monday, June 5: Jefferson Davis’ Birthday

Monday, June 19: Juneteenth (Upon designation by the governor)

Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day

Monday, Sep. 4: Labor Day

Monday, Oct. 9: Columbus Day and Fraternal Day and American Indian Heritage Day

Saturday, Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day

Thursday and Friday, November 23-24: Thanksgiving (Upon designation by the governor)

Friday, Dec. 1: Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day (Commemoration only)

Monday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day

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