Alabama Officially Declares Juneteenth a State Holiday
Montgomery, AL – Governor Kay Ivey signed HB165 into law on Thursday, officially designating Juneteenth, observed on June 19, as a state holiday. This significant step comes after years of recognizing the date, which commemorates the emancipation of Black slaves in 1865.
In a press release, Ivey expressed her support for the legislation: “Since President Trump observed Juneteenth in June of 2020, we have proclaimed it each year, and I am pleased the Legislature has made it an official state holiday.” The bill was sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, who indicated that the decision to introduce this legislation was largely influenced by requests from his constituents during his first term in office.
"This is a very important holiday that’s recognized," Rehm stated, highlighting the community’s push for the observance. Although Democratic lawmakers have made efforts to pass similar bills in the Alabama legislature in the past, they had not been successful until now.
An earlier version of HB165 included a provision that would allow state employees to choose between observing Juneteenth or Jefferson Davis’ birthday, the latter being the birthday of the former president of the Confederate States. However, that option was ultimately removed from the final bill, streamlining the observance to focus on Juneteenth alone.
With the passage of HB165, Alabama joins the growing number of states recognizing Juneteenth as a formal celebration of freedom and equity, marking a significant advancement in acknowledging the historical importance of emancipation in American history.
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