Removes Election Day as State and public holiday.

A188

ASSEMBLY, No. 188

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman DAWN FANTASIA

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

SYNOPSIS

���� Removes Election Day as State and public holiday.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning legal holidays and amending P.L.2008, c.89
and R.S.36:1-1.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 25 of P.L.2008,
c.89 (C.11A:6-24.1) is amended to read as follows:

���� 25.�
[
a.
]
Paid holidays
granted to all State government employees each calendar year shall be limited
to the following:

���� (1) �January 1, known as New
Year's Day;

���� (2) �the third Monday in
January, known as Martin Luther King's Birthday;

���� (3) �the third Monday in
February, known as Washington's Birthday, which shall be known and celebrated
as Presidents Day in this State;

���� (4) �the day designated and
known as Good Friday;

���� (5) �the last Monday in May,
known as Memorial Day;

���� (6) �the third Friday in June,
Juneteenth Day;

���� (7) �July 4, known as
Independence Day;

���� (8) �the first Monday in
September, known as Labor Day;

���� (9) �the second Monday in
October, known as Columbus Day;

���� (10) �November 11, known as
Armistice Day or Veterans' Day;

���� (11) �the fourth Thursday in
November, known as Thanksgiving Day;
and

���� (12) �December 25, known as
Christmas Day
[
;
and

���� (13) �any general election day
in this State.

���� b.��� The provisions of this
section shall not impair any collective bargaining agreement or contract in
effect on the effective date of P.L.2008, c.89.� The provision of this section
shall take effect in the calendar year following the expiration of the collective
bargaining agreements or contracts covering a majority of the Executive Branch
employees in effect on the effective date of P.L.2008, c.89
]
.

(cf: P.L.2020, c.76, s.1)

���� 2.��� R.S.36:1-1 is amended to
read as follows:

���� 36:1-1.� a.� The following
days in each year shall, for all purposes whatsoever as regards the presenting
for payment or acceptance, and of the protesting and giving notice of dishonor,
of bills of exchange, bank checks and promissory notes be treated and
considered as the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and as public
holidays, except as provided under subsection d. of this section: January 1,
known as New Year's Day; the third Monday in January, known as Martin Luther
King's Birthday; February 12, known as Lincoln's Birthday; the third Monday in
February, known as Washington's Birthday; the day designated and known as Good
Friday; the last Monday in May, known as Memorial Day; the third Friday in
June, Juneteenth Day; July 4, known as Independence Day; the first Monday in
September, known as Labor Day; the second Monday in October, known as Columbus
Day; November 11, known as Armistice Day or Veterans' Day; the fourth Thursday
in November, known as Thanksgiving Day; December 25, known as Christmas Day;
[
any general
election day in this State;
]

every Saturday; and any day heretofore or hereafter appointed, ordered or
recommended by the Governor of this State, or the President of the United
States, as a day of fasting and prayer, or other religious observance, or as a
bank holiday or holidays.� All such bills, checks and notes, otherwise
presentable for acceptance or payment on any of the days herein enumerated,
shall be deemed to be payable and be presentable for acceptance or payment on
the secular or business day next succeeding any such holiday.

���� b.��� Whenever any of the days
herein enumerated can and shall fall on a Sunday, the Monday next following
shall, for any of the purposes herein enumerated be deemed a public holiday,
except as provided under subsection d. of this section; and bills of exchange,
checks and promissory notes which otherwise would be presentable for acceptance
or payment on such Monday shall be deemed to be presentable for acceptance or
payment on the secular or business day next succeeding such holiday.

���� c.���� In construing this
section, every Saturday shall, until 12 o'clock noon, be deemed a secular or
business day, except as is hereinbefore provided in regard to bills of
exchange, bank checks and promissory notes, and the days herein enumerated
except bank holidays and Saturdays shall be considered as the first day of the
week, commonly called Sunday, and public holidays, for all purposes whatsoever
as regards the transaction of business in the public offices of this State, or
counties of this State, except as provided under subsection d. of this section;
but on all other days or half days, except Sunday or as otherwise provided by
law, such offices shall be kept open for the transaction of business.

���� d.��� Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsections a. through c. of this section, when the provisions of
this subsection take effect, the following day each calendar year shall not be
considered a public holiday for the purposes of conducting State government
business:

���� February 12, known as
Lincoln's Birthday.

���� All public offices of State
government in this State shall be open on this day for the transaction of
business.

(cf: P.L.2020, c.76, s.2)

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill removes Election Day
as a State and public holiday.

���� The designation of the third
Friday in June each year as Juneteenth Day has added additional financial
considerations.� It is estimated that the additional holiday will add $3
million dollars each year to the State�s costs for overtime costs in the
Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, Department of Military
and Veterans� Affairs, and the Juvenile Justice Commission.� The additional
holiday would also lead to an increase in costs for local and county
governments.� The increase in costs could potentially result in higher property
taxes for the communities.

���� It is the sponsor�s belief
that removing Election Day would save the State more money than the addition of
Juneteenth Day would cost.� Election Day, while a State and public holiday,
still requires various State, county, and district employees to work to ensure
a fair, accurate, and secure election.� For example, municipal clerk offices
are required to be open on Election Day from 6am to 8pm.� In addition, the
Superior Court assignment judge for each county is required to work during an
election to ensure a fair process.� Removing Election Day would also lead to
savings for local and county governments.