An Act amending the act of May 31, 1893 (P.L.188, No.138), referred to as the Legal Holiday Law, further providing for the designation of legal holidays; and making a repeal.

PRINTER'S NO. 2503
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1984
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY RABB, RIVERA, KINKEAD AND CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
OCTOBER 22, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 23, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 31, 1893 (P.L.188, No.138), entitled "An
act designating the days and half days to be observed as
legal holidays, and for the payment, acceptance and
protesting of bills, notes, drafts, checks and other
negotiable paper on such days," further providing for the
designation of legal holidays; and making a repeal.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1 of the act of May 31, 1893 (P.L.188,
No.138), referred to as the Legal Holiday Law, is amended to
read:
Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the following days and
half days, namely: the first day of January, commonly called New
Year's Day, the third Monday of January, known as Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day, the third Monday of February, known as
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, the last Monday in May, known as
Memorial Day, the fourteenth day of June, known as Flag Day, the
fourth of July, called Independence Day, the first Monday of
September, known as Labor Day, [the second Monday in October,
known as Columbus Day,] the first Tuesday after the first Monday
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of November, Election Day, the eleventh day of November, known
as Veterans' Day, the fourth Thursday in November, known as
Thanksgiving Day, the twenty-fifth day of December, known as
Christmas Day; and every Saturday, after twelve o'clock noon
until twelve o'clock midnight, each of which Saturdays is hereby
designated a half holiday; and any day appointed or recommended
by the Governor of this State or the President of the United
States as a day of thanksgiving or fastings and prayer, or other
religious observance; and in the event of a financial crisis in
the State or Nation, any day or days appointed by the Governor
of this State or the President of the United States as a bank
holiday; and in the event of public calamity in any part of the
State through fire, flood, famine, violence, riot, insurrection,
or enemy action, any day or days appointed by the Governor of
this State as a bank holiday for banking institutions affected
by such public calamity shall, for all purposes whatever as
regards the presenting for payment or acceptance, and as regards
the protesting and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of
exchange, checks, drafts, and promissory notes, made after the
passage of this act, be treated and considered as the first day
of the week, commonly called Sunday, and as public holidays and
half holidays; and all such bills, checks, drafts, and notes
otherwise presentable for acceptance or payment on any of the
said days, shall be deemed to be payable and be presentable for
acceptance or payment on the secular or business day next
succeeding such holiday or half holiday; except checks, drafts,
bills of exchange, and promissory notes, payable at sight or on
demand, which would otherwise be payable on any half holiday
Saturday, shall be deemed to be payable at or before twelve
o'clock noon of such half holiday: Provided, however, That for
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the purpose of protesting or otherwise holding liable any party
to any bill of exchange, check, draft, or promissory note, and
which shall not have been paid before twelve o'clock noon of any
Saturday designated a half holiday as aforesaid, a demand for
acceptance or payment thereof shall not be made, and notice of
protest or dishonor thereof shall not be given, until the next
succeeding secular or business day: And provided further, That
when any person, firm, corporation or company shall, on any
Saturday designated a half holiday, receive for collection any
check, bill of exchange, draft, or promissory note, such person,
firm, corporation, or company shall not be deemed guilty of any
neglect or omission of duty, nor incur any liability, in not
presenting for payment or acceptance or collection such check,
bill of exchange, draft or promissory note, on that day: And
provided further, That, in construing this section, every
Saturday designated a half holiday shall, until twelve o'clock
noon, be deemed a secular or business day; and the days and half
days aforesaid, so designated as holidays and half holidays,
shall be considered as public holidays and half holidays for all
purposes whatsoever as regards the transaction of business,
except that any day or days appointed as a bank holiday shall be
regarded as secular or business days for all other purposes than
those mentioned in this act: And provided further, That nothing
herein contained shall be construed to prevent or invalidate the
entry, issuance, service, or execution of any writ, summons,
confession of judgment, or other legal process whatever, on any
of the holidays or half holidays herein designated as holidays;
nor to prevent any banking institution from keeping its doors
open or transacting its business, on any Saturday afternoon, if
by a vote of its directors it shall elect to do so, unless such
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Saturday is appointed as a bank holiday under the provisions of
this act: And provided further, That any banking institution
may, by a vote of its directors, or in the case of a private
bank by action of the private banker or bankers, notice of which
shall have been posted in its banking house for not less than
fifteen days before the taking effect thereof, observe any
Saturday throughout the year as a full holiday with like effect
hereunder as though such day had been designated as a full
holiday by the provisions of this act, and may in the same
manner, observe as a full holiday any Monday next following the
first day of January, the fourth day of July or the twenty-fifth
day of December whenever any of such holidays shall occur on a
Saturday with like effect hereunder as though such day had been
designated as a full holiday by the provisions of this act.
Section 2. Repeals are as follows:
(1) The General Assembly declares that the repeal under
paragraph (2) is necessary to effectuate the amendment of
section 1 of the act.
(2) The act of August 13, 1963 (P.L.660, No.345),
entitled "An act providing for the observance of October 12
of each year as Columbus Day," is repealed.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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