AN ACT RELATING TO HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE -- HOLIDAYS (Changes the name of the holiday on the second Monday of August from Victory Day to Peace and Remembrance Day.)

S2629

2026 -- S 2629
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LC005159
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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:
Senators Kallman, Lauria, Mack, Valverde, and Gu

Date Introduced:
February 13, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
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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