Senate Bill No. 1228 proposes to establish Indigenous Peoples' Day as a new legal holiday in the state, effective July 1, 2025. The bill amends Section 1-4 of the general statutes by repealing the existing language and substituting it with new provisions that include Indigenous Peoples' Day among the recognized legal holidays. The specific date for this holiday is not defined in the bill, but it will be recognized alongside other holidays such as New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Veterans' Day. Additionally, the bill maintains that if a legal holiday falls on a school day, local school boards have the discretion to close schools or hold educational programs in observance of the holiday.

The fiscal impact of the bill is noted to be negligible, as the lack of a specified date for Indigenous Peoples' Day means there are no immediate costs associated with its establishment. Typically, new state holidays can incur significant costs for the state and municipalities, but in this case, those costs are not anticipated. The bill also highlights that legal holidays are recognized as bank and credit union holidays, during which transactions are generally suspended. Furthermore, the bill indicates that if the new holiday is considered a change in working conditions, it may require negotiation with public employee collective bargaining units for additional paid time off.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-4
GAE Joint Favorable: 1-4
File No. 127: 1-4