wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1759 > Original Bill
The following are state legal holidays:
Sunday;
The first day of January, commonly called New Year's Day;
The third Monday of January, celebrated as the anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr.;
The third Monday of February, to be known as Presidents' Day and celebrated as the anniversary of the births of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington;
The last Monday of May, commonly known as Memorial Day;
The nineteenth day of June, recognized as Juneteenth, a day of remembrance for the day the African slaves learned of their freedom;
The fourth day of July, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence;
The first Monday in September, to be known as Labor Day;
The fourth Thursday in November, to be known as Thanksgiving Day;
The Friday immediately following the fourth Thursday in November, to be known as Native American Heritage Day; and
The twenty-fifth day of December, commonly called Christmas Day.
Employees of the state and its political subdivisions, except employees of school districts and except those nonclassified employees of institutions of higher education who hold appointments or are employed under contracts to perform services for periods of less than twelve consecutive months, are entitled to one paid holiday per calendar year in addition to those specified in this section. Each employee of the state or its political subdivisions may select the day on which the employee desires to take the additional holiday provided for in this section after consultation with the employer pursuant to guidelines to be promulgated by rule of the appropriate personnel authority, or in the case of local government by ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority.
Employees of the state and its political subdivisions, including employees of school districts and those nonclassified employees of institutions of higher education who hold appointments or are employed under contracts to perform services for periods of less than twelve consecutive months, are entitled to two unpaid holidays per calendar year for a reason of faith or conscience or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization. This includes employees of public institutions of higher education, including community colleges, technical colleges, and workforce training programs. The employee may select the days on which the employee desires to take the two unpaid holidays after consultation with the employer pursuant to guidelines to be promulgated by rule of the appropriate personnel authority, or in the case of local government by ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority. If an employee prefers to take the two unpaid holidays on specific days for a reason of faith or conscience, or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization, the employer must allow the employee to do so unless the employee's absence would impose an undue hardship on the employer or the employee is necessary to maintain public safety. Undue hardship shall have the meaning established in rule by the office of financial management under RCW 43.41.109.
If any of the state legal holidays specified in this section are also federal legal holidays but observed on different dates, only the state legal holidays are recognized as a paid legal holiday for employees of the state and its political subdivisions. However, for port districts and the law enforcement and public transit employees of municipal corporations, either the federal or the state legal holiday is recognized as a paid legal holiday, but in no case may both holidays be recognized as a paid legal holiday for employees.
Whenever any state legal holiday:
Other than Sunday, falls upon a Sunday, the following Monday is the legal holiday; or
Falls upon a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the legal holiday.
Nothing in this section may be construed to have the effect of adding or deleting the number of paid holidays provided for in an agreement between employees and employers of political subdivisions of the state or as established by ordinance or resolution of the local government legislative authority.
The legislature declares that the following days are recognized as provided in this subsection, but may not be considered legal holidays for any purpose:
The thirteenth day of January, recognized as Korean-American day;
The twelfth day of October, recognized as Columbus day;
The ninth day of April, recognized as former prisoner of war recognition day;
The twenty-sixth day of January, recognized as Washington army and air national guard day;
The seventh day of August, recognized as purple heart recipient recognition day;
The second Sunday in October, recognized as Washington state children's day;
The sixteenth day of April, recognized as Mother Joseph day;
The fourth day of September, recognized as Marcus Whitman day;
The twenty-seventh day of July, recognized as national Korean war veterans armistice day;
The nineteenth day of February, recognized as civil liberties day of remembrance;
The thirtieth day of March, recognized as welcome home Vietnam veterans day;
The eleventh day of January, recognized as human trafficking awareness day;
The thirty-first day of March, recognized as Cesar Chavez day;
The tenth day of April, recognized as Dolores Huerta day;
The fourth Saturday of September, recognized as public lands day;
The eighteenth day of December, recognized as blood donor day;
The fifteenth day of May, recognized as water safety day;
The ninth day of March, recognized as Billy Frank Jr. day;
The date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, recognized as the lunar new year; and
The twelfth day of December, recognized as the day of the 12s.
The legislature finds that Washington is home to the loudest, most passionate, and greatest sports fans on earth. Known as the 12s, Seattle seahawks fans are so loud and so present, that they feel like an extra player on the field. Since 1976, the 12s have packed out, first the kingdome and now lumen field, to support the hawks. Fiercely proud of their team and their city, the 12s set the tone and give the seahawks the determination and grit which they are known for around the league. On December 15, 1984, the seahawks became the first team in the league to retire a jersey number in honor of their fans. The number 12 now reserved forever for the fans.
The 12s have become a legend in their own right, twice setting the guinness world record for loudest crowd noise at a sporting event. Following Marshawn Lynch's legendary run in the 2011 playoffs, the crowd noise registered on seismographs, going down in national football league lore as the beastquake. Opposing teams routinely practice with jet engine noise to prepare to play in Seattle, and the 12s even caused the national football league to try and institute an unsuccessful rule against excessive crowd noise.
More than the thunder that they provide on the field, the 12s have helped build the bonds that bind the Washington community. Loyal to their team and community, for many 12s seahawks games simply mean home and their fellow 12s family. When fans wear the signature blue and green, they belong to the same team no matter where they live, what language they speak, or where they were born. The vibrant coalition of 12s demonstrates that people can make a big impact as a collective. The legislature intends the day of the 12s to be a celebration of the dedicated community that gathers across the globe each Sunday during football season to cheer on the Seattle seahawks. Go hawks.