SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1617
As of February 10, 2022
Title: An act relating to aligning state and school holidays.
Brief Description: Aligning state and school holidays.
Sponsors: House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations (originally sponsored by Representatives Morgan, Leavitt, Johnson, J., Ramel, Callan, Davis, Taylor, Santos, Simmons, Riccelli, Ormsby and Harris-Talley).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/2/22, 88-8.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/16/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Specifies that all state legal holidays are also school holidays on which school may not be taught.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Alexandra Fairfortune (786-7416)
Background:

State Legal Holidays.  Washington recognizes 11 specific days as state legal holidays:  New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents' Day; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans' Day; Thanksgiving Day; Native American Heritage Day; and Christmas Day.

 

School Holidays.  Washington recognizes ten specific days as school holidays on which school may not be taught:  New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents' Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans' Day; Thanksgiving Day; Native American Heritage Day; and Christmas Day. 

 

Juneteenth, which was declared a state legal holiday in 2021, is the only state legal holiday that is not included in the enumerated list of school holidays.
Summary of Bill:

All state legal holidays are also school holidays on which school may not be taught.  The list of specific school holidays is removed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2022.