The bill to officially recognize two Islamic holidays continues to make its way through the process and is up for a hearing this week, though it has seen some changes since first introduced.
SB 5106 saw some significant changes before making it out of the
Senate on 47-1 vote in late February. While in the Senate, the bill was amended to have the state officially recognize the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays, but to no longer consider them state legal holidays.
The amendment was a cost saving measure, since legal holidays are paid days off for state workers, while officially recognized holidays are not paid days off. Cities are permitted to recognize their own list of holidays, though many choose to simply adopt the state’s list of official legal holidays.
Dates to remember
SB 5106 is scheduled for a committee vote in House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on March 28 at 8:30 am.
Two new state legal holidays being considered
January 24, 2025
Companion bills to establish two Islamic holidays as new state legal holidays are being considered this week.
The Senate companion is SB 5106, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D–Tacoma), and the House bill is HB 1434, sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D–Redmond). The bills add the Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr (first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar) and Eid al-Adha (10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar) to the list of state legal holidays. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha celebrates the religious devotion of Abraham.
Since both holidays are based on the Islamic lunar calendar – not the solar-based Gregorian calendar used in the United States – the date on which each holiday falls will fluctuate each year. In 2025, Eid al-Fitr falls on March 30 and Eid al-Adha falls on June 7. According to the Council of American-Islamic Relations, there are between 80,000 and 100,000 Muslims living in Washington.
State legal holidays are a paid holiday for state workers and state offices are closed. Cities are permitted to recognize their own list of holidays through adoption of ordinances, personnel policies, or including them in collective bargaining agreements. Some cities may need to bargain with their unions as to how to account for new additions to the state holiday schedule. MRSC has some helpful resources for cities on observing state and local holidays.
Dates to remember
HB 1434 is scheduled for a hearing in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on January 29 at 1:30 pm.
SB 5106 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs, & Elections Committee on January 28 at 1:30 pm.