MONTGOMERY, AL — Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday signed House Bill 165, officially establishing Juneteenth as a recognized state holiday in Alabama.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) and Representative Rick Rehm (R-Dothan), designates June 19 as a state holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. While Juneteenth has been observed in various forms across the country for decades, it gained increased recognition in recent years and was declared a federal holiday in 2021.
“Since President Trump observed Juneteenth in June of 2020, we have proclaimed it each year, and I am pleased the Legislature has made it an official state holiday,” Governor Ivey said in a statement following the bill’s signing.
Prior to the legislation, Alabama had annually recognized Juneteenth through gubernatorial proclamations. With the passage of HB165, the state now joins over two dozen others in formally recognizing Juneteenth as a paid state holiday.
The bill received bipartisan support in the Legislature and reflects ongoing efforts to acknowledge and commemorate African American history and contributions within the state.
