Purpose

This bill would designate the state fishing opener as a state holiday and update how holidays are defined and observed in Minnesota law. It also changes how certain holiday titles are described in public labor agreements and adjusts which branches of government can decide whether some holidays apply.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 645.44, subdivision 5, to add a list of holidays and related rules, including:
  • New Years Day (January 1)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday (third Monday in January)
  • Washington’s and Lincoln’s Birthday (third Monday in February)
  • The state fishing opener (as defined in section 97C.395 subdivision 1, paragraph a, clause 1)
  • Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
  • Juneteenth (June 19)
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Labor Day (first Monday in September)
  • Indigenous Peoples Day (second Monday in October)
  • Veterans Day (November 11)
  • Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
  • Christmas Day (December 25)
• Holidays are adjusted if their dates fall on Sunday or Saturday to the following day (if Sunday) or the preceding day (if Saturday).
• Specifies that no public business may be transacted on a holiday, except in cases of necessity and except for public business transacted by the legislature; civil process cannot be served on holidays.
• For the executive branch, adds the Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday, but explicitly excludes Indigenous Peoples Day as a holiday for the executive branch.
• Other branches of state government and political subdivisions may choose whether Indigenous Peoples Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving shall be holidays; if they decide these are not holidays, public business may be conducted on those days.

Effects on Government Operations

• Public offices would generally be closed on holidays, with limited exceptions for necessary actions or legislative sessions.
• The executive branch would observe an additional holiday (the Friday after Thanksgiving) but would not treat Indigenous Peoples Day as a holiday.
• Other state entities and local governments could decide whether to observe Indigenous Peoples Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving as holidays, which could affect schedules and service availability.
• If Indigenous Peoples Day or the Friday after Thanksgiving is not treated as a holiday, public business may proceed on those days.

Labor and Employment Agreement Changes

• Section 1.2(b): Any public employer–employee organization agreement that currently cites Veterans Day as the fourth Monday in October must be updated to cite Veterans Day as November 11.
• Section 1.2(c): Any agreement that cites Christopher Columbus Day or Columbus Day must be amended to cite Indigenous Peoples Day.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Officially designates the state fishing opener as a state holiday.
• Expands and formalizes a broad list of holidays and the rules for when those holidays apply.
• Alters who can designate Indigenous Peoples Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving as holidays (executive branch excluded for Indigenous Peoples Day; other branches/ Subdivisions may opt in or out).
• Recasts certain holiday references in labor agreements (replacing Columbus/Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, and standardizing Veterans Day as November 11).

Practical Considerations

• Calendar and scheduling impacts for state agencies, local governments, courts, and public services.
• Potential changes in when public ceremonies or operations occur, and how civil processes are served on holidays.
• The change to Columbus Day references could affect public employer agreements and historical calendars.

Relevant Terms - state holiday - fishing opener - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 645.44 subdivision 5 - Indigenous Peoples Day - Friday after Thanksgiving - public business - civil process - executive branch - Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday - Washington’s and Lincoln’s Birthday - Memorial Day - Juneteenth - Veterans Day - Thanksgiving Day - Christmas Day - New Years Day - Veterans Day date (November 11) - Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day substitutions - section 97C.395 subdivision 1 - New Year’s Day/Sunday or Saturday date rules