State Government - Legal and Employee Holiday - Maryland Emancipation Day

SB 139 establishes November 1 as a permanent legal holiday and state employee holiday in Maryland, known as Maryland Emancipation Day. This bill removes the current requirement that the Governor annually proclaim November 1 as Emancipation Day by adding it directly to Maryland’s official holiday list. It affects all state government operations and employees, who will observe November 1 as a fixed holiday without needing yearly gubernatorial action. The change takes effect October 1, 2025, and updates existing statutes in Maryland’s Code.