An Act designating Diwali Day as a state holiday

HD 996 designates October 15 (the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik) as Diwali Day, establishing it as an annual state holiday. The bill requires the governor to issue a proclamation each year recognizing this date as Diwali Day, a five-day festival centered on the "Festival of Lights" celebrated globally. This change directly affects state employees, who would observe the day as a paid holiday, and acknowledges Diwali's significance as a celebration of thanksgiving and reflection. The legislation creates a formal state observance without altering existing holiday structures or imposing new requirements on private entities.