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SR 8608

Acknowledging National Passenger Safety Week.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Marko Liias

Washington Senate Resolution 8608 recognizes Lunar New Year, honors diverse communities, notes 2025 as the Year of the Wood Snake, and signals cultural inclusion without new laws.

Adopted.
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Bill Summary · SR 8608

Summary of Senate Resolution SR 8608: Celebrating the Lunar New Year

SR 8608 is a Senate resolution introduced by Senator Hasegawa and adopted to recognize and celebrate the Lunar New Year within Washington State. It conveys the Legislature’s respect for the diverse communities that observe the holiday and notes its cultural significance.

Purpose and Intent

  • Officially recognize the Lunar New Year as a culturally meaningful celebration for many Washington residents, including diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
  • Join these communities in acknowledging the start of the Lunar New Year and offer best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.
  • Highlight Washington’s commitment to racial, religious, and cultural diversity.

Key Provisions

  • Acknowledgment that the Lunar New Year is celebrated worldwide, including in the United States and Washington State.
  • Reference to prior recognition in 2024 (House Bill 2209) of Lunar New Year as a state legal holiday.
  • Explanation that the Lunar New Year is determined by the second new moon after the winter solstice and is linked to a 12-year cycle of animals and a 60-year cycle of elements (metal, wood, fire, water, earth).
  • Identification of the 2025 Lunar Year as the Year of the Wood Snake, associated with versatility, growth, and creativity.
  • Emphasis on the holiday’s significance in East and Southeast Asian cultures (e.g., Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean communities) and its role in family renewal and starting the new year with a clean slate.
  • Civil acknowledgment of Washington’s substantial Asian and Pacific Islander population (approximately 920,000 people).

Context and Significance

  • The resolution situates Lunar New Year within Washington’s broader story of cultural diversity and inclusion.
  • Connects statewide recognition to national and international communities observing the holiday.

Affected Parties

  • Asian and Pacific Islander American communities in Washington.
  • The broader public, educators, and state agencies by recognizing the holiday’s cultural importance.

Procedural Details and Timeline

  • Introduced: January 31, 2025.
  • Adopted: January 31, 2025 (Legislative action date listed as 2025-01-31; the resolution identifies January 29, 2025, as the start of the Lunar New Year in its recitation of dates).
  • The resolution expresses a ceremonial commitment rather than creating or altering statutory obligations.

Fiscal and Regulatory Impact

  • As a resolution, SR 8608 generally does not enact new laws or create direct fiscal obligations. Its effect is symbolic recognition and cultural acknowledgment.

Related Legislation

  • References House Bill 2209 (2024) recognizing Lunar New Year as a state legal holiday, providing context for the broader legislative conversation around the holiday.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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