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S 2227

Changes the designation of the public holiday of Columbus day to Indigenous People's Day

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Ramos

Establishes a ceremonial annual 4/13 “413 Day” in Massachusetts, with a governor’s proclamation to promote tourism and western Massachusetts culture, no holidays or funding.

REFERRED TO FINANCE
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2227

Summary — S 2227 (Senate No. 2227) — "An Act establishing 413 Day"

Short summary: The bill would add a new commemorative observance, “413 Day,” on April 13 in Massachusetts. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation designating April 13 as 413 Day to promote tourism, economic development, and the unique culture of western Massachusetts and recommends that citizens observe the day in an appropriate manner. The measure is ceremonial/promotional and does not create a paid state holiday or change existing legal holidays.

Main purpose and intent

  • Establish a recurring, statewide day of recognition — “413 Day” — observed on April 13.
  • Promote tourism, economic development, and the culture of western Massachusetts through an annual gubernatorial proclamation and recommended local observances.

Key provisions

  • Amends Chapter 6 of the Massachusetts General Laws by inserting, after section 15BBBBBB, a new section 15CCCCCC with the following main text:
    • “The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting aside April thirteenth as 413 Day, to promote tourism, economic development, and the unique culture of western Massachusetts and recommending that said day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.”
  • No language creating a paid state holiday, state office closures, or new state-funded programs.
  • No appropriations or enforcement mechanisms included.

Who would be affected / potential impact

  • Governor’s office: required to issue an annual proclamation.
  • Residents and localities in western Massachusetts: encouraged to observe the day; potential modest benefits to local tourism and cultural organizations if activities are organized.
  • State agencies and employers: no statutory obligation to close or provide leave; effect is primarily symbolic and promotional.
  • Fiscal impact: none explicit in the bill (no appropriation); any costs would be minimal and incidental (e.g., promotional activities undertaken by local organizations).

Procedural / timeline aspects

  • Filed as Senate Docket No. 778 (Senate No. 2227) in the 194th General Court (2025–2026).
  • Text shows petitioners/sponsors at state level (e.g., John C. Velis, Jacob R. Oliveira).
  • Listed actions in the provided materials include referrals and scheduled hearings (dates provided in the source material). The bill’s status in the provided metadata is “REFERRED TO FINANCE.”
  • A hearing was scheduled for 06/04/2025 (per materials). Additional committee referrals and readings are noted but the sequence in the provided record is inconsistent.

Notes on inconsistencies in provided materials

  • The initial title supplied by the user (“Changes the designation of the public holiday of Columbus day to Indigenous People's Day”) does not match the bill text, which establishes “413 Day.”
  • Other metadata in the prompt is inconsistent: an opening line naming the “SPIES Act” appears unrelated to the Senate bill text; sponsors listed (James Lankford, Mike Rounds, John Cornyn) are U.S. Senators and do not align with the Massachusetts state sponsors shown in the Senate docket (John C. Velis, Jacob R. Oliveira).
  • Related bill references (prior-session and companion bills) are listed; verify identifiers with the official state legislative site for accurate cross-references.

Recommendation

  • For authoritative status, text, and current committee actions, consult the Massachusetts Legislature’s official website (Senate Docket No. 778 / Senate Bill No. 2227) to resolve the noted inconsistencies and confirm current status and any amendments.

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

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