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HB 498

Juneteenth; designate as a legal holiday in the State of Mississippi.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Oscar Denton

Mississippi bill designates Juneteenth as official state legal holiday, requiring government recognition of June 19 commemoration of slavery's end.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 498

Legislative bill overview

HB 498 proposes to designate Juneteenth (June 19) as an official legal holiday in Mississippi. The bill would require state recognition of the day commemorating June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom, marking the effective end of slavery in the United States.

Why is this important

Legal holiday designation affects state employee schedules, government office closures, and public observance practices. Mississippi is one of the few remaining states without official Juneteenth recognition, making this a question of whether the state formally acknowledges this historical milestone in its calendar of recognized days.

Potential points of contention

  • State budget impact: Official holidays may require additional government costs for employee compensation on non-work days or holiday pay premiums
  • Calendar logistics: Questions about whether Juneteenth would replace an existing holiday (like Confederate Memorial Day, which Mississippi observes) or be added separately
  • Political symbolism: The bill carries significance regarding how Mississippi formally recognizes African American history and the end of slavery, which remains a sensitive topic in the state's political landscape

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

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