Summary — HB 117: General Provisions — Commemorative Months — Italian Heritage Month

Sponsor: Delegate Mangione

Short title: Require annual gubernatorial proclamation of Italian Heritage Month (October)

Primary subject: Commemorative months / ceremonial recognition

Purpose and intent

The bill directs the Governor to annually proclaim October as "Italian Heritage Month" to formally recognize and honor the contributions Italian Americans have made to the State. The proclamation also must urge educational and cultural organizations to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

Key provisions

• Adds a new section (renumbering existing 7–507 to 7–508 and inserting a new 7–507) in the General Provisions article of the Annotated Code.
• Requires the Governor, every year, to issue a proclamation declaring October as Italian Heritage Month.
• Requires the Governor’s proclamation to urge educational and cultural organizations to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
• No new regulatory mandates, penalties, or funding authorizations are created.

Who is affected

• Governor’s Office: responsibility to issue the annual proclamation.
• Educational and cultural organizations (public or private): formally urged — not required — to observe the month with programs/activities.
• General public and Italian American communities: symbolic recognition intended to raise awareness and encourage celebration of cultural contributions.

Fiscal and policy impact

• Fiscal note: No effect on State or local finances. The measure is purely ceremonial/recognitional; it does not appropriate funds or establish new programs.
• No regulatory or administrative compliance costs are specified.

Procedural / timeline aspects

• Introduced / first read: January 8, 2025 (prefiled June 7, 2024).
• Committee assignment: Health and Government Operations (per bill text).
• Hearing(s) recorded on legislative docket (a hearing date of March 13, 2025, is shown in the legislative record).
• Effective date (if enacted as written): July 1, 2025.

Notes / context

• The bill mirrors other statutory commemorations that instruct the Governor to recognize particular observances; it creates a yearly ceremonial observance rather than programmatic obligations.
• Because the proclamation only “urges” organizations to observe the month, there is no statutory enforcement mechanism or required spending associated with these observances.