Juneteenth Recognized as Legal Holiday in Over Half of States

The newest federal holiday, Juneteenth National Independence Day on June 19, celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. At least 33 states and the District of Columbia will mark Juneteenth with a paid day off for most state government workers this year, according to the Pew Research Center.

In most of these states (30 plus D.C.), Juneteenth is a permanent holiday by law and commemorated annually, according to records compiled by the Congressional Research Service. In three other states, Juneteenth is not a permanent legal holiday but will still be a paid day off for most state workers. It could become a permanent holiday in these states if their legislators pass a bill to make it so.

Most states that have made Juneteenth a permanent legal holiday did so in 2020 or later. Texas is the exception, where the holiday originated and is also known as Emancipation Day. Juneteenth has been celebrated locally in Texas since the 1860s and became a permanent holiday there in 1980.

All 50 states officially recognize Juneteenth as either a legal holiday or an observance—that is, a day of public awareness that isn’t accompanied by a paid day off.

Juneteenth is one of 11 annual federal holidays, on which federal workers get a paid day off, and there’s no mail delivery. As a result, most federal offices are closed on these holidays.