HB 1984 — An Act amending the act of May 31, 1893 (P.L.188, No.138), referred to as the Legal Holiday Law, further providing for the designation of legal holidays; and making a repeal.

PRINTER'S NO.     2503

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1984
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY RABB, RIVERA, KINKEAD AND CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        OCTOBER 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 23, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of May 31, 1893 (P.L.188, No.138), entitled "An
 2      act designating the days and half days to be observed as
 3      legal holidays, and for the payment, acceptance and
 4      protesting of bills, notes, drafts, checks and other
 5      negotiable paper on such days," further providing for the
 6      designation of legal holidays; and making a repeal.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Section 1 of the act of May 31, 1893 (P.L.188,
10   No.138), referred to as the Legal Holiday Law, is amended to
11   read:
12      Section 1.    Be it enacted, &c., That the following days and
13   half days, namely: the first day of January, commonly called New
14   Year's Day, the third Monday of January, known as Dr. Martin
15   Luther King, Jr. Day, the third Monday of February, known as
16   Presidents' Day, Good Friday, the last Monday in May, known as
17   Memorial Day, the fourteenth day of June, known as Flag Day, the
18   fourth of July, called Independence Day, the first Monday of
19   September, known as Labor Day, [the second Monday in October,
20   known as Columbus Day,] the first Tuesday after the first Monday
 1   of November, Election Day, the eleventh day of November, known
 2   as Veterans' Day, the fourth Thursday in November, known as
 3   Thanksgiving Day, the twenty-fifth day of December, known as
 4   Christmas Day; and every Saturday, after twelve o'clock noon
 5   until twelve o'clock midnight, each of which Saturdays is hereby
 6   designated a half holiday; and any day appointed or recommended
 7   by the Governor of this State or the President of the United
 8   States as a day of thanksgiving or fastings and prayer, or other
 9   religious observance; and in the event of a financial crisis in
10   the State or Nation, any day or days appointed by the Governor
11   of this State or the President of the United States as a bank
12   holiday; and in the event of public calamity in any part of the
13   State through fire, flood, famine, violence, riot, insurrection,
14   or enemy action, any day or days appointed by the Governor of
15   this State as a bank holiday for banking institutions affected
16   by such public calamity shall, for all purposes whatever as
17   regards the presenting for payment or acceptance, and as regards
18   the protesting and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of
19   exchange, checks, drafts, and promissory notes, made after the
20   passage of this act, be treated and considered as the first day
21   of the week, commonly called Sunday, and as public holidays and
22   half holidays; and all such bills, checks, drafts, and notes
23   otherwise presentable for acceptance or payment on any of the
24   said days, shall be deemed to be payable and be presentable for
25   acceptance or payment on the secular or business day next
26   succeeding such holiday or half holiday; except checks, drafts,
27   bills of exchange, and promissory notes, payable at sight or on
28   demand, which would otherwise be payable on any half holiday
29   Saturday, shall be deemed to be payable at or before twelve
30   o'clock noon of such half holiday: Provided, however, That for

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 1   the purpose of protesting or otherwise holding liable any party
 2   to any bill of exchange, check, draft, or promissory note, and
 3   which shall not have been paid before twelve o'clock noon of any
 4   Saturday designated a half holiday as aforesaid, a demand for
 5   acceptance or payment thereof shall not be made, and notice of
 6   protest or dishonor thereof shall not be given, until the next
 7   succeeding secular or business day: And provided further, That
 8   when any person, firm, corporation or company shall, on any
 9   Saturday designated a half holiday, receive for collection any
10   check, bill of exchange, draft, or promissory note, such person,
11   firm, corporation, or company shall not be deemed guilty of any
12   neglect or omission of duty, nor incur any liability, in not
13   presenting for payment or acceptance or collection such check,
14   bill of exchange, draft or promissory note, on that day: And
15   provided further, That, in construing this section, every
16   Saturday designated a half holiday shall, until twelve o'clock
17   noon, be deemed a secular or business day; and the days and half
18   days aforesaid, so designated as holidays and half holidays,
19   shall be considered as public holidays and half holidays for all
20   purposes whatsoever as regards the transaction of business,
21   except that any day or days appointed as a bank holiday shall be
22   regarded as secular or business days for all other purposes than
23   those mentioned in this act: And provided further, That nothing
24   herein contained shall be construed to prevent or invalidate the
25   entry, issuance, service, or execution of any writ, summons,
26   confession of judgment, or other legal process whatever, on any
27   of the holidays or half holidays herein designated as holidays;
28   nor to prevent any banking institution from keeping its doors
29   open or transacting its business, on any Saturday afternoon, if
30   by a vote of its directors it shall elect to do so, unless such

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 1   Saturday is appointed as a bank holiday under the provisions of
 2   this act: And provided further, That any banking institution
 3   may, by a vote of its directors, or in the case of a private
 4   bank by action of the private banker or bankers, notice of which
 5   shall have been posted in its banking house for not less than
 6   fifteen days before the taking effect thereof, observe any
 7   Saturday throughout the year as a full holiday with like effect
 8   hereunder as though such day had been designated as a full
 9   holiday by the provisions of this act, and may in the same
10   manner, observe as a full holiday any Monday next following the
11   first day of January, the fourth day of July or the twenty-fifth
12   day of December whenever any of such holidays shall occur on a
13   Saturday with like effect hereunder as though such day had been
14   designated as a full holiday by the provisions of this act.
15      Section 2.   Repeals are as follows:
16          (1)   The General Assembly declares that the repeal under
17      paragraph (2) is necessary to effectuate the amendment of
18      section 1 of the act.
19          (2)   The act of August 13, 1963 (P.L.660, No.345),
20      entitled "An act providing for the observance of October 12
21      of each year as Columbus Day," is repealed.
22      Section 3.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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