HB 363 — An Act providing for the annual designations and holiday observances of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in this Commonwealth.

PRINTER'S NO.   319

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 363
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY KHAN, FRANKEL, WAXMAN, K.HARRIS, SCHLOSSBERG,
        SALISBURY, KAZEEM, SOLOMON, FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS,
        GIRAL, HANBIDGE, KENYATTA, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CARROLL, VENKAT,
        FIEDLER, O'MARA, HOHENSTEIN, PROBST, MAYES AND CERRATO,
        JANUARY 27, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 27, 2025


                                   AN ACT
 1   Providing for the annual designations and holiday observances of
 2      Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in
 3      this Commonwealth.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6   Section 1.   Legislative findings.
 7      The General Assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:
 8          (1)   Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, marks the
 9      beginning of the High Holidays and signifies a time for
10      reflection and celebration.
11          (2)   Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day
12      in Judaism, representing the apex of the High Holidays
13      season, and is dedicated to prayer, fasting and
14      introspection.
15          (3)   Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast,
16      commemorates the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting for
17      Muslims, and is celebrated with prayers, feasts and acts of
 1      charity.
 2            (4)   Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is
 3      considered one of holiest holidays in the Islamic calendar
 4      and is similarly celebrated through prayers and acts of
 5      service.
 6            (5)   This Commonwealth was founded on the principles of
 7      religious freedom and tolerance, and these holidays,
 8      celebrated by many Pennsylvanians, deserve official
 9      recognition.
10   Section 2.     Designations.
11      (a)   Jewish tradition.--In accordance with longstanding
12   Jewish tradition:
13            (1)   The secular calendar date coinciding with the first
14      day of the Hebrew month of Tishri in any given year shall be
15      designated as the beginning of Rosh Hashanah in this
16      Commonwealth.
17            (2)   The secular calendar date coinciding with the tenth
18      day of the Hebrew month of Tishri shall be designated as the
19      observance of Yom Kippur in this Commonwealth.
20      (b)   Islamic tradition.--In accordance with longstanding
21   Islamic tradition:
22            (1)   The first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal shall
23      be designated as the beginning of Eid al-Fitr in this
24      Commonwealth.
25            (2)   The tenth day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah
26      shall be designated as the beginning of Eid al-Adha in this
27      Commonwealth.
28   Section 3.     Construction.
29      Nothing in this act shall be construed as requiring an
30   employer to treat a day designated under section 2 as a legal or

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1   official holiday or to provide paid leave to an employee on a
2   day designated under section 2 solely by virtue of the date
3   being designated under this act.
4   Section 4.   Effective date.
5      This act shall take effect immediately.




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