Senate orders S.206 to third reading to make Juneteenth a Vermont legal holiday

The Vermont Senate ordered S.206 for third reading after the bill's sponsor described the measure to make Juneteenth a legal state holiday.

The sponsor told the chamber, "This is the bill that makes Juneteenth ... a legal state holiday," noting the bill would add June 19 to 1 V.S.A. §371a and list it in chronological order among recognized legal holidays. The sponsor also said the bill repeals a provision making June 10 a commemorative holiday.

The sponsor provided historical background for Juneteenth, reading portions of General Gordon Granger's June 19, 1865 proclamation and placing the federal adoption of Juneteenth in recent context. He emphasized the legislation "does not automatically become a paid day off holiday" for state employees and that any paid time off would be subject to collective bargaining, a point his committee examined.

The sponsor reported testimony heard by the committee, including from legislative counsel Mr. Chernick, Beverly Everest (executive director of the Office of Racial Equity), a Rutland NAACP member Sean Pratt, and the bill sponsor. The Government Operations committee reported a favorable vote in committee (recorded in the transcript) and the Appropriations committee confirmed the bill would not itself produce automatic pay changes but that pay implications are subject to collective bargaining.

The presiding officer put the question and the ayes prevailed; the Senate ordered S.206 for third reading. The next step is the scheduled third reading and any floor amendments prior to final passage.