Senate approves additional personal holiday for state employees

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation to give Oklahoma’s full-time state employees one personal holiday. House Bill 4190 would allow workers to choose from Good Friday, Juneteenth, Statehood Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, or the employee’s birthday. Sen. Kim David, R-Porter, and House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, are the principal authors of the legislation.

“Our nearly 32,000 state employees are some of the hardest working people around, providing important government services year-round to their fellow Oklahomans,” David said. “This will give these dedicated public servants an extra day to celebrate their faith, history, or birthday. I’m grateful to my legislative colleagues for recognizing our state employees’ commitment with this much-deserved additional day off to spend with their friends and families.”

Current paid holidays for state employees include New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; President’s Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; and Christmas.

“I’m happy to see this commonsense piece of legislation pass the Senate and head to the governor’s desk,” Echols said. “Our state employees work extremely hard to make sure we have an efficient and effective government for the people of Oklahoma, and we need to take any chance we get to show them our gratitude. This is the least we can do for the thousands of individuals who keep our government running.”

HB 4190 will next be considered by the governor for his final consideration.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. David: (405) 521-5590 or Kim.David@oksenate.gov