HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1852        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3430

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Marcus S. Vaughn and Hannah Kane

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act designating Diwali Day as a state holiday.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Marcus S. Vaughn

9th Norfolk

1/15/2025

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

1/22/2025

James C. Arena-DeRosa

8th Middlesex

2/18/2025

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

2/24/2025

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

5/30/2025

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

3/9/2025

Patrick Joseph Kearney

4th Plymouth

5/20/2025

Francisco E. Paulino

16th Essex

3/11/2025

Joshua Tarsky

13th Norfolk

2/27/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1852        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3430

By Representatives Vaughn of Wrentham and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3430) of Marcus S. Vaughn, Hannah Kane and others for the issuance of an annual proclamation by the Governor to designate the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik as Diwali day.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

 

An Act designating Diwali Day as a state holiday.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after Section 15ZZZZZZ, the following section:- 

Section 15AAAAAAA. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting aside the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik as the official Diwali Day, establishing the day as a state holiday, recommending its observance by the people as a period of special attention in recognition of the Diwali celebration known as the “Festival of Lights”, a five day long festival where the third day is a day of thanksgiving and reflection celebrated worldwide and by millions of Americans.