HB 1446
In CommitteeHouse
George Washington's birthday
Changing the state holiday called Presidents' Day to George Washington's Birthday (observed).
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill officially renames Washington State’s February holiday from 'Presidents' Day' to 'George Washington's Birthday (observed)' and updates related holiday rules. It also expands paid and unpaid holiday options for public employees.
- Changes the official name of the February state holiday from 'Presidents' Day' to 'George Washington's Birthday (observed)' in state law (RCW 1.16.050).
- Clarifies that the February holiday celebrates only George Washington’s birthday (February 22), removing reference to Abraham Lincoln in state law.
- Allows state and local government employees (excluding school districts and some higher education staff) to select one additional paid holiday per year, in consultation with their employer.
- Maintains two unpaid religious/conscientious holidays per year for all public employees—including school staff and some higher education staff—with guaranteed approval unless it causes 'undue hardship.'
- Confirms that if a federal and state holiday fall on different dates, only the state-designated holiday counts as a paid day off for most government employees (with exceptions for port and transit/law enforcement agencies).
Who is affected
- State and local government employees — State and local government employees (except school district staff and some higher education staff) gain one additional paid holiday they can choose, on top of the standard state holidays.
- School district and some higher education employees — Employees of school districts and certain nonclassified higher education staff retain access to two unpaid holidays for religious or conscientious reasons, with no change to their current holiday benefits.
- Port district and public transit/law enforcement employees — Port districts and municipal law enforcement/public transit employees may choose to observe either the state or federal version of overlapping holidays as a paid day off, but not both.
- General public — All Washington residents experience a shift in how the February holiday is officially named and framed—now explicitly honoring George Washington rather than broadly labeled 'Presidents' Day'.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
State and local government employees (excluding school districts and some higher ed staff) gain one additional paid holiday of their choosing, which improves work-life balance and provides tangible compensation without requiring new legislation for each agency—this is a meaningful benefit for public-sector workers who often face wage stagnation.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(2)All public employees—including school staff and some higher ed staff—retain two unpaid religious/conscientious holidays with guaranteed approval unless 'undue hardship' is shown, reinforcing protections for religious liberty and personal conscience in the workplace.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 2(3)The bill corrects a long-standing mischaracterization of the February holiday by restoring the official name 'George Washington's Birthday (observed)'—aligning state law with federal practice and clarifying the holiday’s historical basis, which enhances civic education and historical accuracy.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 2(1)(d)Clarifying that only state-designated holidays count as paid days off (except for port and transit/law enforcement agencies) reduces ambiguity in holiday scheduling and prevents double-counting of overlapping federal/state holidays, improving administrative consistency.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(4)By explicitly naming George Washington and removing Lincoln from the statutory description, the bill may prompt renewed public discussion about the founding era and Washington’s legacy—potentially supporting civic education efforts, though it risks narrowing historical framing if not contextualized.
EducationRef: Sec. 2(1)(d)
Potential Concerns (5)
The renaming of the holiday from 'Presidents' Day' to 'George Washington's Birthday (observed)' and removal of Lincoln from the statutory reference may diminish recognition of other presidents, particularly Lincoln, whose legacy is historically significant and widely respected by many Washingtonians. This symbolic change could erode inclusive historical framing, especially for communities that value Lincoln’s role in emancipation and civil rights.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 2(1)(d)The requirement that religious/conscientious unpaid holidays be approved unless they cause 'undue hardship' introduces subjectivity and potential administrative burden for employees seeking time off, especially in small agencies without formal HR protocols. This could disproportionately affect low-wage public employees who may lack bargaining power to negotiate scheduling flexibility.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 2(3)The distinction between port districts, transit/law enforcement, and other local agencies in holiday observance creates administrative complexity for local governments trying to coordinate coverage and staffing, potentially increasing administrative costs and creating inequities in holiday access across similar public-sector jobs.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(4)The new paid holiday option for state and local government employees (excluding school staff and some higher ed staff) may increase payroll costs for agencies that choose to fund the benefit, potentially diverting funds from other public services—though the impact is mitigated because the holiday is employee-selected and not mandated across all public employers.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(2)The bill excludes school districts and some higher education staff from the new paid holiday benefit, creating a two-tiered system among public employees that may reduce morale and perceived fairness among excluded groups—particularly school staff, who are essential frontline public servants.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(2)
Who Is Most Affected
State and local government employees (excluding school districts and some higher ed staff) benefit positively from one additional paid holiday, improving compensation and work-life balance. However, they may face administrative uncertainty if their agency lacks clear guidelines for holiday selection.
School district and some higher education staff retain two unpaid religious/conscientious holidays but are excluded from the new paid holiday benefit, creating a relative disadvantage compared to other public employees. Their religious liberty protections remain intact, but their overall holiday compensation is reduced relative to peers.
Port districts and transit/law enforcement employees gain flexibility to choose either federal or state holiday (but not both), which may improve scheduling fairness for critical public safety staff. However, they are subject to the same 'undue hardship' standard for religious holidays as others.
The general public may experience a modest shift in civic identity—some may appreciate the historical accuracy of the name change, while others may view the removal of Lincoln as a symbolic erasure. The fiscal impact is negligible, so no direct economic effect is expected.
Local governments (especially those outside port/transit/law enforcement) may face increased administrative burden in implementing the new paid holiday selection process and managing staffing for the additional day, though costs are likely modest and variable depending on employee uptake.