HB 1759
In CommitteeHouse
Day of the 12s
Designating the twelfth day of December as the day of the 12s.
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 formally recognizes December 12 as the 'Day of the 12s' to honor Seattle Seahawks fans, and expands holiday benefits for public employees—including one new paid holiday and two new unpaid religious/conscientious holidays—while clarifying how holidays fall on weekends and how local governments may handle overlapping state/federal holidays.
- Adds December 12 as a recognized day ('Day of the 12s') in state law, honoring Seattle Seahawks fans.
- Grants state and local government employees (except school districts and short-term higher ed staff) one additional paid holiday they can choose with employer approval.
- Grants all public employees—including school and short-term higher ed staff—two unpaid holidays per year for religious or conscientious reasons, with employer approval required unless absence would cause undue hardship or affect public safety.
- Clarifies that if a state legal holiday falls on a weekend, the adjacent weekday becomes the holiday (e.g., Saturday → Friday, Sunday → Monday).
- Allows port districts and municipal public safety/transit employees to choose either the state or federal version of a holiday (but not both) for paid time off.
Who is affected
- State and local government employees — State and local government employees (excluding school district staff and short-term higher education employees) gain one additional paid holiday they can choose, and all public employees gain two unpaid holidays for religious or conscientious reasons.
- School district and short-term higher education employees — Employees of school districts and short-term higher education staff lose eligibility for the additional paid holiday but retain the two unpaid religious/conscientious holidays.
- Port district and municipal public safety/transit employees — Port districts and municipal public transit and law enforcement employees gain flexibility to choose between state or federal holidays for paid time off, but cannot receive both.
- General public — All Washington residents benefit from increased recognition of cultural and community traditions, including the new official recognition of the 'Day of the 12s'.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The two unpaid religious/conscientious holidays per year for all public employees—including school and short-term higher ed staff—strengthens accommodation of diverse beliefs and practices, supporting religious liberty and conscience rights in the public workplace.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)Clarifying weekend holiday observance (e.g., Saturday → Friday, Sunday → Monday) reduces ambiguity in scheduling and ensures consistent paid time off across agencies, improving predictability for both employees and employers.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)The new paid holiday for state and local government employees (excluding school and short-term higher ed staff) increases annual paid time off for many public workers, supporting work-life balance and reducing burnout—especially in high-stress roles like corrections, transportation, and public safety.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2)Formally recognizing December 12 as the 'Day of the 12s' affirms community identity and civic pride, potentially strengthening social cohesion and public morale—particularly in Western Washington, where Seahawks fandom spans diverse demographics and neighborhoods.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(7)(u)Allowing port districts and municipal public safety/transit employees to choose between state or federal holidays—while preventing double compensation—balances fairness with fiscal responsibility and gives frontline workers more scheduling autonomy in critical services.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill adds one additional paid holiday for state and local government employees (excluding school and short-term higher ed staff), increasing payroll costs for state and local governments; exact fiscal impact is uncertain but could reach several million dollars annually depending on uptake.
FinancialRef: Sec. 1(2)The requirement to grant two unpaid religious/conscientious holidays per year for all public employees—including school and short-term higher ed staff—imposes administrative burden on local governments to evaluate “undue hardship” and manage scheduling, especially in small agencies with limited HR capacity.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(3)The rule allowing port districts and municipal public safety/transit employees to choose only one version (state or federal) of overlapping holidays—while preventing double compensation—may reduce flexibility for employees who rely on federal holidays not recognized by the state, potentially increasing scheduling conflicts in critical services.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(4)The designation of December 12 as the 'Day of the 12s'—a non-legal holiday—has no operational impact on public safety or emergency services, but may create minor confusion for agencies that must distinguish between ceremonial recognition and actual paid time off.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(7)(u)The bill excludes school districts and short-term higher ed staff from the new paid holiday, creating inequity among public employees and potentially reducing morale among those groups, especially in districts already facing staffing shortages.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(2)
Who Is Most Affected
State and local government employees (excluding school and short-term higher ed) gain one additional paid holiday, improving work-life balance and compensation, though some may face scheduling constraints depending on employer approval.
School district and short-term higher ed employees lose eligibility for the new paid holiday but retain two unpaid religious/conscientious holidays—resulting in net loss of paid time off and potential morale impact, especially in under-resourced districts.
Port and municipal public safety/transit employees gain flexibility in choosing between state or federal holidays, but cannot receive both—offering modest scheduling relief without increasing taxpayer cost.
General public benefits from symbolic recognition of the 'Day of the 12s' and strengthened civic identity, but no direct financial or material impact; effects are cultural and psychological rather than economic.
Local governments face increased administrative and potential payroll costs, especially in smaller jurisdictions with limited HR capacity to manage new holiday requests and 'undue hardship' determinations.