States across the country will be having their legislative sessions in January. This will allow supportive state lawmakers to introduce, sponsor and pass Juneteenth Holiday Bills in their perspective states. The following states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday or state holiday observance:

TEXAS OKLAHOMA FLORIDA DELAWARE IDAHO ALASKA IOWA CONNECTICUT MISSOURI

CALIFORNIA LOUISIANA WYOMING ILLINOIS NEW JERSEY NEW YORK ARKANSAS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

As of today's date, (2/16/05), the following states, as far as I am aware, recognize Juneteenth through legislative resolution in either the state senate, house of representatives, or both, or Gubernatorial Proclamation:

ALABAMA ARIZONA COLORADO KENTUCKY MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MISSISSIPPI MONTANA

NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW MEXICO NORTH CAROLINA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA TENNESSEE VERMONT WISCONSIN

As of today's date, (2/16/05), the following states, as far as I am aware, do not recognize Juneteenth through either a state legislative resolution, Gubernatorial Proclamation, state holiday or state holiday observance:

GEORGIA HAWAII INDIANA KANSAS MAINE MARYLAND MINNESOTA MONTANA NEBRASKA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW MEXICO

NORTH DAKOTA OHIO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE UTAH VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA WYOMING

As of today's date, (2/16/05), none of the US territories recognize Juneteenth as a Holiday:

GUAM
PUERTO RICO
VIRGIN ISLANDS

If you live in one of the states or U.S. territories listed above, without a Juneteenth state holiday or state holiday observance and are interested in becoming invovled in the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, please e-mail me at: MyersFound@aol.com.  I will put you in touch with our Juneteenth State Director in your area so that you can participate in an organized effort to pass Juneteenth legislation in your state. 

Go to www.Juneteenth.us and review the California Juneteenth State Holiday Bill as sample legislation for the consideration of your state representative, state senator and Governor.  Key points to remember for successful passage of state Juneteenth Holiday Bills:

1.  We recommend that you request your state lawmakers to pass legislation to recognize Juneteenth Independence Day as a state holiday observance on the "3rd Saturday in June".

2. Legislation to recognize Juneteenth Independence Day as a paid state holiday will be very difficult to pass. Recognition of Juneteenth, the "19th of June", as a state holiday observance, instead of a paid state holiday, should be much easier to gain support for successful passage in your state legislature.