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Republican Sponsorship
Government Operations

HB1162

To Establish Good Friday As An Official State Holiday.

Failed

Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Sponsors

AI-Generated Summary

House Bill 1162 proposes an amendment to Arkansas Code § 1-5-101 to designate Good Friday as an official state holiday. This addition would increase the total number of paid holidays for state government employees from eleven to twelve per year. The bill also updates the existing list of state holidays to include Good Friday, defined as the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday. The legislation directs the Office of Personnel Management to establish rules and regulations to ensure that state employees receive the newly designated total of twelve paid holidays annually.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries of this bill are state government employees in Arkansas, who would receive an additional day of paid leave each year. Additionally, individuals who observe Good Friday as a religious holiday would benefit from the recognition of the day as an official state holiday.

Who Might Suffer?

The primary entity negatively impacted is the State of Arkansas, which would face increased operational costs associated with maintaining state government functions while providing an additional paid day off for its workforce. Additionally, the public may experience reduced access to state government services on this specific day, potentially causing delays in administrative tasks or public interactions with state agencies.

Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us