MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 165 into law on Thursday, officially recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday in Alabama.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Bobby Singleton and Representative Rick Rehm, was passed by the Alabama Legislature earlier this year. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Governor Ivey expressed her support for the legislation in a statement following the signing:
“Since President Trump observed Juneteenth in June of 2020, we have proclaimed it each year, and I am pleased the Legislature has made it an official state holiday.” – Governor Kay Ivey
What House Bill 165 Does:
- Adds Juneteenth (June 19) as an official state holiday
- Recognizes the historical significance of the end of slavery in the U.S.
- Ensures annual observance of Juneteenth across Alabama
The new law marks a significant moment in Alabama’s acknowledgment of African American history and cultural heritage.
