Editing Juneteenth (section)

== Legal observance ==
===State and local holiday===
[[File:Recognition of Juneteenth before 2021.svg|alt=|thumb|Adoption of Juneteenth as a commemoration or holiday in the US by states, in the years before the federal holiday in 2021 {{legend|#D95050|Recognized before 2000}}
{{legend|#F7AF43|Recognized between 2000 and 2009}}
{{legend|#286CD1|Recognized between 2010 and 2021}}
As of 2023, 24 of these states and the District of Columbia have also made it a paid holiday for state or district workers. Federal government employees in all states are covered by the federal holiday.]]

Texas was the first [[U.S. state|state]] to recognize the date by enacted law, in 1980. By 2002, eight states officially recognized Juneteenth<ref name=":6">{{cite news |last=Dart |first=Bob |date=June 19, 2002 |title=Juneteenth Crossing Nation |pages=A2 |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52773158/juneteenth-crossing-nation/ |access-date=June 4, 2020 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{open access}} |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604185005/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52773158/juneteenth-crossing-nation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and four years later 15 states recognized the holiday.{{sfn|Wilson|2006|p=239}} By 2008, just over half of the states recognized Juneteenth in some way.<ref name="cruz">{{cite magazine|last=Cruz|first=Gilbert|date=June 18, 2008|title=A Brief History of Juneteenth|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1815936,00.html|access-date=May 30, 2013|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603025526/http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1815936,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2019, 47 states and the District of Columbia recognized Juneteenth,<ref name="Shabad">{{cite web|first=Rebecca|last=Shabad|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-democrats-introduce-bill-make-juneteenth-federal-holiday-n1231550|title=Senators propose bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday|website=[[NBC News]]|date=June 19, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620055254/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-democrats-introduce-bill-make-juneteenth-federal-holiday-n1231550|url-status=live}}</ref> although as of 2020 only Texas had adopted the holiday as a paid holiday for state employees.<ref>{{cite web|first=Caleb|last=Stewart|url=https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Northam-to-designate-Juneteenth-a-state-holiday-for-Virginia-571296721.html|title=Virginia likely to become the 2nd state marking Juneteenth as a state holiday|website=[[WHSV-TV|WHSV]]|date=June 16, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620201213/https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Northam-to-designate-Juneteenth-a-state-holiday-for-Virginia-571296721.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2019, Governor of Pennsylvania [[Tom Wolf]] recognized Juneteenth as a holiday in the state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Juneteenth Now A State Holiday In Pennsylvania|url=https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/06/19/juneteenth-declared-state-holiday-in-pennsylvania/|work=CBS Pittsburgh|date=June 19, 2019|access-date=June 18, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200256/https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/06/19/juneteenth-declared-state-holiday-in-pennsylvania/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the yearlong aftermath of the [[murder of George Floyd]] that occurred on May 25, 2020, nine states designated Juneteenth a paid holiday,<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 19, 2021|title=Juneteenth celebrations in the Twin Cities|work=[[Minnesota Public Radio]]|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/06/19/photos-juneteenth-celebrations-in-the-twin-cities|access-date=June 21, 2021|archive-date=June 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621185341/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/06/19/photos-juneteenth-celebrations-in-the-twin-cities|url-status=live}}</ref> including New York, Washington, and Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2021 |title=Congress approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-congress-federal-holiday-3cc3b7a56ec97b0bae3dbdff1da092ee |access-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619141126/https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-congress-federal-holiday-3cc3b7a56ec97b0bae3dbdff1da092ee |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, [[Massachusetts]] Governor [[Charlie Baker]] issued a proclamation that the day would be marked as "Juneteenth Independence Day". This followed the filing of bills by both the House and Senate to make Juneteenth a state holiday. Baker did not comment on these bills specifically but promised to grant the observance of Juneteenth greater importance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Jodi |title=MA lawmakers declare 'Juneteenth' as state holiday |url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/ma-lawmakers-declare-juneteenth-as-state-holiday/ |date=June 19, 2020 |access-date=June 21, 2020 |website=WWLP.com |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622013111/https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/ma-lawmakers-declare-juneteenth-as-state-holiday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 16, 2021, Illinois adopted a law changing its ceremonial holiday to a paid state holiday.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Dan |last1=Petrella |first2=Alice |last2=Yin |date=June 16, 2021 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-juneteenth-illinois-state-holiday-20210616-jr5avwasirchvazar4cipkcbcm-story.html |title=Juneteenth to Become Official State Holiday in Illinois Under Bill Signed into Law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617065034/https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-juneteenth-illinois-state-holiday-20210616-jr5avwasirchvazar4cipkcbcm-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Some cities and counties have also recognized Juneteenth through proclamation. In 2020, Juneteenth was formally recognized by [[New York City]] (as an annual official city holiday and public school holiday, starting in 2021).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53113555|title=New York City declares Juneteenth an official holiday|website=[[BBC News]]|date=June 19, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620154140/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53113555|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 4, 2021|title=No More Snow Days: NYC Schools Will Go Remote For Severe Weather|first=Matt|last=Troutman|url=https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/no-more-snow-days-nyc-schools-will-go-remote-severe-weather|access-date=June 1, 2021|website=New York City, NY Patch|language=en|archive-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508190921/https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/no-more-snow-days-nyc-schools-will-go-remote-severe-weather|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Cook County, Illinois]], adopted an ordinance to make Juneteenth a paid county holiday.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 22, 2020 |title=Cook County Recognizes Juneteenth as a Paid Day Off for County Workers |language=en-US |newspaper=Chicago Defender |first=Kelly |last=Washington |url=https://chicagodefender.com/cook-county-recognizes-juneteenth-as-a-paid-day-off-for-county-workers/ |access-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916162053/https://chicagodefender.com/cook-county-recognizes-juneteenth-as-a-paid-day-off-for-county-workers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[City and County of Honolulu]] recognizes it as an "annual day of honor and reflection",<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 19, 2020|title=Honolulu to officially recognize Juneteenth|url=https://www.khon2.com/local-news/honolulu-to-officially-recognize-juneteenth/|access-date=June 19, 2020|website=KHON2|language=en-US|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620190428/https://www.khon2.com/local-news/honolulu-to-officially-recognize-juneteenth/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Portland, Oregon]] (as a day of remembrance and action and a paid holiday for city employees).<ref>{{cite news|first=Madison|last=Smalstig|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/06/city-of-portland-will-make-juneteenth-a-paid-holiday-day-of-remembrance.html|title=City of Portland will make Juneteenth a paid holiday, day of remembrance|newspaper=[[The Oregonian]]|date=June 16, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620201213/https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/06/city-of-portland-will-make-juneteenth-a-paid-holiday-day-of-remembrance.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[North Dakota]] approved recognition of Juneteenth as a state-recognized annual holiday on April 13, 2021,<ref name="Benth">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kfyrtv.com/2021/04/13/gov-burgum-signs-bill-making-juneteenth-a-holiday-in-nd/|title=Gov. Burgum signs bill making Juneteenth a holiday in ND|first=Morgan|last=Benth|date=April 13, 2021|website=KFYR-TV.com|accessdate=June 18, 2021|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618103253/https://www.kfyrtv.com/2021/04/13/gov-burgum-signs-bill-making-juneteenth-a-holiday-in-nd/|url-status=live}}</ref> with Hawaii becoming the 49th state to recognize the holiday on June 16, 2021.{{efn|In June 2020, Hawaii's first African-American [[Miss Hawaii USA]], Samantha Neyland, founded Hawaii for Juneteenth, a coalition and grassroots movement. Hawaii for Juneteenth lobbied the [[Hawaii State Legislature]] into successfully passing SB939, introduced by [[Glenn Wakai#:~:text=Glenn S., of Representatives District 31 seat.|Senator Glenn Wakai]] and signed into law by Governor [[David Ige]] on June&nbsp;16,&nbsp;2021.}}<ref name="hawaiipublicradio.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2021-06-17/hawaii-becomes-49th-state-to-recognize-juneteenth-biden-signs-federal-holiday-bill|title=Hawaiʻi Becomes 49th State to Recognize Juneteenth, Biden Signs Federal Holiday Bill|date=June 17, 2021|website=Hawaiʻi Public Radio|access-date=June 18, 2021|archive-date=June 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617222828/https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2021-06-17/hawaii-becomes-49th-state-to-recognize-juneteenth-biden-signs-federal-holiday-bill|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hawaii2021-SA">{{cite news|last=Yamamoto|first=Kacie|title=Gov. David Ige signs bills recognizing Juneteenth, Kalaupapa Month|newspaper=[[Honolulu Star-Advertiser]]|date=June 17, 2021|page=B2|url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/06/17/hawaii-news/gov-david-ige-signs-bills-recognizing-juneteenth-kalaupapa-month/|accessdate=June 18, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202125/https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/06/17/hawaii-news/gov-david-ige-signs-bills-recognizing-juneteenth-kalaupapa-month/|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 16, 2020, South Dakota Governor [[Kristi Noem]] proclaimed that the following June 19, 2020, was to be Juneteenth Day for that year only, spurning calls for it to be recognized annually, rather than just for 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Kaczke|first1=Lisa|last2=Huber|first2=Makenzie|title=As Noem issues Juneteenth proclamation, some South Dakotans push for state-recognized holiday|url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/18/noem-issues-juneteenth-proclamation-some-south-dakotans-push-state-recognized-holiday/3212781001/|date=June 18, 2020|access-date=June 19, 2020|newspaper=[[Argus Leader]]|language=en|archive-date=June 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619183434/https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/18/noem-issues-juneteenth-proclamation-some-south-dakotans-push-state-recognized-holiday/3212781001/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2022, South Dakota became the last state to recognize Juneteenth as an annual state holiday or observance.<ref name = US_News>{{Cite web|author=US News|title=Juneteenth Finally Official State Holiday in South Dakota|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota/articles/2022-02-11/juneteenth-finally-official-state-holiday-in-south-dakota|access-date=May 16, 2022|archive-date=May 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516134750/https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-dakota/articles/2022-02-11/juneteenth-finally-official-state-holiday-in-south-dakota|url-status=live}}</ref> Its law provided for following the federal law even before it was official.<ref name=KELO>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2021 |title=South Dakota recognizes Juneteenth holiday for state employees |language=en-US |website=KELO |url=https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/south-dakota-recognizes-juneteenth-holiday-for-state-employees/ |access-date=June 20, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201618/https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/south-dakota-recognizes-juneteenth-holiday-for-state-employees/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 2, 2022, Colorado Governor [[Jared Polis]] signed a bill changing the state's ceremonial observance to a state holiday and it is now the 11th state holiday in Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tassy |first=Elaine |title=Juneteenth is now a Colorado state holiday |url=https://www.cpr.org/2022/05/02/juneteenth-is-now-a-state-holiday/ |access-date=May 26, 2022 |website=Colorado Public Radio |date=May 2, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517090935/https://www.cpr.org/2022/05/02/juneteenth-is-now-a-state-holiday/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 2024, 27 states and the District of Columbia have made Juneteenth an annualized paid holiday for state employees, with the remainder maintaining at least a ceremonial observance (New Mexico's personnel board declared it a paid worker holiday, although it is not a statutory holiday in New Mexico).<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R44865/27 |title=Juneteenth Fact Sheet (update 27) |last=Galena |first=Devon |publisher=Congressional Research Service |date=May 30, 2023 |edition=27 |access-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705012948/https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R44865/27 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Additional states may observe it as a paid holiday for state workers but rely on a decision, often of the governor, in each year, instead of perpetual by statute, which may or may not occur again the next year. Local governments including counties and municipalities also may close their offices and pay their workers time-off.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schaeffer |first=Katherine |date=June 9, 2023 |title=More than half of states will recognize Juneteenth as an official public holiday in 2023 |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/09/more-than-half-of-states-now-recognize-juneteenth-as-an-official-holiday/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US |archive-date=June 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614132411/https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/09/more-than-half-of-states-now-recognize-juneteenth-as-an-official-holiday/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  The table below only includes the state's with perpetual, annual, paid holiday laws identified by the Congressional Research Service in 2023 or subsequent sources:<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R44865 |title=Juneteenth Fact Sheet (update 28) |last=Galena |first=Devon |publisher=Congressional Research Service |date=June 13, 2024 |edition=28 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704042424/https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R44865 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+States and Juneteenth paid holiday
!State or insular area
!First official observance
!Paid state holiday adopted
!Notes
|-
|{{Flag|California}}
|2003
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Colorado}}
|2004
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Connecticut}}
|2003
|2023
|
|-
|{{Flag|Delaware}}
|2000
|2021<ref>{{Cite web |last=McAneny |first=D. J. |title=Carney signs law declaring June 19th a state holiday before 'Grandmother of Juneteenth' |url=https://www.wdel.com/news/carney-signs-law-declaring-june-19th-a-state-holiday-before-grandmother-of-juneteenth/article_77902b1c-373b-11ec-93cc-bb80891271b4.html |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=WDEL 101.7FM |date=October 27, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204202420/https://www.wdel.com/news/carney-signs-law-declaring-june-19th-a-state-holiday-before-grandmother-of-juneteenth/article_77902b1c-373b-11ec-93cc-bb80891271b4.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
|-
|{{Flag|District of Columbia}}
|2003
|2021
|
|-
|{{Flag|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}}
|2011
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Idaho}}
|2001
|2021
|
|-
|{{Flag|Illinois}}
|2003
|2021
|
|-
|{{Flag|Kentucky}}
|2022
|2024<ref>{{cite web |last1=SCHREINER |first1=BRUCE |title=Kentucky governor takes action on Juneteenth holiday and against discrimination based on hairstyles |url=https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-governor-juneteenth-5d9dd035d522cd9db53e3ceae15ba7e5#/ |website=apnews.com |date=May 23, 2024 |publisher=apnews |access-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524062242/https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-governor-juneteenth-5d9dd035d522cd9db53e3ceae15ba7e5#/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
|-
|{{Flag|Louisiana}}
|2003
|2021<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Rosato |first1=Chris |last2=Gremillion |first2=Bria |title=Juneteenth is officially a state holiday in Louisiana |url=https://www.wafb.com/2021/06/07/bill-declare-juneteenth-louisiana-state-holiday-advances-senate/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=www.wafb.com |date=June 7, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204202437/https://www.wafb.com/2021/06/07/bill-declare-juneteenth-louisiana-state-holiday-advances-senate/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
|-
|{{Flag|Maine}}
|2011
|2021<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Gillian GrahamStaff |date=June 14, 2021 |title=Juneteenth is declared an official state holiday in Maine |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/06/14/juneteenth-becomes-official-state-holiday-in-maine/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=Press Herald |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204202420/https://www.pressherald.com/2021/06/14/juneteenth-becomes-official-state-holiday-in-maine/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
|-
|{{Flag|Maryland}}
|2014
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Massachusetts}}
|2007
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Minnesota}}
|1996
|2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Zoë Jackson Star |title=Gov. Walz signs bills making Juneteenth a state holiday and banning hair discrimination |url=https://www.startribune.com/walz-signs-historic-bills-juneteenth-state-holiday-minnesota-hair-discrimination-black-history/600248992/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=Star Tribune |date=February 4, 2023 |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204202436/https://www.startribune.com/walz-signs-historic-bills-juneteenth-state-holiday-minnesota-hair-discrimination-black-history/600248992/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Missouri}}
|2003
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Nebraska}}
|2009
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Nevada}}
|2011
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|New Jersey}}
|2004
|2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Office of the Governor {{!}} Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Designating Juneteenth as a State and Public Holiday |url=https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/20200910b.shtml |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=www.nj.gov |archive-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911175743/https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/20200910b.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
|Observed on the third Friday in June
|-
|{{Flag|New Mexico}}
|2006
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|New York}}
|2004
|2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Governor Cuomo Signs Legiation Designating Juneteenth as an Official Public Holiday in New York State |url=https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/news/for-release.php?idx=12246 |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=ocfs.ny.gov |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204202420/https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/news/for-release.php?idx=12246 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
|-
|{{Flag|Ohio}}
|2006
|2021
|
|-
|{{Flag|Oregon}}
|2001
|2021
|
|-
|{{Flag|South Dakota}}
|2021
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Tennessee}}
|2007
|2023
|
|-
|{{Flag|Texas}}
|1939
|1980
|
|-
|{{Flag|Utah}}
|2016
|2022
|
|-
|{{Flag|Vermont}}
|2007
|2024
|
|-
|{{Flag|Virginia}}
|2007
|2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Richard |date=October 19, 2020 |title=Virginia lawmakers make Juneteenth a state holiday |url=https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/virginia-lawmakers-make-juneteenth-a-state-holiday/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=Virginia Business |language=en-US |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204202421/https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/virginia-lawmakers-make-juneteenth-a-state-holiday/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
|-
|{{Flag|Washington}}
|2007
|2021
|
|}

===Federal holiday===
{{Infobox U.S. legislation
| name = Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
| fullname = An Act to amend title 5, United States Code, to designate Juneteenth National Independence Day as a legal public holiday.
| title amended   = [[Title 5 of the United States Code|Title 5—Government Organization and Employees]]
| sections amended = {{usc|5|6103}}
| introducedin = Senate
| introduceddate = February 25, 2021
| introducedby = [[Ed Markey]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]–[[Massachusetts|MA]])
| introducedbill = {{USBill|117|S.|475}}
| passedbody1 = Senate
| passeddate1 = June 15, 2021
| passedvote1 = [[unanimous consent]]
| passedbody2 = House
| passeddate2 = June 16, 2021
| passedvote2 = [https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll170.xml 415–14]
| signedpresident = [[Joe Biden]]
| signeddate = June 17, 2021
| effective date = June 17, 2021
| committees = [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary]]
| cite public law = {{USPL|117|17}}
| cite statutes at large = {{USStat|135|287}}
| enacted by = 117th
| leghisturl =
}}

Juneteenth is a [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]] in the United States. For decades, activists and congress members (led by many African Americans) proposed legislation, advocated for, and built support for state and national observances. During his campaign for president in June 2020, [[Joe Biden]] publicly celebrated the holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-19/biden-seeks-contrast-with-trump-in-celebrating-juneteenth|title=Biden Seeks Contrast With Trump in Celebrating Juneteenth|website=[[Bloomberg News]]|first=Tyler|last=Pager|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=June 19, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624213537/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-19/biden-seeks-contrast-with-trump-in-celebrating-juneteenth|url-status=live}}</ref> [[First presidency of Donald Trump|President Donald Trump]], during his 2020 campaign for reelection, added making the day a national holiday part of his "[[Platinum Plan for Black America]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-29/trump-shines-up-a-platinum-plan-for-black-voters|title=What's in Trump's 'Platinum Plan' for Black America?|website=[[Bloomberg CityLab]]|first=Kriston|last=Capps|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=June 19, 2021|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020225122/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-29/trump-shines-up-a-platinum-plan-for-black-voters|url-status=live}}</ref> Spurred on by [[Opal Lee]], [[United States racial unrest (2020–2023)|the racial justice movement]] and the [[Congressional Black Caucus]], on June&nbsp;15, 2021, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[unanimous consent|unanimously]] passed the '''Juneteenth National Independence Day Act''',<ref name="national_act">{{Cite web|last=|date=June 17, 2021|title=S.475 – Juneteenth National Independence Day Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/475|url-status=live|access-date=June 18, 2021|website=Congressional Record 117th Congress (2021–2022)|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618090442/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/475}}</ref> establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. It passed through the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] by a 415–14 vote on June&nbsp;16.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate unanimously passes a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/15/politics/juneteenth-federal-holiday-senate-vote/index.html|first1=Ted|last1=Barrett|first2=Ali|last2=Zaslav|first3=Alex|last3=Rogers|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=June 16, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=June 16, 2021|archive-date=June 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615221059/https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/15/politics/juneteenth-federal-holiday-senate-vote/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Congress passes bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/politics/house-vote-juneteenth-federal-holiday-senate-passed-june-19/index.html|first1=Annie|last1=Grayer|first2=Daniella|last2=Diaz|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=June 16, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=June 16, 2021|archive-date=June 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616160046/https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/politics/house-vote-juneteenth-federal-holiday-senate-passed-june-19/index.html}}</ref>

[[Presidency of Joe Biden|President Joe Biden]] signed the bill ({{USPL|117|17}})<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 18, 2021|title=Bill Signed: S. 475|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/17/bill-signed-s-475/|url-status=dead|access-date=June 18, 2021|publisher=[[whitehouse.gov]]|author=White House Briefing Room|series=Statements and Releases|archive-date=June 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617225910/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/17/bill-signed-s-475/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Kathryn|last=Watson|title=Biden signs bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-juneteenth-holiday-bill-sign/|date=June 18, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2021|publisher=[[CBS News]]|language=en-US|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618121306/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-juneteenth-holiday-bill-sign/|url-status=live}}</ref> on June&nbsp;17, 2021, making Juneteenth the eleventh American federal holiday and the first to obtain legal observance as a federal holiday since [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]] was designated in 1983.<ref>{{cite web |title=Juneteenth: US to add federal holiday marking end of slavery |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57493282 |access-date=June 17, 2021 |publisher=BBC News |date=June 17, 2021 |archive-date=June 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616032005/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57493282 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto2"/><ref name=BlackInd /> According to the bill, federal government employees will now get to take the day off every year on June 19, or should the date fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they will get the Friday or Monday closest to the Saturday or Sunday on which the date falls.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tapp |first1=Tom |last2=Dominic |first2=Patten |title=President Biden to Sign Bill Tomorrow Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/congress-approves-juneteenth-federal-holiday-house-vote-1234776677 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=June 17, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |archive-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617211525/https://deadline.com/2021/06/congress-approves-juneteenth-federal-holiday-house-vote-1234776677/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In January 2025, President [[Donald Trump]] issued an executive order banning [[DEI|diversity, equity, and inclusion]] programs in federal agencies that has been interpreted by various agencies as eliminating in-agency observance planning for a number of cultural remembrance events, including Juneteenth, [[Black History Month]], and several others.  Nonetheless, for February 2025, Trump issued the traditional presidential proclamation calling on officials to commemorate Black History Month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/defense-agency-bans-black-history-month-rcna190189|title=Federal agencies bar Black History Month and other 'special observances'|date=February 1, 2025|website=www.nbcnews.com}}</ref>