Sponsors (41)
The bill formally adds a paid Lunar New Year federal holiday that advances cultural recognition for communities that celebrate it, at the cost of modest recurring payroll expenses and some disruption to government operations.
Federal civilian employees receive a paid federal holiday on Lunar New Year Day, giving them one additional paid day off.
Americans who celebrate Lunar New Year — including many Asian American communities — gain formal federal recognition of the holiday, increasing cultural inclusion and symbolic acknowledgment.
Federal services, agency schedules, and administrative deadlines may be disrupted on that date, requiring agencies and local governments to adjust operations and potentially delaying services.
Taxpayers and federal agencies incur a small recurring increase in payroll costs due to one additional paid holiday for federal workers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds 'Lunar New Year Day' to the list of federal legal public holidays, making it a federal holiday for federal employee pay and agency observance.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Grace Meng · Last progress January 28, 2025
Adds Lunar New Year Day to the list of federal legal public holidays in the federal holiday statute, making it a recognized federal holiday for purposes of federal employee pay and agency operations. The bill sets a short title and amends 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a) to insert "Lunar New Year Day" immediately after the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. As written, the change creates a new federal holiday but does not specify the exact calendar date or how to handle years when the Lunar New Year falls on a weekend; those details would need to be clarified in law or implementing guidance.