AN ACT Relating to recognizing Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas;
SB 6044 amends Washington’s state holiday statute to formally recognize Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas as state-recognized observances. The bill adds a new subsection identifying the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartik’s new moon day as Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas, alongside the state’s existing list of legal holidays and other recognized commemorative days. It also retains the existing framework for paid state holidays, employee leave, and rules for when holidays falling on weekends are observed on adjacent weekdays.
The bill does not appear to create a new paid legal holiday for all public employees; rather, it places Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas in the category of days the legislature recognizes but specifies may not be considered legal holidays for any purpose. The measure therefore primarily changes state law by adding cultural and religious recognition to RCW 1.16.050 and by expanding the list of officially acknowledged observances in Washington law.
SB 6044 would amend Washington’s holiday statute, RCW 1.16.050, by adding Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas to the list of state-recognized observances. The practical legal effect is limited: it recognizes the day in statute but does not, based on the bill text, make it a paid legal holiday or otherwise require closure of state offices or schools. The bill preserves existing rules governing paid holidays, religious leave, and observance dates when holidays fall on weekends, while leaving collective bargaining agreements and local government ordinances intact.
The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill. It passed the Senate committee unanimously, cleared Senate final passage with only one dissenting vote, and then advanced through the House committee unanimously. The overall tone appears favorable and largely ceremonial, reflecting support for recognizing an important holiday for Hindu and Sikh communities rather than a contentious policy change.
There is little evidence of major controversy in the materials provided. The main point of distinction in the bill is that Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas are recognized in statute but expressly not treated as legal holidays for all purposes, which may matter to those seeking paid leave or formal holiday status. More generally, any contention would likely center on whether state recognition should be purely symbolic or should carry employment and scheduling consequences, but the vote record suggests that such concerns did not prevent strong bipartisan approval.