New York Assembly Bill A00083

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes St. Patrick's day, March 17th, as a school holiday for all city school districts of cities of one million inhabitants or more.

Summary

This bill would establish March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, as a school holiday for public schools in a “qualified school district,” defined as a city school district in a city with a population of one million or more. In practical terms, the bill is aimed at New York City public schools. It directs school authorities in that district to close public schools on St. Patrick’s Day. The bill also amends the state’s school aid attendance calculations so that the closure for St. Patrick’s Day does not reduce a district’s instructional-day count or funding calculations. If needed, the holiday would be treated as a session day for purposes of those calculations, preventing the district from being penalized for observing the holiday.

Impact

The bill would amend the Education Law by adding a new section establishing a mandatory school closure on St. Patrick’s Day for the state’s largest city school district and by modifying Education Law section 3604 to protect the district’s attendance/session-day calculations. Its legal effect is limited to city school districts in cities of one million or more inhabitants, which currently means New York City, and it would require any necessary rules or regulations to be updated for implementation.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, there is no documented public debate or formal legislative sentiment available in the materials provided. The measure appears straightforward and targeted, with an apparent intent to recognize St. Patrick’s Day as a school holiday in New York City while preserving state aid and attendance accounting.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the bill’s narrow, city-specific application: it creates a holiday only for districts in cities of one million or more inhabitants, which effectively singles out New York City. Another possible issue is the instructional-time and calendar impact of adding a holiday during the school year, although the bill attempts to address that by exempting the closure from adverse funding or session-day consequences. No specific objections or supporters are recorded in the provided materials.