New York Senate Bill S01065

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

Caption

Establishes Three King's day as a school holiday for all public schools in a city school district of a city having a population of one million or more inhabitants.

Summary

This bill amends the New York Education Law to establish Three Kings Day, observed on January 6, as a school holiday for all public schools in a qualified school district. The bill defines a qualified school district as a city school district in a city with a population of one million or more inhabitants, which in practice applies to New York City. It directs school authorities in that district to close all public schools on Three Kings Day. The measure would create a new statutory school holiday in the Education Law and require local school officials to implement the closure, with an effective date 120 days after enactment. It also authorizes any necessary rule or regulation changes to be made immediately so the holiday can be implemented on time. The bill is narrowly tailored to one large urban district rather than statewide, and it would add to the list of recognized school closures for that district.

Impact

The bill would add a new section 2586-b to the Education Law and require public schools in New York City’s school district to close on January 6 each year for Three Kings Day. It would affect school calendars, attendance requirements, and district planning, while leaving other school districts unchanged. The practical impact would fall on students, families, teachers, and administrators in the city’s public school system, and it would likely require adjustments to instructional schedules and make-up days if needed.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and straightforward rather than contested. The bill is framed as a holiday recognition measure for a culturally significant observance, and its narrow scope suggests it is intended to address a specific community and school-calendar issue. No opposition, amendments in dispute, or recorded roll-call votes are provided in the materials.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of debate, if raised, would likely concern the effect of adding another school holiday on instructional time, school calendar flexibility, and whether the holiday should apply only to New York City rather than statewide. However, the supplied record does not show any identified opponents or formal objections.