Juneteenth becomes official state holiday

Juneteenth will become an official state holiday following the passage of a bill that will change the state’s recognition of the day from a “Day of Special Observance” to a paid holiday for state employees. Gov. Bill Lee initially put the bill forward, stating it was ““appropriate to commemorate Juneteenth with a state holiday, both to recognize an important day for freedom in America” as well as to become consistent with the federal calendar. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. The bill was signed by the governor after passing both the Tennessee House and Senate.