63G-1-301. Legal holidays -- Personal preference day -- Governor authorized to declare additional legal holidays.

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 1/1/2027

(1)The following days are legal holidays in Utah:

(a)except as provided in Subsection (2):

(i)January 1, New Year's Day;

(ii)June 19, Juneteenth National Freedom Day;

(iii)July 4, Independence Day;

(iv)July 24, Pioneer Day;

(v)November 11, Veterans Day;

(vi)December 25, Christmas; and

(vii)a day designated by proclamation issued by the president of the United States or the governor as a day of fasting or thanksgiving;

(i)the third Monday of January, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day;

(ii)the third Monday of February, Presidents' Day;

(iii)subject to Subsection

(6), the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, Good Friday;

(iv)the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox, Easter Sunday;

(v)the last Monday of May, Memorial Day;

(vi)the first Monday of September, Labor Day;

(vii)the second Monday of October, Columbus Day; and

(viii)the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving Day; and

(c)except as provided in Subsection

(3), every Sunday.

(a)If a day described in Subsection (1)(a) falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the legal holiday.

(b)If a day described in Subsection (1)(a) falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is the legal holiday.

(3)For purposes of Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 16, Subsection

(1), regarding the exclusion of state holidays from the 45-day legislative general session, Sunday is not considered a state holiday.

(4)Each employee may select one additional day, called Personal Preference Day, to be scheduled in accordance with rules made, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3 , Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, by the Division of Human Resource Management, which the employee may use to observe a state holy day, as described in Section 63G-1-1101 , or any other day the employee chooses to recognize.

(a)If, in the governor's opinion, extraordinary conditions exist justifying the action, the governor may:

(i)declare, by proclamation, legal holidays in addition to those legal holidays described in Subsections

(1)and

(2); or

(ii)limit the legal holidays described in Subsection (5)(a)(i) to certain classes of business and activities to be designated by the governor.

(b)Except as provided in Subsection (5)(c) , a legal holiday described in Subsection (5)(a) may not extend for a longer period than 60 consecutive days.

(c)The governor may, by proclamation:

(i)renew a legal holiday described in Subsection (5)(a) for one or more periods not exceeding 30 days each as the governor determines necessary; or

(ii)terminate a legal holiday described under Subsection (5)(a) or

(b)earlier than the time period described in a preceding proclamation.

(6)A state employee who receives paid time off for a legal holiday will, for Good Friday, receive four hours of paid time off rather than the standard eight hours.

Amended by Chapter 126 , 2026 General Session