Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Stapleton

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/21/06

HB 228

SHORT TITLE Create Juneteenth Freedom Day

SB

ANALYST Lewis

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Office of African American Affairs (OAAA)

Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission (MLK)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 228 creates “Juneteenth Freedom Day” to be commemorated on the third Saturday in

June of each year and to be observed by:

A.

reflecting on the history of African-American slavery in the United States; the experience of

Africans brought to the United States in a five- to twelve-week journey across the Atlantic,

the deaths of thousands of Africans who died in inhuman conditions of passage; the abuse of

African-American slaves, including whipping, castration, branding and rape; the importance

of the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States constitution abolishing slavery through-

out the United States and its territories; and the significance of June 19, 1865, the day on

which the message of freedom and abolition reached the western states; and

B.

recognizing the importance of Americans of African descent as American citizens and New

Mexico residents.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to the Juneteenth.com web site, “Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration com-

memorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th

House Bill 228 – Page

2

that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with

news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a

half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official

January 1, 1863.”

Expanding on the history of the Juneteenth celebration, the web site notes that, “In the early

years, little interest existed outside the African American community in participation in the cele-

brations. In some cases, there was outwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of public

property for the festivities. Most of the festivities found themselves out in rural areas around riv-

ers and creeks that could provide for additional activities such as fishing, horseback riding and

barbecues. Often the church grounds was the site for such activities. Eventually, as African

Americans became land owners, land was donated and dedicated for these festivities. One of the

earliest documented land purchases in the name of Juneteenth was organized by Rev. Jack Yates.

This fund-raising effort yielded $1000 and the purchase of Emancipation Park in Houston,

Texas. In Mexia, the local Juneteenth organization purchased Booker T. Washington Park, which

had become the Juneteenth celebration site in 1898. There are accounts of Juneteenth activities

being interrupted and halted by white landowners demanding that their laborers return to work.

However, it seems most allowed their workers the day off and some even made donations of

food and money. For decades these annual celebrations flourished, growing continuously with

each passing year. In Booker T. Washington Park, as many as 20,000 African Americans once

flowed through during the course of a week, making the celebration one of the state’s largest.”

In modern times, Juneteenth was first recognized as an official state holiday in Texas in 1980.

Since then there Juneteenth activities have been sponsored by the Smithsonian and other institu-

tions. According to Juneteenth.com, “Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom

while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures.” Juneteenth is now recognized

as a state holiday or state holiday observance in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Delaware, Idaho,

Alaska, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey,

New York, Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan and also in the District of Columbia.

ML/yr