Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
State Government & Tribal Relations Committee
HB 1017
Brief Description: Designating kimchi day.
Sponsors: Representatives Ryu, Mena, Leavitt, Berry, Morgan, Reed, Cortes, Tharinger, Ortiz-Self, Simmons, Peterson, Duerr, Gregerson, Berg, Ormsby, Scott, Reeves, Donaghy and Hill.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Designates November 22 as Kimchi Day.
Hearing Date: 1/14/25
Staff: Desiree Omli (786-7105).
Background:

State Holidays.
Washington recognizes 11 specific days as paid state legal holidays:  New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Native American Heritage Day, and Christmas Day.

 

Another 20 specific days are recognized by the Legislature, but they are not considered legal holidays.  Some of those days commemorate specific events, such as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.  Other days commemorate groups of people, such as Korean-American Day, or certain causes, such as Human Trafficking Awareness Day and Public Lands Day. 
 

Kimchi.

Kimchi is a traditional Korean food that consists primarily of salted and fermented vegetables.  Often these ingredients include napa cabbage, daikon radish, carrots, garlic, ginger, and Korean chili.  South Korea celebrates National Kimchi Day on November 22 of each year.  California,  Hawaii, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia are among states that have passed resolutions in recent years to designate November 22 as Kimchi Day in their states.
Summary of Bill:

November 22 is designated as Kimchi Day, a legislatively recognized day.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.