So, you’ve landed a gig with the Sunshine State, or maybe you're just eyeing one. Congrats. But let's be honest—one of the first things anyone checks (after the salary, obviously) is the calendar. Everyone wants to know when they get to skip the commute and stay in their pajamas.
Florida’s approach to time off is... interesting. It's not just about the standard bank holidays you see on every kitchen calendar. There's a specific logic to how the state handles its workforce of nearly 100,000 people. If you're looking for the official list of state of florida holidays for state employees, you've probably noticed it doesn't quite match up with what your friends in the private sector or even the federal government are doing.
Honestly, the "standard" list is only half the story.
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The Official 9: What’s Actually on the Books
Florida law is pretty specific. Under Section 110.117 of the Florida Statutes, there are nine paid holidays that every state branch and agency has to observe. No more, no less—technically.
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Third Monday in January)
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (First Monday in September)
- Veterans’ Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
- Friday after Thanksgiving (Because let's face it, nobody is doing work that day anyway)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
Here is where it gets a bit "Florida." If a holiday falls on a Saturday, you get the Friday before off. If it hits on a Sunday, you’re looking at the following Monday. It’s a clean system, but it feels a bit lean compared to federal workers who get Juneteenth, Columbus Day, and Presidents' Day.
The "Governor’s Gift" Factor
This is the part that isn't in the employee handbook. For the last several years, Governor Ron DeSantis has made it a bit of a tradition to "grant" extra days off around the major holidays.
Take 2026, for example. We’ve already seen a pattern where the state shuts down on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the day before/after Christmas to create long four-day weekends. In 2025, an extra day was tacked onto the July 4th weekend to celebrate the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the U.S.
Basically, if a holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, there’s a high probability the Governor will sign an executive order closing offices for the "bridge" day. But don't bank your vacation days on it until the memo actually hits your inbox. It’s a perk, not a promise.
That One "Hidden" Personal Holiday
Every full-time state employee gets one personal holiday each fiscal year. Think of it as a "floating" day.
You get credited with this day on July 1st every year, and you have to use it by June 30th of the following year. If you don't use it, you lose it. It doesn't roll over. It doesn't pay out. It just vanishes into the Tallahassee ether. Most veterans of the state system use this for their birthday or that random Tuesday in October when the weather is finally nice.
The Confusion with "Legal" vs. "Paid"
If you look at Florida Statute 683.01, you'll see a massive list of "legal holidays." We're talking Robert E. Lee’s birthday, Susan B. Anthony’s birthday, even "Pascua Florida Day" on April 2nd.
Do you get these off? No. This is where people get tripped up. A "legal holiday" in Florida just means it's a day of recognition. It doesn't mean state offices are closed or that you're getting paid to sit at home. For state employees, the list in Section 110.117—the one with the nine days—is the only one that dictates your paycheck.
Special Cases: Universities and Courts
If you work for Florida State University, UF, or any of the state's 12 public universities, your calendar might look slightly different.
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Universities often "swap" holidays. For instance, they might stay open on Veterans Day but give everyone a full week off for Winter Break (the days between Christmas and New Year). This is handled via the Board of Trustees at each school, so while you’re technically a state-funded employee, your "paid holidays" follow the academic rhythm rather than the capitol's rhythm.
The State Courts system is another outlier. They often follow the "Chief Judge" holidays, which can include Good Friday or even Yom Kippur in certain circuits.
Making it Work for You
If you're trying to maximize your time off, the trick is the "State Employee Sandwich."
Since you have that one personal holiday and the state is generous with the Friday after Thanksgiving, you can usually turn a 4-day weekend into a 9-day vacation by only burning 2 or 3 days of your accrued annual leave.
Also, keep an eye on the Department of Management Services (DMS) website. They usually post the official "observed" dates for the upcoming year by late summer.
Next Steps for You:
Check your current leave balance in the People First system. If you haven't used your personal holiday for the current fiscal year (ending June 30th), schedule it now before it expires. If you're planning a trip for late 2026, wait until the Governor's office releases the "extra" holiday memo—usually around October—before you lock in your non-refundable flights.