A bill that was recently introduced in the Delaware Legislature and aims to include a Muslim holiday as a state-recognized legal holiday has gotten a recent update.  

Here’s what to know about the bill’s recent changes. 

What is House Bill 360?  

House Bill 360, introduced on March 27 and primarily sponsored by State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton of the 26th district, aims to add Eid ul-Fitr to the list of state holidays. The legal holiday would be observed for one day during the first full day of Eid ul-Fitr. 

The legal holidays currently recognized by the State of Delaware are: 

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day   

• Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July   

• Return Day, observed after noon for state employees living and/or working in Sussex County  

• The day after Thanksgiving   

Previous coverage: A bill aims to add a new legal holiday to the state of Delaware. Here’s what to know

Although the State of Delaware grants state employees two floating holidays per calendar year, recognizing Eid ul-Fitr as a legal holiday allows those who observe the holiday to save their floating holidays for other personal matters. 

According to a fiscal note from the Office of the Controller General that examines state employee payroll system data, adding one state holiday to Delaware’s calendar would cost $712,532. 

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How has HB 360 changed? 

HB 360 originally included both Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as potential new state holidays, but Wilson-Anton filed an amendment on May 22 to change the bill to include Eid ul-Fitr only.

On June 20, House Substitute 1 for HB 360 was filed by Wilson-Anton in the House of Representatives, making the bill inclusive of other cultural holidays. Under House Substitute 1, one floating holiday would be removed from the two granted to state employees and one legal holiday would be added.

The added legal holiday would rotate on a three-year basis between Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which occurs on different days between October and November each year; Eid ul-Fitr, which occurs on different days annually and is celebrated in accordance with the 10th month of the Islamic calendar when the new moon is seen; and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement for Jews, observed annually on the 10th day of the seventh month of the Hebrew Calendar, which varies each year and usually occurs in September or October. 

This makes it so that only one of the above cultural holidays would be considered a legal state holiday in any given year as opposed to all three being recognized in one calendar year. If the bill is passed, it would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.  

Further voting on the substituted bill has yet to take place.  

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.     

100 Years Ago, 1924: “Wonder when this burg will get rid of her hitching-posts?” mused an old-timer yesterday afternoon as he stood at Sixth Street and Edgmont Avenue and gave one of the town’s few remaining curb stone decorations the once over with both glimmers. “Been a mighty long time since that one had a hoss hitched up to it I’ll bet a hat of clover seed,” said the gentlemen from out Catertown way as he fished for his inky black tobacco and took a he-man’s bite.

75 Years Ago, 1949: The summer heat wave claimed one life in Delaware County on Sunday as the mercury reached an official 98 in Chester at 2 p.m. This was a new 1949 record, a new all-time record for June 26, and just eight degrees below the all-time high for the area. The previous record June 26 was 85 degrees in 1904, while the all-time high is 106 degrees recorded on Aug. 7, 1918.

50 Years Ago, 1974: A young Marine, working part time as a carnival employee, was critically injured Wednesday night by an amusement ride at Our Lady of Charity Church Fair in Brookhaven. Police said Stephen Clocksin, 18, an Illinois resident stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, was riding with a girl on a car of “The Sizzler” about 10:30 p.m. Clocksin, who was operator of the ride, opened the lap bar, police said, and was thrown to the ground before the ride stopped. The next car of the ride — which is a series of cars which whirled around from a central pedestal about five feet from the ground — struck him in the head, apparently dragging him for some distance.

25 Years Ago, 1999: Chester City Council has approved a resolution to contract with a Bala Cynwyd firm for $24,180 to implement the final phase in bringing city finances into the computer age. Jones, Hayward & Lenzi Business Services Inc. will review the city’s current processing functions and assist the city with implementation of the Pentamation computer system in the city’s finance department and related offices.

10 Years Ago, 2014: More than 70 residents, local officials and environmental groups gathered at the West Goshen Township building Thursday night to learn more about the local fight against Sunoco Pipeline’s Mariner East Project. The community meeting, held by the Chester County Community Coalition, was a chance for those to learn more about the community’s fight against the Sunoco Mariner East pipeline and pump station proposed at Boot Road and Route 202.

— COLIN AINSWORTH

UPLAND, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Police in Upland, Delaware County are investigating an attempted homicide that took place Sunday night.

Officers were called to the scene around 11 p.m. on the 300 block of 3rd Street where a vehicle had crashed into a home.

Once officers arrived, they discovered a woman slumped inside the vehicle.

Police say once she was removed, it was apparent she’d been shot multiple times. Through investigation, officers determined the shooting had occurred steps away at a nearby intersection.

“We got to see the cops pull the person out. The cops were amazing. They were so proficient. They worked on this person forever,” said Michelle Crockett, a witness who lives nearby.

Crockett says her family was awakened by the shooting and crash. Her young son thought the sounds were fireworks, but she knew better.

“Because of the area you know the difference between fireworks and gunshots, unfortunately,” Crockett said.

On Wednesday, crime scene tape was still up at the house blocking off damage from the crash.

Police said the home was occupied at the time, but the person who lives there was not injured.

At this time, it’s unclear how many times the victim was shot, and police are still looking for a suspect.

Authorities have not identified the victim or released her condition, but said she is from Upland.

Police also said video of the shooting and crash is being reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office. A motive has not been released.

“This is a little alarming for the community. We obtained a lot of good information and we’re following up on all of our leads right now,” said Upland Borough Police Corporal Carl White.

Police said the shooting is an isolated incident and it appears the victim was targeted, however, neighbors are still rattled and hope to see an arrest soon.

“When they said it was an isolated incident, that makes you feel a little bit better. But since he’s still out on the loose, it sucks,” Crockett said.

Anyone with information that might help detectives is asked to call the Upland Borough Police Department.