Public Law 98-144: Martin Luther King Day

The federal law that established Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday was Public Law 98-144, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983. The legislation designated the third Monday of January each year as a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s contributions to civil rights and social justice.  The first official observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday took place on January 20, 1986. However, it was not immediately observed by all states, and some states adopted it gradually over time, with all 50 states recognizing it by the year 2000.