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On Thursday, Governor Mike Dunleavy signed a law making Juneteenth a legal holiday in the state.

“On Juneteenth, we celebrate a milestone in the history of our country becoming a more perfect union,” Dunleavy said in a written statement on Facebook.

Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson sponsored the bill, Senate Bill 22.

“As the governor said, it’s not just a holiday for Black Americans, it’s a holiday for all Americans,” said Gray-Jackson, a Black senator and Democrat who represents Anchorage’s Midtown district, who has been working on the bill since 2021.

Juneteenth, a combination of the words “June” and “Nineteenth,” honors the freedom of enslaved people in the United States. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were notified of their freedom nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday is also known as “Emancipation Day” or “Freedom Day.”

Gray-Jackson pushed for the Juneteenth holiday to be recognized in the same way as other holidays, such as the Fourth of July.

“The story has finally made it to the finish line,” Gray-Jackson said.

The signing took place at the Robert B. Atwood Building in Anchorage, followed by a ceremony at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office Building.

Senate Bill 22 was, by and large, supports by Alaska lawmakers: Last year, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 16 to 4. In May, the House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 37 to 3.

In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday and was officially named Juneteenth National Independence Day. Last year, the Anchorage Assembly unanimously voted to make Juneteenth a municipal holiday. Over half of the states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday—Alaska is now one of them.

Since 2001, the state law has required the governor to issue a proclamation each year on Juneteenth. Under the new law, the holiday will be officially observed beginning June 19, 2025.

“I make really great macaroni and cheese. I think I’m going to make a huge pan of macaroni and cheese and bring it to the (Legislative Information) office for everyone in the building to enjoy,” Gray-Jackson said of her plans for the celebration.