From Wikipedia: Passage of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Passage was controversial. It took a while to pass it.

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A United States federal statute honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and his work in the civil rights movement with a federal holiday was enacted by the 98th United States Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983, creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The final vote in the House of Representatives on August 2, 1983 was 338–90 (242–4 in the House Democratic Caucus and 89–77 in the House Republican Conference) with 5 members voting present or abstaining,[1] while the final vote in the Senate on October 19, 1983 was 78–22 (41–4 in the Senate Democratic Caucus and 37–18 in the Senate Republican Conference),[2][3] both veto-proof margins.

Prior to 1983 there had been multiple attempts following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. to have a holiday created in his honor with Representative John Conyers introducing legislation in every legislative session from 1968 to 1983.[4] In 1979 a vote was held on legislation that would have created a holiday on the third Monday in January, but it failed to receive two-thirds support and was later rescinded following an amendment changing its date.

While attempts were made to have a federally recognized holiday, numerous U.S. states recognized holidays in honor of King. Connecticut did so in 1973. Illinois adopted a commemoration day in 1969, and made it a paid holiday also in 1973. Other states continued to adopt state holidays up through Utah in 2000.

Legislative History

Long title A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to make the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a legal public holiday.

Enacted by the 98th United States Congress\
Legislative history

Introduced in the House as A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to make the birthday of Martin
Luther King, Jr., a legal public holiday. (H.R. 3706) by Katie Hall (D–IN) on July 29, 1983

Committee consideration by Post Office and Civil Service

Passed the House on August 2, 1983 (338–90)

Passed the Senate as the "A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to make the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a legal public holiday." on October 19, 1983 (78–22)

Signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983