The Minnesota State Legislature recently passed several bills to establish a paid family and medical leave program that, once in effect, would be made available to employees beginning in 2025.
Although the program still requires approval from Governor Tim Walz before becoming law (which is expected), this legislative development makes Minnesota one step closer to joining Washington D.C. and 11 other states that mandate paid family and medical leave.
- Under the Minnesota House bill, employees would be provided up to 18 weeks of paid time off in one year to care for their own or a family member’s serious health condition, for pregnancy, the birth or placement of a child, or any qualifying exigency from foreign deployment with the armed forces.
- The Senate’s version includes up to 20 weeks of paid leave in a year.
- If the employee experiences complications due to pregnancy, they could receive an additional six weeks of leave, for a total of no more than 24 weeks in a year.
- A conference committee between both state chambers have until the legislative session adjourns on May 22, 2023 to reconcile differences between both bills.
- Governor Walz has previously expressed his support for the program, and stated that he would likely sign a bill into law if it reaches his desk.
This is an active time for leave-related legislation. Each year, states nationwide review and revise their legislation to make it more accessible. If your team is managing leave in multiple states, staying abreast of these frequent changes can be a struggle. Outsourcing employee leave to Sparrow, the first true end-to-end leave management provider for modern employers, can provide you with confidence in your leave compliance.