Paid family leave

Several states run paid leave programs for workers caring for a family member; Maine's benefits began May 2026 and Maryland's begin January 2028.

13 states and 23 rows on record · updated Oct 15, 2026

Where it stands

Each state is shaded by the furthest stage of any row in this topic.

Federal: in effect or in use.

When it happened

One dot per dated event, or per row date where no events are recorded, shaded by stage. Every row has a date.

State by state

Federal first, then states A to Z. Open a line for its rows and sources.

Jurisdiction	Status	Key detail	Date
JurisdictionFederal	StatusIn effect or in useMoving in the last 12 months	Key detail Federal FMLA caregiver leave regulations3 rows on record. Show all and sources Federal FMLA caregiver leave regulationsEffective, Implementation Jul 1, 2026 The current eCFR text for 29 CFR Part 825 keeps the operative caregiver leave rules in one official source: qualifying leave to care for a spouse, son, daughter, or parent with a serious health condition; military caregiver leave; intermittent or reduced-schedule leave; and certification rules for care needs. Who it affects: working family caregivers, employees caring for spouses, employees caring for parents, employees caring for children, military family caregivers, covered employers Why it matters: This is the regulation-level backbone behind federal caregiver leave explainers, separating enforceable FMLA rights from broader caregiver-support strategy and state paid-leave programs. Related programs: Family and Medical Leave Act eCFR 29 CFR Part 825 eCFR API Title 29 Part 825 issue text eCFR 5 CFR Part 630 Subpart L Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026 DOL FMLA family-caregiver enforcement resourcesActive, Implementation Mar 1, 2025 DOL's Wage and Hour Division maintains family-caregiver FMLA materials that explain job-protected leave for workers caring for family members and route workers to WHD if they have questions or believe their FMLA rights were violated. Who it affects: working family caregivers, employees caring for spouses, employees caring for parents, employees caring for children with serious health conditions, military family caregivers, covered employers Why it matters: For working caregivers, FMLA enforcement is the federal backstop for preserving employment while taking unpaid, job-protected time to provide family or military caregiving. Related programs: Family and Medical Leave Act DOL WHD family caregiver FMLA resources DOL WHD Fact Sheet #28P Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026 Federal FAMILY Act paid-leave proposalProposed, Dated Sep 16, 2025 H.R.5390 and S.2823 would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance benefit, including caregiving leave for a qualified family member. Who it affects: working family caregivers, workers without paid leave, care recipients with serious health conditions Why it matters: Direct national wage replacement would be material for working caregivers, but this is proposed only and should be compared with state leave programs. GovInfo S.2823 GovInfo H.R.5390 GovInfo bill status for S. 2823 GovInfo bill status for H.R. 5390 Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026	DateImplementationJul 1, 2026
JurisdictionCalifornia	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail California Paid Family Leave caregiver wage replacementShow details and sources California Paid Family Leave caregiver wage replacementEffective, Implementation Jan 1, 2025 California's Paid Family Leave program is an active caregiver-support model, and 2025 changes increased wage replacement levels for new claims. Who it affects: family caregivers, workers caring for seriously ill family members, California workers, military families Why it matters: Caregivers often cannot use leave if wage replacement is too low; California is a benchmark state for explaining paid-caregiving leave and income tradeoffs. California EDD Paid Family Leave Governor Newsom 2025 paid family leave benefit announcement Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026	DateImplementationJan 1, 2025
JurisdictionColorado	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail Colorado FAMLI caregiving leaveShow details and sources Colorado FAMLI caregiving leaveEffective, Implementation Jan 1, 2026 Colorado workers can use FAMLI for covered caregiving events, and the state describes the program as providing both wage replacement and employment protections for eligible workers. Who it affects: working family caregivers, Colorado workers, people caring for loved ones, employers, serious illness families Why it matters: Paid leave can determine whether a caregiver can attend care transitions, manage serious illness, or stay employed while providing family care. Colorado DHR FAMLI for employees Last reviewed Jun 19, 2026	DateImplementationJan 1, 2026
JurisdictionConnecticut	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail Connecticut Paid Leave caregiver benefitsShow details and sources Connecticut Paid Leave caregiver benefitsEffective, Implementation Jan 1, 2026 Connecticut operates a paid leave program that gives covered workers income replacement during qualifying family or medical leave, with separate job-protection rules under FMLA/CTFMLA. Who it affects: family caregivers, Connecticut workers, workers caring for loved ones, employers Why it matters: Caregivers often need to understand two separate questions: whether leave is paid and whether the job is protected. Connecticut is a useful model for explaining that split. CT Paid Leave CT Paid Leave and FMLA Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026	DateImplementationJan 1, 2026
JurisdictionDistrict of Columbia	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail DC Paid Family Leave family-care benefitsShow details and sources DC Paid Family Leave family-care benefitsEffective, Implementation Feb 1, 2026 DC's paid leave program continues to provide family-care benefits and requires employers to post and provide the 2026 employee notice. Who it affects: working family caregivers, DC workers, people caring for family members, employers, serious illness families Why it matters: Caregivers need to know whether they can use paid time away from work for serious illness care and what application or employer-notice steps apply. DC Paid Family Leave DC 2026 employee notice announcement Last reviewed Jun 19, 2026	DateImplementationFeb 1, 2026
JurisdictionIllinois	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers ActShow details and sources Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers ActEffective, Implementation Jan 1, 2026 Illinois' Paid Leave for All Workers Act gives covered workers a general paid-leave floor, allowing time off without requiring workers to provide a reason for the request. Who it affects: Illinois workers, family caregivers, hourly workers, employers Why it matters: A general paid-leave floor can still matter for caregivers because not every caregiving crisis fits formal family-leave documentation or serious-health-condition rules. Illinois Department of Labor Paid Leave for All Workers Act Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026	DateImplementationJan 1, 2026
JurisdictionMaine	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits launchShow details and sources Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits launchEffective, Effective May 1, 2026 Maine's PFML benefits are available for eligible leave beginning May 1, 2026, with applications opening before the benefit date. Who it affects: working family caregivers, Maine workers, people caring for loved ones, employers, serious illness families Why it matters: This is a new 2026 caregiver-support lane for workers who need income replacement and job protection while caring for a loved one. Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Maine Department of Labor applications open March 30 Last reviewed Jun 19, 2026	DateEffectiveMay 1, 2026
JurisdictionMaryland	StatusLaw, not yet in effectMoving in the last 12 months	Key detail Maryland FAMLI paid family and medical leave implementationShow details and sources Maryland FAMLI paid family and medical leave implementationEffective Soon, Implementation Jan 1, 2027 Maryland is building its paid family and medical leave program, with employer preparation and payroll/contribution steps preceding employee benefits that begin in January 2028. Who it affects: family caregivers, Maryland workers, employers, workers caring for loved ones Why it matters: Caregivers need early notice because program eligibility, payroll deductions, employer communications, and future leave applications all become planning issues before benefits are payable. Maryland FAMLI Maryland FAMLI for employees Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026	DateImplementationJan 1, 2027
JurisdictionMassachusetts	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave caregiver coverageShow details and sources Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave caregiver coverageEffective, Implementation Jan 1, 2026 Massachusetts operates a paid family and medical leave program that includes leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Who it affects: family caregivers, workers caring for family members, Massachusetts workers, service-member families Why it matters: Massachusetts is another mature state model for explaining caregiver wage replacement, protected leave, documentation, and family-definition differences. Massachusetts PFML overview and benefits Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026	DateImplementationJan 1, 2026
JurisdictionMinnesota	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail Minnesota Paid Leave caring leave launchShow details and sources Minnesota Paid Leave caring leave launchEffective, Effective Jan 1, 2026 Minnesota's paid leave program is live, including caring leave for workers who need time away to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Who it affects: working family caregivers, Minnesota workers, people caring for family members, employers, health care providers Why it matters: Families need clear guidance on certification, paid benefits, job protection, and how caring leave interacts with acute illness, hospice, dementia, or disability caregiving. Minnesota Paid Leave Minnesota Paid Leave common questions Minnesota Paid Leave how it works Last reviewed Jun 19, 2026	DateEffectiveJan 1, 2026
JurisdictionNew Jersey	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail New Jersey Family Leave Insurance 2026 family-care rates4 rows on record. Show all and sources New Jersey Family Leave Insurance 2026 family-care ratesEffective, Effective Jan 1, 2026 NJ's 2026 maximum weekly TDI and FLI benefit is $1,119, and FLI eligibility uses wage or base-year earnings thresholds. FLI provides wage replacement, not job protection by itself. Who it affects: NJ workers, family caregivers, caregivers for seriously ill or injured loved ones Why it matters: Caregivers often confuse FLI cash benefits with FMLA or NJFLA job protection, which changes the practical next step. NJ DOL 2026 benefit rates NJ Family Leave Insurance NJ FLI FAQ Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026 New Jersey Family Leave Act complaint and enforcement pathEffective, Implementation May 13, 2020 DCR's NJFLA fact sheet points workers to NJCivilRights.gov or DCR's phone line to file a complaint; DCR legal materials describe unlawful interference or discrimination, penalties, suit or complaint options, and complaint processing. Who it affects: NJ employees, family caregivers, workers reporting NJFLA interference or retaliation Why it matters: When a caregiver's leave request becomes a workplace conflict, the corpus needs the official complaint route separated from benefit filing and from generic employment advice. NJ DCR job-protected family leave fact sheet NJ DCR Family Leave Act regulations Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026 New Jersey Family Leave Act family-care leaveEffective, Implementation May 13, 2020 The Division on Civil Rights NJFLA fact sheet explains that covered workers generally can take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 24-month period to care for a family member, or equivalent-family relation, with a serious health condition; DCR's NJFLA legal materials provide the statutory context. Who it affects: NJ employees, working family caregivers, employees caring for family-equivalent loved ones Why it matters: New Jersey caregivers need the job-protection track separated from Family Leave Insurance cash benefits and federal FMLA, because the next step and proof burden differ. NJ DCR job-protected family leave fact sheet NJ DCR Family Leave Act courtesy copy Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026 New Jersey Family Leave Act notice and retaliation regulationsEffective, Implementation May 13, 2020 DCR's NJFLA regulations include employer poster and written-guidance duties, a prohibition on retaliation for seeking information, filing a complaint, or exercising NJFLA rights, and complaint processing through DCR. Who it affects: NJ employees, family caregivers, covered employers, HR teams Why it matters: Caregivers often need more than a benefit amount: they need to know whether an employer had notice duties and whether retaliation or refusal belongs in a DCR path. NJ DCR Family Leave Act regulations Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026	DateEffectiveJan 1, 2026
JurisdictionNew York	StatusIn effect or in useMoving in the last 12 months	Key detail New York Paid Family Leave 2026 family-care rates5 rows on record. Show all and sources New York Paid Family Leave 2026 family-care ratesEffective, Effective Jan 1, 2026 NY's 2026 PFL maximum weekly benefit is $1,228.53, with an employee contribution rate of 0.432 percent capped at $411.91; family-care leave remains up to 12 weeks at 67 percent of pay up to the cap. Who it affects: NY employees, working family caregivers, caregivers for relatives with serious health conditions Why it matters: Families need wage-cap details and form timing before leave starts, especially when a care episode collides with work income. Related programs: New York State Paid Family Leave NY Paid Family Leave 2026 update NY Paid Family Leave family-care page Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026 New York Paid Family Leave family-care guidanceActive, Implementation Jan 1, 2026 NY's family-care page explains that Paid Family Leave can be used to care for a close family member with a serious health condition, lists covered relationships, names the PFL-1/PFL-3/PFL-4 family-care forms, and describes employer, provider, insurer, filing, and denial-dispute steps. Who it affects: NY employees, working family caregivers, care recipients with serious health conditions Why it matters: This is the official caregiver-facing workflow behind the existing 2026 rate row, and it determines what a working caregiver needs to collect before a claim can move. Related programs: New York State Paid Family Leave NY Paid Family Leave family-care guidance NY Paid Family Leave employee guidance Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026 New York Paid Family Leave retaliation and complaint enforcementEffective, Implementation Jan 1, 2026 NY's PFL rights page describes protection from discrimination or retaliation, a formal reinstatement request, a discrimination/retaliation complaint form, and Workers' Compensation Board hearing process; employer guidance also points denied or disputed claims to arbitration. Who it affects: NY employees, working family caregivers, workers reporting retaliation or PFL denial disputes Why it matters: The enforcement row lets caregiver support workflows distinguish a regular claim, a benefit denial dispute, and a workplace retaliation or reinstatement issue. Related programs: New York State Paid Family Leave NY Paid Family Leave rights and protections NY Paid Family Leave handling requests Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026 New York Paid Family Leave intermittent-leave regulationEffective, Effective Oct 6, 2021 The Workers' Compensation Board announced adoption of amendments to 12 NYCRR 380-2.5(c), clarifying that when PFL is taken in full-day increments, the maximum number of intermittent leave days is based on the average number of days worked per week; current NY family-care guidance applies the same full-day-increment concept. Who it affects: NY employees, working family caregivers, employers, PFL insurers Why it matters: Intermittent caregiving is common, and the regulation affects how many leave days a worker can plan around treatments, supervision, transportation, and recovery needs. Related programs: New York State Paid Family Leave NY WCB Subject Number 046-1455 on 12 NYCRR 380-2.5(c) NY Paid Family Leave family-care guidance Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026 New York PFL construction-worker eligibility legislationSigned, Effective Jan 1, 2027 NY PFL's official news page says the signed construction bill creates a new eligibility standard for construction employees who work for multiple employers under a collective bargaining agreement, with eligibility after at least 26 of the last 39 weeks with a covered signatory employer and an effective date of January 1, 2027. Who it affects: NY construction employees, working family caregivers, union workers, employers with collective bargaining agreements Why it matters: Construction workers can have fragmented employment histories; the new standard can affect whether a working caregiver in that sector can use PFL for family care once the change is implemented. Related programs: New York State Paid Family Leave NY Paid Family Leave construction bill signed NY Senate S50 bill page Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026	DateEffectiveJan 1, 2026
JurisdictionOregon	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail Oregon Paid Leave caregiver benefitsShow details and sources Oregon Paid Leave caregiver benefitsEffective, Implementation Jan 1, 2026 Oregon operates a paid family and medical leave program that can provide wage replacement for family, medical, and safe leave, with 2026 contribution and wage-base guidance active. Who it affects: family caregivers, Oregon workers, workers caring for loved ones, employers Why it matters: Caregivers need to know whether they can take paid time away from work for caregiving and how contribution, application, and leave rules differ from other states. Paid Leave Oregon employee overview Paid Leave Oregon common questions Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026	DateImplementationJan 1, 2026
JurisdictionWashington	StatusIn effect or in use	Key detail Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave caregiver coverageShow details and sources Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave caregiver coverageEffective, Implementation Jan 1, 2026 Washington's paid-leave program remains an active caregiver-support model, with 2026 program updates and premiums shaping worker and employer planning. Who it affects: family caregivers, Washington workers, workers caring for family members, employers Why it matters: Washington is a strong comparison state for explaining paid caregiving leave, family definitions, job protection, premiums, and the difference between leave eligibility and benefits. Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Washington PFML 2026 updates Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026	DateImplementationJan 1, 2026