Alabama lawmakers approve paid parental leave for state employees
[March 21, 2025]
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Thursday approved a
bipartisan bill that would make teachers and state employees eligible
for paid parental leave.
The Republican dominated House of Representatives voted 94-2 to pass
legislation that would offer up to eight weeks of maternity leave and
two weeks of paternity leave after the birth, stillbirth or miscarriage
of a child. The legislation now goes to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, who
endorsed the legislation in her annual state of the state speech in
February.
Sen. Vivian Figures, who co-sponsored the bill, said it would give
mothers time to heal after pregnancy, improve education and help the
state “recruit the personnel we need and be able to retain them.”
Alabama is one of just over a dozen states that does not offer paid
parental leave to state employees, according to A Better Balance, the
non-profit organization that advocates for paid family leave. Alabama
state employees currently use sick leave and unpaid time off if they
wish to stay home after a child’s birth or adoption.
Alabama had just under 29,000 state employees in 2023, according to the
latest available data from the Alabama Personnel Department. Around
57,000 public school staff and over 50,000 public university staff also
would be eligible for paid leave if the law is signed, according to the
Alabama Department of Education and the University of Alabama.
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Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, is pictured during the Senate session
at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., in this Dec. 10, 2010
file photo. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, file)
 Paid leave laws for private sector
workers vary nationally. At least thirteen states have state-funded
programs that mandate paid family and medical leave, funded by
payroll taxes, according to the National Conference of State
Legislatures. In Alabama and seven other states, employers in the
private sector have the option of purchasing paid leave plans
through private insurers.
The bill drew support from Republican and Democratic legislators
alike.
“We say we’re pro-life, and people say we don’t care about them
after they’re born, and this is showing that we do,” Republican Rep.
Ginny Shaver, one of the bill’s sponsors, said on the house floor.
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