State employees can take paid leave after birth, fostering, or adoption

State employees may receive six weeks of fully paid leave after giving birth or experiencing a stillbirth, and four weeks after a co-parent’s birth or fostering a child in state custody. This covers eligible employees of state departments, agencies, institutions, boards, commissions, and other state government units who may earn annual leave, including certain higher-education and technical-college workers. Part-time employees receive leave on a prorated basis. Employees receive no more than one six- or four-week leave occurrence in any 12-month period, even if more than one qualifying event occurs. Foster parents may request approved leave in separate one-week periods; other leave generally must be taken consecutively. The leave is paid at 100 percent of base pay and does not reduce accrued annual or sick leave, but it runs at the same time as related federal or other unpaid leave. The law applies to qualifying events on or after October 1, 2026, and the leave must be used within 12 months of the birth or initial legal placement.

State employees may receive six weeks of fully paid adoption leave when they are primarily responsible for caring for the child, or four weeks when they are not. The leave covers eligible employees of state departments, agencies, institutions, boards, commissions, and other state government units who may earn annual leave. The qualifying event is a child’s initial legal placement for adoption. Part-time employees receive leave on a prorated basis. Employees receive no more than one six- or four-week leave occurrence in any 12-month period. Adoption leave generally must be taken consecutively, runs at the same time as related federal or other unpaid leave, and does not reduce accrued annual or sick leave. The law applies to qualifying adoption placements on or after October 1, 2026, and the leave must be used within 12 months of the placement.