Employers would provide paid sick leave under statewide rules

Employers would provide paid sick leave to covered employees. The rules would cover employees in Texas and employers with at least one employee, but not federal agencies or employees covered by the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. Leave would accrue at one hour for every 30 hours worked, starting on the employee’s hiring date. Employees could use leave for their own or a family member’s health needs, certain safety-related needs, school meetings, or closures caused by a public health emergency. Employers could comply through another paid leave plan that allows the same uses and accrues at least as quickly. A collective bargaining agreement could waive the rules in clear, unambiguous language, subject to the bill’s transition rule for agreements effective before January 1, 2026. The Act would take effect October 1, 2025. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2026, would be covered under the new rules; employees hired earlier would begin accruing leave January 1, 2026, and could use it after 90 calendar days unless the employer allows earlier use.

Employers would keep leave records, give workers multilingual notices, and avoid retaliation; employees could file administrative claims or civil lawsuits for violations. The duties would apply to employers covered by the paid sick leave chapter and to employees seeking leave or reporting alleged violations. Employers would keep records of leave accrued and used for at least three years. Employers could require reasonable documentation for leave lasting three or more consecutive days, but medical and safety-related information would be confidential and certain sensitive details could not be required. A willful violation could bring a civil penalty of up to $100 per violation, and a prevailing employee could recover lost compensation and other court-ordered relief. The Texas Workforce Commission would investigate complaints, could award specified relief in retaliation cases, and would create notices, public information, and implementation rules. The commission would have to prescribe notices, publish information, and adopt implementation rules by December 1, 2025. A civil action would have to be filed within two years after the violation.