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Bill would let Texas counties create shared family‑leave pools for employees
Summary
House Bill 334, carried in the Senate by Senator Blanco, would give counties the option to create a family shared leave pool allowing employees to draw donated leave for bonding or serious illness; county officials testified in support and the committee left the bill pending.
Senator Blanco laid out House Bill 334 to the Senate Committee on Local Government, saying the measure would allow counties to establish family shared leave pools at no added cost to the county.
"This bill gives counties the option to create a family shared leave pool, helping employees support their families at no added cost to the county," Senator Blanco said.
County officials and associations told the committee the policy would help counties recruit and retain workers. Adam Hayes, speaking for county interests, said a leave-pool option "gives us one more tool" to compete for and keep talented employees. Elisa Tamayo, El Paso County government affairs manager, said the bill would mirror a similar 2021 law that created a shared leave program for state employees and would allow county workers bonding time after birth, adoption or foster placement or to address serious illness.
Charles Reed, speaking for the Dallas County Commissioners Court, said Dallas County has used a catastrophic leave pool statute in the Local Government Code (chapter 157) and supports the bill.
There was no opposition testimony. After invited and public testimony the committee closed public comment and left House Bill 334 pending subject to the call of the chair.
The bill, as presented, would be optional for counties and does not obligate counties to adopt a pool or to appropriate funds for it.
