DEED outlines paid‑leave implementation milestones; premiums, employer notices and small‑business assistance scheduled before 2026 launch

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) told the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee it is on track to implement Minnesota’s paid family and medical leave program, with benefits and payroll deductions scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2026.

"The paid leave law enacted in May 2023 and updated in May 2024 makes paid family and medical leave coverage available to Minnesota workers beginning 01/01/2026," Deputy Commissioner Evan Roehm told the committee, laying out the program’s core provisions and eligibility rules.

Greg Norfleet, the paid‑leave program director, described recent implementation milestones. "We launched wage detail reporting successfully in October of this last year, and we're already collecting wage detail information for over 160,000 employers across the state," Norfleet said. The wage data will be used to calculate eligibility and benefit amounts; DEED plans to use the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) online system to collect premiums when payroll deductions start.

Norfleet and Roehm walked members…