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Health Committee passes Nursing Mothers Act (HB290) with three amendments
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Summary
The committee passed HB290 as amended to mirror federal protections while adding state-specific modifications: applicability to employers with more than 50 employees, break-time coverage for up to one year after birth, and a requirement for a private, non-bathroom location for expressing milk.
Representative Gavan presented House Bill 290, titled the Nursing Mothers Act, which would require employers to provide reasonable unpaid break time (or permit paid break/meal time) and reasonable accommodations for employees to express breast milk.
Committee members and sponsorists negotiated three amendments. Amendment 1 redefined "employer" to mean an individual or entity with more than 50 employees (including political subdivisions with more than 50 employees), aligning with the federal threshold and limiting burden on small businesses. A committee member expressed concern about narrowing coverage but the chair noted the 50-employee threshold is the federal standard.
Amendment 2 limited the accommodation period to up to one year after the child's birth. Amendment 3 required employers to provide a room or other private location other than a bathroom, reasonably accessible to the work area; the sponsorship noted this could be as small as a closet with a chair but must be comfortable and private.
After adopting the three amendments by voice votes, the committee approved HB290 as amended (the transcript records Representative Warren as the mover and Representative Hall as the seconder). The committee vote was by voice; the transcript does not list a numerical tally.
Next steps: HB290 passed the committee as amended and will proceed through the legislative process.
