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Committee advances bill to expand maternal birth leave for certain state employees
Summary
The committee advanced substitute language to HB 1118, which would expand maternal birth leave for covered state employees from six to nine weeks, require six months' employment before eligibility, and reserve the first three weeks for immediate post‑birth recuperation.
The House Committee on Public and Community Health voted to advance substitute language for House Bill 1118, which would expand a leave category for certain state employees identified as "maternal birth leave." Representative Donna Tucci presented the bill and said it increases paid leave for birth mothers from six to nine weeks, requires employees to have six months of service before eligibility, and mandates that three weeks be used immediately following birth for recovery.
Representative Rees told the committee he strongly supported the change and planned to move the substitute for passage. A pro tem in the hearing room voiced support for the measure during discussion. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote; the chair declared the ayes have it.
The sponsor stated there is "no direct cost to the state" because funding already exists to cover a full year of salary for affected employees, and the change would be recorded as a separate leave category used before employees draw on other paid time. The bill’s substitute preserves prior incremental expansions: a smaller leave category added in 2021 and expanded in 2024.
The committee did not add a fiscal note or other modifications during the meeting. The substitute now proceeds for further legislative consideration.
