House passes bill allowing unpaid legislative leave after amendments protecting employers' discretion

The House passed Senate Bill 87, which provides job‑restoration protections to members of the General Assembly who take unpaid leave from outside employment to serve during legislative sessions.

Proponents framed the bill as an access and equity measure, saying unpaid leave with job-restoration lowers the financial barrier and broadens who can serve. Representative Lindsey said the measure supports “working class residents, caregivers, public-service employees, small business owners, and people in hourly or nontraditional jobs” who otherwise cannot serve because they cannot afford to step away from pay.

Opponents warned the bill could burden small employers who must hire and train temporary replacements and could destabilize critical services such as health care and schools. Representative Bottoms argued some employers cannot sustain a guaranteed multi-month leave and that the cost of training and benefits for temporary replacements could be punitive for small businesses.

Floor amendment L5 — allowing outside employers to opt out of the statutory leave requirement — was adopted after a division vote. Sponsors said the amendment responds to constitutional separation-of-powers concerns and practical realities for certain job categories. After further debate, the House passed SB87 as amended.

Supporters said the measure improves representational equity by reducing financial barriers to running for and serving in office; critics urged caution and pointed to unintended consequences for small employers and essential services.