Paid family leave by state: a guide for expecting parents
A state-by-state walk through paid family leave, state disability/TDI, parental leave statutes, and sick leave laws — with links to every state's official program page.
When you're preparing for a baby, the question that consumes the most calendar time isn't "what crib should we buy." It's: how much paid time off can I actually take, who pays for it, and what do I have to file?
The answer depends almost entirely on which state you live in.
The United States has no federal paid family leave program. Federal FMLA offers up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave to roughly 60% of workers — but the paid part is a patchwork of state programs. Some states stack a disability program (for pregnancy and recovery) with a separate paid family leave program (for bonding). Others have nothing beyond federal FMLA. A growing number are phasing programs in over the next 24 months.
This guide covers what's available in each state. Pick yours from the selector below to focus the page on your situation — or scroll through to see how the rest of the country compares.
The four kinds of leave you'll see
You'll see four families of leave referenced throughout this page. Knowing which one is which makes the per-state details click into place.
Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) is the modern, comprehensive form. One state-administered insurance program covers (1) bonding with a new child, (2) your own serious health condition, including pregnancy, (3) caring for a seriously ill family member, and sometimes (4) military or safe-leave needs. Funded by payroll contributions from employees, employers, or both. Examples: Washington, Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon.
State Disability Insurance / Temporary Disability Insurance (SDI / TDI) is older and narrower. It pays wage replacement when you can't work due to a non-work-related medical condition — which crucially includes pregnancy and childbirth recovery. States with TDI but no PFML cover the birth parent's recovery but not bonding for either parent. Examples: Hawaii (TDI only). States that stack TDI + PFML give birth parents both: California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island.
Parental leave statutes are state laws that grant time off — sometimes paid, often unpaid — specifically for the birth or adoption of a child. They typically run concurrently with federal FMLA. Wisconsin's WFMLA is the cleanest example.
Paid sick leave laws are not parental leave per se, but for an expecting or new parent they're useful for prenatal appointments and postpartum recovery visits. Around half the states now require employers to provide accrued paid sick time.
A note on federal FMLA: it provides 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for the birth or adoption of a child — but only if you've worked for your employer at least 12 months and 1,250 hours and the employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles. Most state PFML laws either run concurrently with FMLA or expand it.
Select your state
Alabama
ALNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Alaska
AKNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Arizona
AZNo state PFML. Statewide paid sick leave (Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act) covers prenatal appointments and postpartum recovery.
Arizona Earned Paid Sick Time
Paid Sick Leave1 hour earned per 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours/year (employers with 15+ employees) or 24 hours/year (employers with fewer than 15 employees). Usable for own or family member's medical care, including prenatal visits.
- Eligibility
- All employees of Arizona employers.
Arkansas
ARNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
California
CAThe most comprehensive system in the US: State Disability Insurance covers pregnancy and recovery, then Paid Family Leave covers bonding. Combined, most parents access about 4 weeks pre-birth + 14–22 weeks post-birth.
State Disability Insurance (SDI) — Pregnancy Disability
State Disability / TDIWage-replacement benefits for the medical inability to work due to pregnancy: typically 4 weeks before the due date through 6 weeks after vaginal delivery, or 8 weeks after a C-section. Doctor can certify longer.
- Max duration
- ~10–12 weeks for pregnancy/recovery (medical determination).
- Wage replacement
- Approximately 70–90% of wages under SB 951 (lower earners replaced at the higher end); 2026 weekly max $1,765. The 7-day waiting period was eliminated effective January 1, 2025.
- Eligibility
- Employees who paid SDI tax in their base period; most W-2 workers in California.
Paid Family Leave (PFL)
Paid Family & Medical LeaveBonding leave with a new child (birth, adoption, foster placement) or caring for a seriously ill family member.
- Max duration
- 8 weeks within a 12-month period.
- Wage replacement
- Approximately 70–90% of wages under SB 951 (lower earners replaced at the higher end); 2026 weekly max $1,765. No waiting period.
- Eligibility
- Employees who paid SDI tax in their base period.
PFL is wage replacement, not job protection — pair with CFRA or FMLA for job protection.
Official program page
Colorado
COColorado's FAMLI program launched benefits January 2024 — one of the newer programs and one of the more generous.
Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)
Paid Family & Medical LeavePaid leave for bonding with a new child, caring for a family member, own serious health condition (including pregnancy), or safe-leave needs.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks; up to 12 additional weeks of Neonatal Care Leave for parents of an infant in a NICU (added in 2025 rule updates).
- Wage replacement
- 90% of average weekly wage on the first $735.67 of wages plus 50% above that, capped at $1,381.45/week for 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most employees who earned at least $2,500 in wages in the base period. Job-protected after 180 days with the employer.
Connecticut
CTCT Paid Leave provides up to 12 weeks at a high wage-replacement rate. Pair with CT FMLA for job protection.
CT Paid Leave
Paid Family & Medical LeavePaid time off for own serious health condition (including pregnancy/recovery), bonding with a new child, family care, or military-family needs.
- Max duration
- 12 weeks; +2 additional weeks for pregnancy-related serious health condition.
- Wage replacement
- Up to 95% of wages for lower earners, decreasing for higher earners, capped at 60× the state minimum wage — $1,016.40/week for 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most CT employees earning at least $2,325 in the highest-earning base quarter.
Delaware
DEHealthy Delaware Families Act — benefits began January 1, 2026. Contributions started January 2025.
Delaware Paid Leave
Paid Family & Medical LeaveParental, medical, and family caregiving leave funded by employer/employee contributions.
- Max duration
- 12 weeks of parental leave; 6 weeks of medical/family leave within a 24-month period.
- Wage replacement
- 80% of average weekly wages, capped at $900/week (2026).
- Eligibility
- Employees of DE employers with 10+ employees (parental) or 25+ (medical/family), who have worked for the employer at least 12 months and 1,250 hours, and who work in Delaware at least 60% of the time.
District of Columbia
DCDC Paid Family Leave provides one of the longest parental-bonding entitlements in the country.
DC Paid Family Leave
Paid Family & Medical LeaveFunded entirely by employer contributions. Covers parental bonding, family care, own serious medical condition, and prenatal care.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks combined parental, family, and medical leave per benefit year, plus 2 additional weeks of prenatal leave that stack on top.
- Wage replacement
- Up to 90% of wages (higher for lower earners), capped at $1,190/week for claims with leave begin dates on or after Sept 28, 2025.
- Eligibility
- Employees who spent more than 50% of their work time for a covered DC employer in the past year.
Florida
FLNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Georgia
GANo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Hawaii
HIHawaii requires employers to provide Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) — which covers pregnancy and recovery — but has no statewide paid bonding leave.
Hawaii Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
State Disability / TDIMandatory employer-provided short-term disability for non-work-related medical conditions including pregnancy and childbirth recovery.
- Max duration
- Up to 26 weeks per benefit year.
- Wage replacement
- 58% of average weekly wages, capped at a weekly maximum set annually.
- Eligibility
- Employees who worked at least 14 weeks (at 20+ hours/week) in the prior 12 months. Coverage is typically arranged by the employer through private insurance.
Idaho
IDNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Illinois
ILNo state PFML, but Illinois requires Paid Leave for All Workers — broad paid time off usable for any reason, including prenatal/postpartum needs.
Paid Leave for All Workers Act
Paid Sick LeaveUp to 40 hours of paid leave per 12-month period, usable for any reason. Cannot be required to give a reason or supply documentation.
- Eligibility
- Most Illinois employees (some sector exclusions; check Chicago/Cook County ordinances which expand coverage).
Indiana
INNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Iowa
IANo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Kansas
KSNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Kentucky
KYNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Louisiana
LANo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Maine
MEMaine Paid Family and Medical Leave — contributions began January 2025; applications open March 30, 2026 and benefits begin May 1, 2026.
Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave
Paid Family & Medical LeavePhasing inPaid leave for bonding, family care, own serious health condition, and safe-leave needs.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks within a 12-month period.
- Wage replacement
- Up to 90% of wages for lower earners, scaling down for higher earners, capped at $1,198/week through June 30, 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most Maine employees who earned at least ~$7,188 in the base period. Applications open March 30, 2026; benefits begin May 1, 2026.
Maryland
MDMaryland's FAMLI program has been delayed: payroll contributions begin January 1, 2027 and benefits begin no later than January 3, 2028.
Maryland FAMLI (Family and Medical Leave Insurance)
Paid Family & Medical LeavePhasing inPaid leave for bonding, family care, own serious health condition, and qualifying military-family needs.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks; +12 additional weeks possible in some combinations within a year.
- Wage replacement
- Up to 90% of wages for lower earners, scaling down with a weekly cap.
- Eligibility
- Most Maryland employees once benefits begin. Contributions start January 1, 2027; benefits begin January 3, 2028.
Massachusetts
MAMA PFML is one of the longest-running and most generous programs. Pair the medical and family-leave entitlements for substantial coverage around birth.
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave
Paid Family & Medical LeaveUp to 20 weeks of medical leave (own serious health condition, including pregnancy and recovery) and 12 weeks of family leave (bonding, family care), within a benefit year.
- Max duration
- 12 family + 20 medical (26 combined annual cap).
- Wage replacement
- Two-tier formula: 80% of average weekly wages up to 50% of the state AWW, then 50% above that, capped at $1,230.39/week for 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most MA W-2 employees and many 1099-MISC contractors covered automatically.
Michigan
MINo state PFML. Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act (as amended by ESTA 2.0) provides paid sick time usable for prenatal/postpartum medical needs.
Michigan Earned Sick Time Act
Paid Sick Leave1 hour accrued per 30 hours worked. Annual cap: 72 hours for employers with 11+ employees, 40 hours for employers with 10 or fewer. Usable for own or family member's medical care.
- Eligibility
- Most Michigan employees. Effective dates: Feb 21, 2025 for employers with 11+ employees; Oct 1, 2025 for smaller employers.
Minnesota
MNMinnesota Paid Leave benefits begin January 2026. The program is broad — bonding, family, medical, safety, and qualifying military needs.
Minnesota Paid Leave
Paid Family & Medical LeaveCombined family and medical leave program administered by the state.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks family + 12 weeks medical per benefit year, capped at 20 combined.
- Wage replacement
- 55–90% of wages depending on income; capped at $1,423/week for 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most Minnesota employees as of January 1, 2026.
Mississippi
MSNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Missouri
MONo state PFML or paid sick leave. Voters passed Proposition A in November 2024, but the Missouri legislature repealed the paid-sick-leave portion effective August 28, 2025. A constitutional-amendment campaign to restore paid sick leave is targeting the 2026 ballot.
Montana
MTNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Nebraska
NENo state PFML. Nebraska's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act adds statewide paid sick leave (effective October 1, 2025).
Nebraska Paid Sick Leave
Paid Sick LeaveStatewide paid sick time accrual usable for own or family medical needs.
- Eligibility
- Most Nebraska employees. Effective October 1, 2025.
Nevada
NVNo state PFML. Nevada requires larger employers to provide paid leave usable for any reason — including prenatal/postpartum care.
Nevada Paid Leave
Paid Sick LeaveUp to 40 hours per year accrued by employees of larger employers, usable for any reason.
- Eligibility
- Employees of Nevada employers with 50+ employees in private employment that have been in operation 2 or more years.
New Hampshire
NHNew Hampshire offers a state-facilitated voluntary Paid Family and Medical Leave plan — Granite State Paid Family Leave. It is opt-in for employers and individuals.
Granite State Paid Family Leave
Voluntary State PlanVoluntary state-procured insurance plan offering up to 6 weeks of paid leave for bonding, family care, or own serious health condition.
- Max duration
- Up to 6 weeks per benefit year.
- Wage replacement
- 60% of average weekly wages, capped at $2,128.85/week for 2026 (tied to the Social Security wage base).
- Eligibility
- Available to employers who opt in (with employee participation) and to individual employees if their employer does not.
New Jersey
NJNew Jersey stacks Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) for pregnancy/recovery with Family Leave Insurance (FLI) for bonding — together among the most generous in the country.
Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
State Disability / TDIWage replacement for inability to work due to pregnancy and childbirth recovery (typically ~4 weeks before due date through 6 weeks postpartum, 8 weeks after C-section).
- Max duration
- Up to 26 weeks per disability period.
- Wage replacement
- 85% of average weekly wage, capped at $1,119/week for 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most NJ W-2 employees; some 1099 workers can opt in.
Family Leave Insurance (FLI)
Paid Family & Medical LeaveWage replacement for bonding with a new child or caring for a seriously ill family member.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks within a 12-month period.
- Wage replacement
- 85% of average weekly wage, capped at $1,119/week for 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most NJ W-2 employees.
New Mexico
NMNo state PFML. New Mexico's Healthy Workplaces Act provides statewide paid sick leave.
Healthy Workplaces Act
Paid Sick LeavePaid sick leave accrual usable for own or family medical needs; up to 64 hours/year.
- Eligibility
- Most NM private-sector employees.
New York
NYNY pairs Disability Benefits Law (DBL) for pregnancy/recovery with Paid Family Leave (PFL) for bonding. DBL is older and modest; PFL is more generous.
Disability Benefits Law (DBL)
State Disability / TDIShort-term disability for non-work-related medical conditions, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery.
- Max duration
- Up to 26 weeks per disability period.
- Wage replacement
- 50% of average weekly wage, capped at $170/week (statutory cap unchanged since 1989).
- Eligibility
- Most NY private-sector employees.
New York Paid Family Leave (PFL)
Paid Family & Medical LeaveBonding, family care, or military-family qualifying needs.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks per 52-week period.
- Wage replacement
- 67% of average weekly wage, capped at 67% of the state average weekly wage — $1,228.53/week for 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most NY private-sector employees after 26 weeks of employment (full-time) or 175 days (part-time).
Beginning January 2025, NY added a separate 20-hour-per-year prenatal leave benefit for prenatal medical appointments.
Official program page
North Carolina
NCNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
North Dakota
NDNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Ohio
OHNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Oklahoma
OKNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Oregon
ORPaid Leave Oregon launched in September 2023 with relatively long entitlements and high wage replacement for lower earners.
Paid Leave Oregon
Paid Family & Medical LeaveFamily, medical, and safe leave administered by the Oregon Employment Department.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks per benefit year (14 weeks for pregnancy-related medical leave).
- Wage replacement
- Up to 100% of wages for the lowest earners, scaling down with a cap of $1,636.56/week for benefit years beginning on or after July 6, 2025 (120% of state AWW).
- Eligibility
- Most Oregon employees who earned at least $1,000 in the base year.
Pennsylvania
PANo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Rhode Island
RIRhode Island pairs Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) for pregnancy/recovery with Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) for bonding — the original state PFML program, expanded in 2025.
Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
State Disability / TDIWage replacement for non-work-related disability, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery.
- Max duration
- Up to 30 weeks per benefit year.
- Wage replacement
- 4.62% × highest quarterly base-period earnings; 2026 weekly max $1,103 (up to $1,489 with maximum 5 dependents).
- Eligibility
- Most RI W-2 employees.
Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI)
Paid Family & Medical LeaveBonding with a new child or caring for a seriously ill family member.
- Max duration
- 8 weeks (2026).
- Wage replacement
- 4.62% × highest quarterly base-period earnings; 2026 weekly max $1,103 (up to $1,489 with maximum 5 dependents).
- Eligibility
- Most RI W-2 employees.
South Carolina
SCNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
South Dakota
SDNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Tennessee
TNNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Texas
TXNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Utah
UTNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Vermont
VTVermont offers a state-facilitated voluntary Paid Family and Medical Leave plan administered through The Hartford. Individual enrollment opened May 2025; benefits began January 1, 2026.
Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance
Voluntary State PlanVoluntary state-procured insurance plan; employers can buy in, and individuals can buy in if their employer does not.
- Max duration
- 6–26 weeks per benefit year (varies by plan).
- Wage replacement
- 60–70% of average weekly wage, capped (varies by plan).
- Eligibility
- Open to most Vermont workers via opt-in.
Virginia
VANo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Washington
WAWA Paid Family and Medical Leave is one of the most mature programs and offers some of the longest combined entitlements. Job-protection coverage expanded in 2026.
Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave
Paid Family & Medical LeavePaid leave for own medical condition (including pregnancy), bonding, family care, or military-family needs.
- Max duration
- Up to 12 weeks family + 12 weeks medical; up to 16 combined; +2 weeks for pregnancy-related serious health condition.
- Wage replacement
- Up to 90% of wages for lower earners, scaling down; capped at $1,647/week for 2026.
- Eligibility
- Most WA employees who worked at least 820 hours in the qualifying period. As of January 1, 2026: minimum-leave threshold dropped to 4 consecutive hours, and the job-protection requirement expanded to employers with 25+ employees (was 50+).
West Virginia
WVNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Wisconsin
WINo state PFML, but Wisconsin's Family and Medical Leave Act (WFMLA) provides 6 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for birth/adoption — stackable with federal FMLA.
Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (WFMLA)
Parental Leave StatuteUnpaid, job-protected leave for the birth or adoption of a child, own serious health condition, or family care. Can run concurrently with federal FMLA.
- Max duration
- 6 weeks parental + 2 weeks family care + 2 weeks own serious illness per calendar year.
- Eligibility
- Employees of employers with 50+ permanent employees who have worked 1,000+ hours in the prior year.
Wyoming
WYNo state-administered paid family/medical leave. Federal FMLA may provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees.
Last reviewed May 16, 2026. Leave programs change frequently — confirm details with your state agency before filing. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
How to plan around your state's program
A few practical things that hold up across most states:
- File your claim before your leave starts, not after. Almost every state program lets you pre-file once a doctor can certify your due date. You typically can't submit a claim before you stop working, but you can register and prepare the paperwork early.
- Job protection and wage replacement are separate. Many state programs replace wages but don't protect your job. Federal FMLA or a state statute usually handles job protection. Confirm with HR which laws are running concurrently for your leave.
- Confirm what your employer "tops up." Some employers add their own paid parental leave on top of the state benefit. The math of stacking varies — your HR partner can tell you the order of operations.
- Save the program pages. Each state's program is run by a different agency. Bookmark your state's link from the cards above — you'll come back to it for forms, appeal info, and updates to the wage cap.
Federal FMLA in one minute
Whatever state you're in, federal FMLA may still apply:
- 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per 12-month period.
- For birth/adoption, your own serious health condition, or family care.
- Eligibility: 12 months at the same employer, 1,250 hours worked in the prior 12 months, and the employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles.
- Health insurance must continue during leave on the same terms as if you were working.
FMLA is the floor. State programs are what determine whether that floor comes with a paycheck.
Worth flagging
This area of law moves fast. In just the last two years, Maine, Minnesota, Maryland, Delaware, and Colorado all started new programs — some with phased-in contributions and benefits that take years to fully roll out. Other states have proposed but not enacted legislation, and ballot measures regularly change the picture. Confirm the current state of your state's program at the linked official page before relying on any specific number above.
NestReady's planner pulls in your state and surfaces the right paperwork at the right week of your pregnancy — so this guide turns into a real checklist. Start your plan, free →