A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill directs the Secretary of Labor to create a competitive grant program that awards funds to States for establishing and running paid leave programs. It also sets up the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network, known as I-PLAN, to help states coordinate their paid leave policies and streamline benefit delivery. States can use these grants for program start-up costs, paying out benefits, purchasing software, and conducting public outreach. Additionally, the bill provides grants to a national intermediary organization to support I-PLAN and supply standardized technology systems for wage data. The legislation requires participating states and the national intermediary to submit regular reports and undergo audits to monitor the use of funds.
Yes· 3 of 21
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Guarantees at least 67 percent wage replacement for low-income workers earning at or below the poverty line.
- Scored +4
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Permits states to use implementation grants to help small businesses afford employer payroll contributions or access technical assistance.
- Scored +3
Would children be better off under this?
Paid leave allows parents greater time to care for newborns and young children.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Support for Low-Income Workers: Under Section 102(d)(2)(A), low-income employees earning less than or equal to the poverty line for a four-person household are eligible for a weekly compensation rate of not less than 67 percent of their average weekly earnings, which helps ensure that financial hardship does not entirely block workers from taking necessary leave.
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Expanded Access to Paid Leave: Section 102(e) allows states to use grant funds for public outreach, operating call centers, and maintaining websites, which directly benefits individuals by making it easier to learn about and access available paid leave programs.
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Help for Small Businesses: According to Section 204(c)(2), states are permitted to use implementation grants to help small businesses afford employer payroll contributions or access technical assistance, potentially protecting small employers from heavy financial burdens.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Risk of Funding Loss for Non-Compliance: Under Section 204(a)(2)(B), if the Secretary determines that a State is not participating in the I-PLAN in good faith after a warning period, the Secretary may withhold a portion or the total amount of a conforming grant from that State, which could negatively impact individuals if state program operations are scaled back due to lost funding.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Guarantees at least 67 percent wage replacement for low-income workers earning at or below the poverty line. Would children be better off under this? — Paid leave allows parents greater time to care for newborns and young children. Would women be better off under this? — Significantly aids women who historically take on the majority of caregiving and medical leave roles. Would business owners be better off under this? — Allows small business assistance and employer self-administration flexibility under state programs. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged workers often face caregiving responsibilities for children and aging relatives, which paid leave helps address. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides structured wage replacement for middle-class workers taking family or medical leave. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Provides paid leave options for employees dealing with their own serious health conditions. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young workers starting families benefit from expanded access to paid family and medical leave. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Expands economic support systems that can help reduce racial disparities in leave access. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Improves access to safety net programs for historically underserved demographic groups. Would men be better off under this? — Encourages paternal involvement by making paid family leave more widely available to fathers. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Indirectly supports older adults by enabling family members to take paid leave to care for them when needed.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Permits states to use implementation grants to help small businesses afford employer payroll contributions or access technical assistance. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Provides federal grant funding to states to establish and administer paid leave programs, helping workers maintain earnings during medical or family absences.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires participating states and national intermediaries to submit annual reports, conduct audits, and make program data publicly available. Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — Establishes the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network to coordinate and harmonize state paid leave policies and streamline benefit delivery. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Provides competitive and implementation grants directly to states to design and operate their own paid leave programs. Does this give the federal government more power? — Directs the Department of Labor to administer grant programs and oversee state compliance and reporting requirements.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Provides progressive wage replacement rates of up to 67 percent for low-income workers to prevent severe financial hardship during leave. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — Paid family and medical leave disproportionately benefits women who frequently shoulder primary caregiving responsibilities.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Supports paid leave for medical and family care reasons, enabling workers to address health needs without losing income.
- 7/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York