As state legislative sessions wind down for the summer, we’re celebrating a number of exciting paid leave wins in Southern states. As the U.S. faces a mounting affordability crisis, many households in Southern states report that they’re struggling to make ends meet. Policies that help workers take the time they need to care for themselves and their loved ones without giving up their paycheck are instrumental to helping families keep food on the table.
We’re excited that advocates across the region are winning these critical policies to support economic security for families in their community during life’s most important moments. Virginia notably became the first Southern state this year to pass a statewide paid family and medical leave program for all workers, and also made paid sick time a right for workers statewide. This win is the result of years of tireless advocacy and collaboration with state lawmakers, and sets a new standard for paid leave progress in the region.
This year has also seen a cascade of Southern states expanding existing public sector paid leave programs to extend these rights to more workers. The Tennessee Legislature passed a bill with strong bipartisan support expanding the state’s paid parental leave program for state government employees to include parents who need time off to welcome a new foster child, an especially important step forward as the state works to better support these families and combat a shortage of foster homes.
Georgia also expanded its public sector paid parental leave program this spring to add an extra three weeks of maternity leave for birthing parents, which can be combined with the existing parental leave for a total of nine weeks off work. In South Carolina, a bill is awaiting ratification and the Governor’s signature that would increase the amount of leave its public sector paid parental leave program provides for secondary caregivers from two to four weeks, add more covered employees, and include parents who experience stillbirth in these protections.
Additionally, momentum is building for making these rights available to more and more families in the South, including public and charter school educators – Louisiana recently passed a bill creating a framework for a paid parental leave policy for educators, an important first step toward supporting educators in the state as they grow their families.
With every legislative session, thousands more individuals are gaining essential rights to balance their jobs with their health and caregiving needs as lawmakers in states across the region take heed of the success of these popular, common-sense, family-friendly policies. As we look ahead, we’re organizing with partners, advocates, and elected officials to continue building upon this progress until every family in the South has the support they need to thrive.