Just months after releasing a statement saying that “nothing is more important to me than supporting Iowa families, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed legislation that provides paid parental leave to the state’s employees.
Three years in the making, the legislation became law on May 27, and grants Iowa government employees four weeks of paid maternity leave, one week of paid parental leave and four weeks of paid leave for employees who have recently adopted a child. The bill also would allow some state employees who have accumulated at least 10 days of sick leave to convert a portion of their accrued leave into vacation time.
As The Gazette noted upon the Iowa House passing the bill in March, “this is not the first year [Reynolds] has pushed for paid family leave for state workers, but this marks the first time it has been passed by a full chamber in the Iowa Legislature.” Indeed, this year’s version of the legislation received strong bipartisan support, passing the Iowa house by an 87-2 vote.
Prior to this legislation, Iowa state employees lacked access to paid parental leave, often turning to their vacation and sick days to maximize their time off after the arrival of a child. In addition to paid parental leave, the law includes a more efficient way for employees to convert their unused sick days into vacation leave.
“After working on it for three years, the Families First bill is finally state law,” Reynolds said in a statement. “We are giving employees paid parental leave, joining 24 other states and the federal government. This bill will provide the crucial time needed for employees to bond with their newborn children.”
10 June 2025
Category
HR News Article
