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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate2025-03-26

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill creates a new paid family leave insurance program in North Carolina, allowing eligible workers to take up to 12-26 weeks of paid leave per year for reasons including birth/adoption, serious health conditions, caring for family members, and military family situations. The program would be funded through employer payroll contributions starting January 1, 2026, with benefits beginning January 1, 2027, and would replace 90% of wages up to the state average weekly wage and 50% above that amount.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this program helps workers balance employment with family responsibilities without facing financial hardship, particularly benefiting low and middle-income workers who cannot afford unpaid leave.
• •The bill protects job security by requiring employers to restore employees to equivalent positions, promotes workforce retention and productivity, and aligns North Carolina with other states offering similar benefits.
• •It also provides essential support for new parents, workers with serious health conditions, military families, and those caring for ill relatives.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents contend the payroll contributions create a new tax on employers and employees, potentially increasing labor costs and affecting business competitiveness.
• •Some argue the benefit amounts and duration may not be fully funded by the proposed contribution rates, creating future solvency concerns.
• •Critics also raise concerns about administrative complexity, potential fraud in eligibility determinations, and whether private market solutions or employer-provided benefits would be more efficient than government-administered insurance.