Alabama's paid parental leave law is a monumental step—now let's make it for everyone
The state just did something big: It recognized, officially and legislatively, that when parents are given time to bond with a new baby, to grieve a loss, or to settle into the whirlwind of adoption, everybody wins.
Governor Kay Ivey signed SB199, the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025, into law this week, establishing paid parental leave for public employees—including teachers and state workers.
'In Alabama, we are committed to strengthening families and supporting those who serve our state,' said Governor Ivey, as reported by the Alabama Politcal Reporter. 'This new law reflects our values. No parent should have to choose between their paycheck and spending time with their newly welcomed child. Today, Alabama sends a clear message: We value families, and we value our workforce.'
Here's what the law delivers:
8 weeks of paid leave for female employees after childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth.
2 weeks for male employees in those same circumstances.
For adoptive parents of children under 3, each eligible parent is entitled to 8 weeks of paid parental leave, subject to limitations. If both adoptive parents are eligible employees, one gets 8 weeks of leave, and the other gets 2 weeks.
Employees must return to work for at least 8 weeks after taking leave, unless exceptions apply (e.g., serious health conditions).
Let's be clear: this policy is a major milestone. A state put into law what OBGYNs, pediatricians, and plenty of exhausted moms have known forever: when new mothers are supported, children thrive, parents stay in the workforce, and communities get stronger.
But here's the thing—in our view, if it's good for public employees, it's good for everyone.
Related: The U.S. is way behind in paid parental leave–but these 6 companies offer generous policies
Gov. Ivey put it simply: 'No parent should have to choose between their paycheck and spending time with their newly welcomed child.' Yet the majority of new moms in America today do not have access to paid maternity leave. It's out of touch. And it's inhumane.
Paid leave improves maternal health outcomes, increases the likelihood that both parents bond with their child, and boosts retention for employers. It's not just humane—it's smart policy.
So why is this only available to state workers?
Families in hospitality, retail, restaurants, gig work, small businesses—they all welcome babies. They all face postpartum challenges. They all deserve to not have to choose between a paycheck and holding their newborn.
Alabama's new law is proof that change is possible, even in places that haven't always been at the forefront of family policy. It's a big deal—and it should be a starting point, not a stopping point.
Because if we're serious about valuing families, we have to support all of them. Whether you wear a government badge or an apron, a lanyard or scrubs—you deserve the chance to show up for your family without sacrificing your livelihood.
Let's celebrate this moment. But let's also keep going.
Related: It's science: paid parental leave is good for baby's developing brain
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
11-08-2025
- Politico
Tracking paid leave in the states
QUICK FIX WHERE THINGS STAND: President Donald Trump's budget reconciliation bill signed into law last month contained some worker-friendly provisions that expanded tax credits for workers, but federal action on paid family and sick leave has stalled. But at the state level, lawmakers are slowly expanding those programs — including in some Republican-led states historically resistant to paid leave. The shift comes as Republican leaders try to burnish their pro-worker credentials after GOP gains in last fall's elections and the rise in popularity of worker-friendly ballot measures in red states. Here are states that have taken a stab at expanding paid leave this year: Over the finish line: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, in April signed the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act, which provides state workers with up to eight weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, stillbirth or miscarriage of a child. An Arkansas law that went into effect last week guarantees all state employees 12 weeks of paid maternity leave after birth, adoption or foster care placement. 'As a mom of three kids, I know the difficulties that so many parents have juggling that work-life balance,' GOP Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a bill signing ceremony. 'And so we're hopeful that this will not only help all the new moms that work for state government, but also help get the state [a] competitive advantage when we're hiring.' In play: Several paid leave proposals are actively advancing through state legislatures, showing signs of growing momentum. In South Carolina, a bipartisan bill to double the length of paid parental leave for state employees to 12 weeks has already passed the House and awaits Senate consideration. Similarly, Pennsylvania's Family Care Act cleared a key House committee with bipartisan support. Eighty-one percent of surveyed Pennsylvanians said they support paid family leave, according to a poll from earlier this year. Stalled for now: Some bills have stalled this year amid cost concerns. In New Mexico, the Welcome Child and Family Wellness Leave Act proposing up to 12 weeks of paid leave and a $3,000 birth incentive remains stuck in committee, slowed by budget scrutiny and competing priorities. Meanwhile, Hawaii's proposals to create a state-run paid family leave program funded by payroll deductions have faced delays after opponents raised alarms over implementation costs and employer burdens, with key bills missing legislative deadlines. GOOD MORNING. It's Monday, Aug. 11. Welcome back to Morning Shift, your go-to tipsheet on labor and employment-related immigration. Send feedback, tips and exclusives to nniedzwiadek@ lukenye@ rdugyala@ and gmott@ Follow us on X at @NickNiedz and @Lawrence_Ukenye. And Signal @nickniedz.94. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. AROUND THE AGENCIES DELETE IT: The Office of Personnel Management instructed agencies to wipe federal employees' vaccination information by Sept. 8. 'Effective immediately, federal agencies may not use an individual's COVID-19 vaccine status, history of noncompliance with prior COVID-19 vaccine mandates, or requests for exemptions from such mandates in any employment-related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, promotion, discipline, or termination,' OPM Director Scott Kupor wrote in a memo to department heads on Friday. Kupor cited a 2021 executive order signed by then-President Joe Biden that required federal personnel to be vaccinated as a condition of keeping their employment, which he later repealed. Unions STRATEGY SHIFT: Union leaders are navigating a balancing act of trying to support Democrats without alienating their members who voted for Trump. Some groups have rolled out campaigns aimed at talking to their members more routinely about politics rather than delivering their messaging immediately before an election. 'Every time we talk politics, the first thing that comes up is, 'The Democrats let us down,'' Jimmy Williams, the president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, told The New York Times. IUPAT has launched a campaign aimed at educating workers across the country about the history of the labor movement and how the union has secured wins for workers. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is also hosting virtual and in-person town halls to engage its members. The New York Times has more. More union news: "EPA axes contracts with unions,' from our Hannah Northey for POLITICO's E&E News. In the States STAMP OF APPROVAL: The Trump administration is backing a program launched by Idaho Gov. Brad Little to spend $80 million to help high school graduates build skills for in-demand careers — a plan that drew major scrutiny from the state's conservative legislature, The Idaho Statesman reported. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer last week called the program an 'incredible opportunity' for students, giving Little a major backer after Idaho Republicans expressed frustration that funds were going to support students pursuing four-year college degrees rather than those not pursuing traditional higher education. Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle said he backed the program because he thought it would be used to support students going into careers like trucking or HVAC installation, but it instead turned into 'a welfare program for everybody going to college.' Other state lawmakers also panned the program. 'We were lied to about what it was in the first place,' GOP state Rep. Josh Tanner told the Statesman. More state news: 'U of M service workers plan to strike systemwide for better wages, workplace conditions,' from Minnesota Public Radio. Immigration CONCEPTS OF A PLAN: The White House isn't close to coming up with a formal plan to help farmers with their need for undocumented laborers amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, our Myah Ward and Jake Traylor reported. A person close to the White House told POLITICO that top officials have yet to 'put pen to paper' as anxiety grows among the nation's farmers. The readout comes after Trump told CNBC last week that he's willing to 'work with' farmers on a solution for undocumented farm workers who've lived in the country and paid taxes for decades. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Chavez-DeRemer are actively exploring changes to the H-2A visa program that allows farmers to hire temporary workers, which has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support. In the Workplace A WINNING PITCH: Smaller cities are continuing pandemic-era programs aimed at recruiting remote workers in efforts to reverse decades of brain drain, Maggie Grether writes for The Wall Street Journal. Third-party platforms like MakeMyMove features more than 170 programs across cities and towns with cash incentives totaling up to $7,500. Tulsa Remote, another established remote work program, has successfully recruited over 3,600 people to Tulsa. 'A recent study funded by Tulsa Remote and conducted by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, found that each dollar spent on the Tulsa Remote program returned over $4 in local benefits, primarily through tax revenue and job creation,' Grether writes. RISING TENSIONS: Workplace violence is on the rise, with nearly a third of surveyed employees saying they've witnessed physical violence at work in the past five years, according to a survey published last week by HR firm Traliant. That's an increase from the 25 percent that workers reported in Traliant's survey last year. Roughly 15 percent of workers said that they had been involved in workplace violence themselves, up from 12 percent who reported altercations the year prior. The New York Post has more. Pro Issue Analysis: 'Employee Stock Ownership Plans,' from Nick and Paroma Soni for Pro subscribers. More workplace news: 'Remote Work Comes to Piloting Ships,' from The Wall Street Journal. What We're Reading — 'Trump Seeks to Sell Fannie, Freddie Shares to Public Investors,' from The New York Times. — 'The fed jobs Trump is trying to fill,' from our Robin Bravender for POLITICO's E&E News. — 'Silicon Valley's young founders are giving up alcohol or going San Francisco-sober to 'lock in' for 'grind mode',' from Business Insider. THAT'S YOUR SHIFT!
Fox News
30-07-2025
- Fox News
Senator says Baltimore ICE facility hides 'evil persisting in darkness' after Dems try Newark redux
Print Close By Charles Creitz Published July 30, 2025 Most of Maryland's congressional delegation joined forces to gain access to what Sen. Angela Alsobrooks described as a "shameful, secret place" where ICE detainees were being processed in Baltimore. Alsobrooks and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the latter of whom made deported suspected human trafficker Kilmar Garcia a cause célèbre, joined Reps. Kweisi Mfume of Baltimore, Johnny Olszewski Jr. of Baltimore County, Sarah Elfreth of Elkridge and Glenn Ivey of Prince Georges at the facility. The scene resembled a more peaceful version of a similar visit by several New Jersey lawmakers to an ICE detention facility in Newark, where Rep. LaMonica McIver was arrested for allegedly accosting officers. Unlike Newark's jail-type complex, the Baltimore ICE office is more contained within the larger George Fallon federal building near Charles Center. DEMOCRATS CELEBRATE RETURN OF SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKER KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA Officials said the office is also a processing center and not a detention facility, with small numbers of detainees being matriculated through at any one time. Alsobrooks told reporters she wanted to "shine a light [on] evil that is persisting in darkness," while Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said the participants simply wanted a "publicity stunt" in order to be featured on network news. In separate remarks, Alsobrooks added it is Congress' job to make sure the Baltimore detainees' treatment is "not inhumane" and that overall the episode was "distressing." She said several doors were locked, employees covered their faces and a woman who identified herself as a facility director could not offer lawmakers a hard count of who was being held there. "We will continue to insist that the humanity of the people who are housed in those facilities will be respected," she added. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told "Special Report" on Tuesday that Democrats are to blame for the high number of criminal aliens released in Maryland — particularly in Prince George's County. Alsobrooks previously served as the county executive, and Ivey currently represents the area in the House. GRAHAM MOCKS DEMOCRATS AS DEA CHIEF PICK CONFIRMS MS-13 GANG TATTOOS DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also fired back at the delegation on X, saying Van Hollen was "protecting monsters over American victims," highlighting four illegal immigrants arrested on charges including possession of child porn, sexual abuse of a minor and conspiracy to commit murder. But the Maryland Democrats appeared undeterred. "This president doesn't give a rat's a-- about any of us," Alsobrooks said, while Mfume added at a press conference that DHS' denial of a tour violates a law allowing federal lawmakers to conduct oversight of immigration facilities — and that ICE's actions do not "bode well here in Baltimore." "It's another sad day here with the Trump administration and their decisions to do illegal activities and ignore the Constitution," Ivey said while standing outside the Fallon building. "When I got turned away from the door in El Salvador [to visit Garcia], I wasn't surprised because that's basically an authoritarian regime. But I was really disappointed that that's going to happen here in the United States of America, that you'd get the same reaction you would in a third-world country." Two members of Maryland's delegation did not participate in the Baltimore ICE visit. Rep. April McClain-Delaney, a Democrat who represents the deep-red Maryland panhandle and some wealthy liberal Washington suburbs, did not travel with the delegation. Neither did the Old Line State's last remaining federal Republican officeholder. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, who represents Ocean City, instead lambasted the spectacle and said he stands with immigration enforcement authorities. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "These Maryland lawmakers didn't lift a finger to stop illegal immigrants and MS-13 gangs from pouring into our state, but now they're staging 'sit-in' stunts for cameras to keep illegals in Maryland," Harris tweeted. "Spare us the show." Alsobrooks appeared to slam Harris in response, according to Maryland Matters, suggesting that as the lone Marylander aligned with the White House, he should be advocating for denied FEMA monies for victims of major flooding in Cumberland and Luke. "It would be great to be able to get his assistance in getting the disaster relief that people need," she said, as CBS News reported the relatively conservative populace there is "frustrated" with Trump. Trump said in June that he wants to "wean off" FEMA disbursements and shift the burden to states similar to plans for the education bureaucracy. Fox News' Chad Pergram and Tyler Olson contributed to this report. Print Close URL
CNBC
10-07-2025
- CNBC
19. Alabama
Governor: Kay Ivey, Republican Population: 5,157,699 GDP growth (Q1 2025): 1% Unemployment rate (May 2025): 3.3% Top corporate tax rate: 6.5% Top individual income tax rate: 5% Gasoline tax: 49 cents/gallon Bond rating (Moody's/S&P): Aa1, Stable/AA, Stable Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, Energy Information Administration (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence
