Bill > S549

This bill provides two new types of paid leave for state employees in North Carolina, effective July 1, 2025. First, the bill establishes paid leave for pregnancy loss, which is broadly defined to include miscarriages, unsuccessful fertility treatments, failed adoption or surrogacy arrangements, and other fertility-related events. Full-time state employees will be granted at least 56 hours of paid leave for pregnancy loss, which can be used to address personal and partner health needs. Part-time employees will receive a prorated amount of leave. This leave is additional to existing sick and vacation leave, has no cash value upon termination, and cannot be used to calculate retirement benefits. The bill applies to employees of state agencies, public school systems, and community colleges. Secondly, the bill creates paid bereavement leave, providing up to three consecutive workdays of paid leave for the death of an immediate family member, which includes spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren, including step, half, and in-law relationships. To fund these new leave policies, the state has appropriated $1.8 million for pregnancy loss leave and $2 million for bereavement leave over two fiscal years. Employees will need to meet minimum service requirements, which can be aggregated across different state employment sectors.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S549