MONTGOMERY, AL – Governor Kay Ivey has announced the filing of the Alabama K-12 Public School and State Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025, fulfilling a commitment she made during her 2025 State of the State Address to support Alabama families and enhance efforts to recruit and retain highly skilled public school teachers and state employees.
The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Senator Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) and Representative Ginny Shaver (R-Cherokee County), seeks to provide fully paid parental leave for eligible state employees and public school workers in cases of birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, or adoption.
“In Alabama, we are committed to strengthening families and ensuring our hardworking state employees – including our teachers – have the support they need during life’s most important moments,” Governor Ivey said. “Welcoming a child is one of the greatest joys in life, and this legislation will ensure that Alabama parents do not have to face the decision of securing financial stability or spending time at home with their newborn or newly adopted child.”
Key Provisions of the Bill:
- Female employees would receive eight weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, stillbirth, or miscarriage of a child.
- Male employees would receive two weeks of paid leave under the same circumstances.
- Employees who adopt a child age three or younger would also receive a specified amount of paid parental leave.
- A return-to-work provision would require employees to return to their positions for at least eight weeks following paid leave, with exceptions allowed in cases of serious health conditions.
Senator Vivian Figures emphasized that the proposal aligns with efforts to support working parents while strengthening the state workforce.
“Working education and state employees deserve the opportunity to care for their newborn or newly adopted child without worrying about unnecessary financial strain,” Figures stated. “This meaningful legislation will support the well-being of children and parents while also fostering a more stable and productive workforce for the future.”
Representative Ginny Shaver echoed this sentiment, highlighting the bill’s impact on families and employee retention.
“This important legislation is a shining example of how important children, born and unborn, are in our state,” said Shaver. “Parental leave legislation will provide state employees and teachers with the opportunity to properly bond with their children without the added stress of worrying about their jobs.”
Representative Debbie Wood also voiced strong support, noting the bill’s potential benefits for Alabama’s workforce and education system.
“To join the majority of states that offer parental leave to our teachers and state employees is a big win for Alabama’s schools, economy, and future,” Wood said. “This is a common-sense policy that strengthens families, improves employee retention, and ensures that our public servants can return to work ready to serve our communities.”
The proposal was one of the recommendations from the Governor’s Study Group on Efficiency in State Government, which examined ways to improve support for state employees.
Governor Ivey emphasized that the bill reflects Alabama’s commitment to both strong families and a strong workforce.
“By investing in our people, we are investing in a stronger Alabama,” Ivey said. “This is a pro-family, pro-workforce, and pro-Alabama bill, and I am proud to support it.”
The bill was officially filed on February 25, 2025, and will now move through the Alabama Legislature for consideration.
