Tiffany Garnace, 9to5 GA Communications Coordinator
Email: tiffany@9to5.org
Nicole Henderson, Communications Director
Email: nicole@progressga.org
9to5 Georgia and the GA Coalition for Paid Leave Hosted a Press Conference on the Signing of HB 1010 by Kemp
Work remains to reach the larger goal of every worker in Georgia
having access to paid medical, family and parental leave.
Atlanta, GA – 9to5 Georgia and the GA Coalition for Paid Leave celebrates the passage of HB 1010. This bill expands the current 3-week paid parental leave law to 6 weeks for eligible state and public school employees.
| The Facts With approximately 78% of Georgia’s workforce without access to paid family leave, only extending paid parental leave to some public sector workers is not enough.Two-thirds of our state’s residents are unable to benefit from unpaid leave guaranteed under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) due to eligibility restrictions and the inability of people to afford to take this unpaid leave. |
Coalition partners advocated for an amendment to Speaker Pro Tempore’s original language to include a notification requirement. Since the original bill passed in 2021, advocates have heard from many eligible employees, especially school staff, who were unfamiliar with the policy because there was not broad communication upon the law’s passage to employees. Now the state and public schools will have to inform employees annually about this policy, ensuring that more employees know about this policy and are able to access it.
We are encouraged that lawmakers have heard their constituents express what a critical need paid leave is in allowing people to care for themselves and their families while still contributing to the workforce. We heard lawmakers express that even this increase to 6 weeks is not enough, and we look forward to continuing to work with legislators to create the comprehensive paid leave policies that Georgia workers need and deserve.
We also hope that the legislature will soon recognize that with approximately 78% of Georgia’s workforce without access to paid family leave, only extending paid parental leave to some public sector workers is not enough. Two-thirds of our state’s residents are unable to benefit from unpaid leave guaranteed under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) due to eligibility restrictions and the inability of people to afford to take this unpaid leave. So while focusing on parental leave is incredibly important, we hope that this body will also soon address paid family and medical leave that is a dire need for workers in our state as well.
Coalition Statements
9to5 Georgia
“The passage of HB 1010 is another important positive step in the right direction for paid leave in Georgia. This bill doubles the paid parental leave that state and public school employees can access. We’re also proud to have worked to add a notification amendment to this bill to ensure that especially school staff know about this available policy.
We also recognize that far too many Georgia workers, especially those in low wage jobs, are still lacking any form of paid leave. We will continue organizing and advocating towards our larger goal of every worker in this state having access to paid medical, family and parental leave, no matter where one works or the size of their employer, and we hope that lawmakers will continue to be responsive to the overwhelming majority of voters who support comprehensive paid leave and want our state to enact more paid leave policies.” Jasmine Bowles, Executive State Director of 9to5 Georgia.
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
“Critical to the health of mothers and infants, paid family and medical leave is not just a policy, but a fundamental necessity for fostering maternal well-being and ensuring healthier outcomes for Georgia’s families. We know paid leave correlates with a reduction in infant mortality rates and contributes to healthier family dynamics and stronger communities. We are grateful to the General Assembly for their foresight and dedication in passing this crucial bill.” Miriam Goodfriend, Policy Manager, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies.
Small Business Majority
“We’re encouraged by the General Assembly’s progress in expanding access to paid family leave for state and public school employees. But now it’s time to seize the opportunity and extend this crucial benefit to the self-employed, small businesses and their employees. For far too long, small businesses have wanted to offer paid family and medical leave to help attract and retain a skilled workforce, but they’ve been unable to afford it on their own. This is why we urge Georgia legislators to come together during the 2025 legislative session to create a state-backed program that will meet the needs of small businesses and their employees.” Rachel Shanklin, Georgia Director at Small Business Majority
Poder Latinx
“We are pleased to see HB 1010 pass, marking a positive advancement in supporting Georgia’s working families, especially Latinx. This extension of paid parental leave for state and public school employees from 3 to 6 weeks is a testament to the importance of prioritizing family well-being. While this is an important achievement, we urge for further action to ensure all workers have access to comprehensive protections. Poder Latinx is dedicated to continuing our advocacy efforts to push for broader legislation that guarantees equitable rights for every worker, reinforcing the principle that no one should be excluded from essential benefits such as paid leave,” said Leslie Palomino, Georgia State Senior Program Coordinator for Poder Latinx.
YWCA of Greater Atlanta
“To secure a future in which all women and people can live and work with dignity, we need policies that value women, families, and care. Paid family leave is an essential element of women’s economic security. HB 1010’s doubling of the number of paid leave weeks from three to six for public sector workers is a great first step towards a Georgia where all citizens have access to needed leave benefits. We are grateful the Georgia General Assembly saw this need and will continue to advocate until all Georgians have access to this critical benefit.” Elle Knott, Advocacy Program Manager, YWCA of Greater Atlanta
A Better Balance
“A Better Balance applauds the passage of HB 1010, which brings Georgia in line with peer states across the South–including Tennessee, South Carolina, and Louisiana–in providing up to 6 weeks of dedicated paid parental leave to public sector workers. Increasing access to paid leave is a wise investment for the state, because it is proven to boost employee retention & morale, strengthen economic security for families, and promote better health outcomes for parents and children.” Feroza Freeland, Senior Policy Manager of the Southern Office at A Better Balance.
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