Pennsylvania Paid Family Leave Takes Another Step Forward

Back in March, we shared encouraging news about the momentum behind Pennsylvania's Family Care Act and what it could mean for working families across the Commonwealth. If you missed that update, you can read it here: Did the Family Care Act Just Pass?

Today, we're excited to share another important milestone!

The Senate version of the Family Care Act, SB906, passed out of the Labor and Industry Committee with a 9-2 vote and now advances to the full Senate for a vote.

This is great news. Although not the final step. 

What Happens Next?

Now that SB906 has cleared committee, it awaits a vote by the full Senate. The next step is for Senate leadership to call the bill for a vote - something that is not guaranteed.

If the Senate approves the bill, the process still isn't over.

NOTE: SB906, which passed the L&I Committee today, is an insurance plan model (think unemployment - a small deduction from your paycheck goes into a fund managed by the state. If you need to take paid leave, you apply for benefits from the state, who approves/denies, pays, and manages benefits for employees. The version that passed the House was a mandate, meaning that employers would have to provide private paid leave insurance - think healthcare. 

Because these bills are different, they need to be reconciled. This is a process where members from both chambers agree to a final, identical version, which has to be voted on by both chambers (both the House and the Senate). Once an identical bill passes both chambers, it then goes to the Governor's desk to be either signed into law or vetoed.

For clarification on the process, see our guide on How a Bill Becomes a Law.

Why This Matters

For years, advocates, families, caregivers, and business leaders have worked to bring paid family and medical leave to Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is without a statewide paid leave program, unlike most of our neighboring states (NY, NJ, MD, and DE all have paid leave programs). Many workers are still forced to choose between caring for themselves or a loved one and earning a paycheck.

The committee vote represents meaningful progress. Every step forward brings Pennsylvania closer to a future where workers no longer have to choose between their family and their financial security.

The momentum is real. Now we advocate for the next vote.

What You Can Do

Contact your senators today and encourage Senate leadership to call the Family Care Act for a vote in the Senate. You can share your personal experience to help them make an informed decision. For guidance on how to do that.... see our Step by Step Guide.