Proposed Virginia legislation provides a model for other states to follow
On January 20, the Economic Policy Institute’s EARN in the South network—a coalition of Southern policy, research, and grassroots organizations—held a virtual press conference highlighting 2026 opportunities to expand paid leave policies in Southern states.
This year, Virginia is poised to become the first state in the South to enact comprehensive paid family and medical leave legislation. Speakers celebrated the promise of Virginia’s proposed legislation and noted that for too long, Southern states have fallen behind as states in other regions have begun to implement comprehensive paid leave programs.
Speakers shared personal stories illustrating the importance of paid leave for Southern working families and small businesses and the urgency of expanding paid leave to improve maternal health. They also shared news of important recent breakthroughs including paid parental and sick leave policies in states like Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, demonstrating the fertile ground for more paid leave policies to progress in other parts of the region. In addition to Virginia, Florida and Georgia have already introduced bills to further expand paid leave this year.
“More than half of the employees in the Commonwealth can’t afford to take time off without pay, and so it has been my intention…to provide this benefit for all Virginians because everyone deserves the dignity and the ability to care for themselves and their loved ones, and hold onto their jobs,” said Virginia State Senator Jennifer Boysko, who has introduced a comprehensive paid family and medical leave bill.
Additional speakers from Tennessee, Georgia, and Arkansas emphasized the benefits of paid leave to families, businesses, and the economy. The press conference included paid leave policy experts from A Better Balance, 9to5, and the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers.
“At some point throughout our lives, all of us will need time off work to care for a loved one or receive care ourselves. Whether you are welcoming a new child, caring for an aging parent, or going through cancer treatment, no one should have to worry about missing a paycheck or even losing their job,” said Feroza Freeland, Policy Director at A Better Balance.
“A state-run paid family and medical leave program would level the playing field for small businesses, allowing them to better compete with big businesses that can afford to offer this benefit,” said Rachel Shanklin, Georgia Director for Small Business Majority. “Additionally, paid leave enhances productivity and improves workplace morale. Offering paid leave isn’t just the right thing to do—it also makes good business sense.”
“Southern workers should not be forced to choose between their livelihood and the health and well-being of themselves or their loved ones,” said Keesa Smith-Brantley, Executive Director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
Learn more
- Progress on Paid Leave in the South: New State Parental Leave Policies are a Small but Welcome Step Toward Comprehensive Paid Leave for all Southern Workers. May 20, 2025. Economic Policy Institute.
- What Tennessee’s Recent Paid Leave Expansion Can Teach Us About Fighting for Work-Family Justice in the South. May 8, 2025. A Better Balance.
- Young Workers Speak Out: New Perspectives on The Need for Paid Leave. February 2025. A Better Balance.
- Paid Sick Leave Improves Workers’ Health and the Economy. January 2025. Economic Policy Institute.
- Southern Policymakers Leave Workers with Lower Wages and a Fraying Safety Net. July 2024. Economic Policy Institute.
- Comparative Chart of Paid Family and Medical Leave, Family Leave, and Sick Leave Laws in the United States. A Better Balance.
- Map of Paid Parental & Family Caregiving Leave Policies for State Employees. A Better Balance.
- Benefit-cost Analysis of a Paid Family and Medical Leave Program in West Virginia. December 11, 2025. Prenatal to 3 Policy Impact Center.
- Know Your rights: Alabama’s New Paid Parental Leave Benefits for Educators and State Employees. August 6, 2025. Alabama Arise.
- Texas Family Act: The Freedom to Care for Your Newborn Baby. March 4, 2025. Every Texan.
- Paid Family Leave Flexibility: Good for Tennessee’s Families and the State. 2025. Think Tennessee.
- Paid parental leave improves life for Alabama workers. January 28, 2025. Alabama Arise.
- The Case for Paid Parental Leave for Kentucky State Employees. December 4, 2024. Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.
This event held in partnership with these organizations
