05.01.26
With new state employment laws continuously being enacted, it can be challenging to keep up on each change and ensure that your policies and practices are compliant. We have your solution.
This monthly digest is designed to keep you apprised of upcoming major state law changes in areas including paid sick and safe leave laws, family and parental leave, recreational and medicinal marijuana use, workplace gun laws, asking candidates about salary history and unpredictable scheduling.
Here’s what’s on the horizon:
May 2026
- Maine paid family and medical leave benefits available May 1.
June 2026
- Illinois enacts unpaid parental leave for employees with a child who is a patient in a NICU on June 1.
- Colorado implements new AI protections against discrimination effective June 30.
July 2026
- Significant expansions to the New Jersey Family Leave Act effective July 17.
- Washington expands “ban the box” law effective July 1.
2027
- California expands pay data reporting law effective January 1.
- Connecticut paid sick leave law covers all employees effective January 1.
- Maryland paid family and medical leave contributions begin January 1.
- Philadelphia amends Fair Practices Ordinance effective January 1 to prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of menstruation, perimenopause and menopause.
- Washington expands Healthy Starts Act effective January 1.
- Washington bans noncompete agreements effective June 30.
2028
- Maryland paid family and medical leave benefits begin January 3.
- Virginia Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program contributions begin April 1.
- California expands employees’ eligibility to receive state paid family leave benefits to those who are taking time off work to care for a seriously ill “designated person” effective July 1.
- Virginia Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program benefits available December 1.
In case you missed it:
March 2026
- California employers must provide current employees with the opportunity to name an emergency contact by March 30.
What to Watch:
A bipartisan bill in the Ohio Senate and a similar Republican-sponsored bill in the Ohio House would give workers 14 weeks of state-funded paid leave to assist with newborns, medical emergencies, or elderly or ill family members.