Today, Governor Kim Reynolds released the Families First Bill to the Iowa House and Senate.
Gov. Reynolds is proposing four weeks of paid maternity leave and one week of paid paternity leave for state employees. Gov. Reynolds is also proposing four weeks of paid leave for state employees who adopt a child. Currently, the state offers no paid parental leave to its employees who are caring for a new child.
“Nothing is more important to me than family,” Governor Reynolds said. “The time after birth is a crucial bonding period for new parents and their babies, and it’s time state employees have a chance to be fully present for them. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, federal employees were granted up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a child, and at least 24 other states have some form of paid leave. Let’s pass this bill and put families first.”