HRPA Endorses Bipartisan Paid Leave Legislation

HRPA endorsed two bipartisan bills that could reshape the landscape of paid family leave in the United States. 

• In a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, HRPA encouraged lawmakers to cosponsor H.R. 3089, the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act, and H.R. 3090, the I-PLAN Act of 2025, introduced by Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK). 

• HRPA worked with the House Paid Family Leave Working Group which conducted more than two years of thoughtful, collaborative work culminating in this legislation.

Why it matters: Better coordination and harmonization across jurisdictions has never been more urgent. 

• Thirteen states and D.C.  now have paid family leave programs in place, with others piloting or offering voluntary insurance-based models. 

The legislation seeks to: 

• Establish a three-year pilot program within the Department of Labor to incentivize state-level paid leave programs through public-private partnerships. 

• Require participating programs to provide a minimum of six weeks of paid leave. 

• Mandate wage replacement of 67% for lower-income workers and 50% for middle-income earners, with benefits capped at 150% of a state's average weekly wage. 

• Promote interstate collaboration through H.R. 3090’s I-PLAN framework by encouraging the adoption of best practices by private employers and helping align disparate state systems. 

What‘s next: HR Policy Association member companies – and many other employers - have spent decades investing in competitive paid leave benefits. This approach builds on that foundation, offering a pragmatic path forward that balances employee access to leave with state flexibility and employer considerations.

As these proposals move through Congress, CHROs should stay engaged on several key fronts: 

• Pilot Program Design: The implementation of the DOL grants will influence future state-level models. 

• State Participation in I-PLAN: Harmonization across states could reduce complexity—but only if enough states opt in. 

Outlook: Introduction of these bipartisan paid leave proposals marks a significant milestone, but the likelihood of advancement this year is uncertain due to a crowded legislative calendar dominated by must-pass funding measures and pending nominations. With next year’s midterm elections on the horizon, however, paid leave is expected to be a prominent issue as lawmakers seek to connect with voters and demonstrate support for working families. 

In the meantime, HR Policy Association continues advocating for scalable, flexible, and harmonized paid leave policies that reflect the needs of today’s workforce and business environment. 

• We encourage member companies to contact their representatives and urge co-sponsorship of H.R. 3089 and H.R. 3090 to keep momentum moving forward.