Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama signed into law SB199, the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025, which aims to strengthen families and support public state workers, including teachers. This law reflects the state’s commitment to its workforce, providing that no parent should have to choose between their paycheck and spending valuable time with their newborn child. The legislation received overwhelming support from the Alabama Legislature and will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

This law is sponsored by state Sen. Vivian Figures and Rep. Ginny Shaver. The law grants paid parental leave to eligible public employees, enabling them to care for their newborn or newly adopted child without financial strain. There is also a return-to-work provision mandating employees to return to work for at least eight weeks following the leave, barring exceptional circumstances such as serious health conditions.

For any concerns or more information, it is important to know how to contact the respective department. Californians who wish to file for Paid Family Leave (PFL) can contact the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program managed by the Employment Development Department (EDD). As advised by eddcaller.com, to reach out to EDD to file for PFL, claimants can dial the EDD phone number listed on the website. The site also provides tips on the fastest way to get through to EDD, which significantly helps claimants in contacting EDD customer service more promptly.