The Minnesota House of Representatives recently revised a proposal from the state’s new paid family and medical leave program. The original proposal suggested that the first week of the program would be unpaid unless a worker could provide evidence of having less than eighty hours of paid time off from their employer. The paid leave program, which guarantees Minnesota workers twelve weeks of paid family leave and an equivalent duration of paid medical leave per year, was a key victory for Democrats last year.

The program is planned to be implemented in January 2026 and will be funded through an annual 0.7% payroll tax on employers. Rep. Cedrick Frazier proposed an amendment to a bill that would have enacted an “initial paid week, which would rely on a worker’s banked paid time off from their employer. If the worker didn’t have at least eighty hours of paid time off saved, the first week would be paid; if the worker had over 120 hours of paid time off banked, the first week of leave would not be paid.

Labor unions opposed the concept of the unpaid first week. Frazier withdrew the proposed unpaid first week language in response to the opposition. Also, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), which is now managing the program, has recommended revisions, such as the “initial paid week, after receiving feedback during the past year.

The unpaid first week proposal has occurred within the context of increasing expenses for the emerging program. According to the actuarial analysis, the program will recommend a higher tax due to these growing costs. Lawmakers allocated $668 million from the state’s budget surplus last year to initiate the program, but the actuarial analysis suggested the necessity of a 0.78% tax on wages, which is to be divided between the employer and worker. Frazier has set this proposal aside for now, although discussions continue.

To understand the ramifications of revisions and progress, it would also be beneficial to understand how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave. This could be achieved through appropriate platforms such as eddcaller.com, which offers information and guidance on accessing aid and reaching out to the relevant departments for inquiries.