A bill that will allow state employees to stay home with newborns or newly adopted children without suffering financial detriment was signed into law by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday.
House Bill 1063, dubbed the “Mississippi State Employees Paid Parental Leave Act,” glided through its originating house in a 114-0 vote. After the Senate amended the bill to lower the leave period from eight to six weeks and passed the measure on a 35-15 vote, the House again unanimously approved the legislation 118-0 before Reeves signed it into law.
The bill, which will go into effect on January 1, 2026, will offer paid parental leave to employees who have worked with a state agency for at least one calendar year. Eligible employees, designated as the primary or secondary caregivers of a child, will be entitled to six weeks off work while being paid 100% of their salaried earnings.
The Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable (MS BWR) congratulated the governor for putting his signature on the bill, saying it provides a step forward for Mississippi families – particularly those who have “long struggled to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.”
“We appreciate Governor Reeves for taking this important step to ensure that Mississippi workers have access to paid leave,” MS BWR Executive Director Cassandra Welchlin said. “While the bill is not perfect, it an improvement on what existed previously, where no statewide paid family and medical leave policy was in place, forcing workers to choose between their health or financial security.”
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch added her support for the passage of HB 1063:
As Welchlin alluded to, MS BWR and other advocacy groups recognize that the “crucial step forward” is far from complete. The nonprofit noted that they plan to continue working with Reeves’ office and lawmakers at the state capitol to establish comprehensive paid family and medical leave for all workers, particularly low-wage workers and those in part-time positions often left out of similar policies.
“We are grateful for this progress but know that there are still significant areas that need attention,” Welchlin added. “The bill’s limited scope does not cover many workers who need paid leave to care for loved ones facing serious health issues, nor does it address the chronic health needs of those with ongoing medical conditions.”
According to MS BWR, nearly 79% of Mississippi workers – particularly low-wage workers – do not have access to paid family leave through their employers. Mississippi joined 36 other U.S. states in providing paid parental and medical leave for its employees.
“As a pro-life state, HB 1063 confirms Mississippi’s commitment to the well-being of families by providing six weeks of paid leave to the primary caregiver of a birthed or adopted child,” House Speaker Jason White said after his chamber concurred with Senate amendments. “We have now set the standard for parental leave in Mississippi and encourage the private sector to follow.”
While Mississippi public schools will not be legally required to offer paid parental leave to their employees, under the legislation’s text, the bill authorizes both public K-12 schools and junior college districts to adopt the policy. All state agencies will be required to abide by the policy.
