Bipartisan Ohio Bill Would Provide 14 Weeks of Paid Family Leave
Two Ohio senators from opposite parties team up to propose state’s first paid family leave program, offering 14 weeks of job-protected time off.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Two Ohio senators from opposite parties have introduced legislation to establish the state’s first paid family and medical leave insurance program, offering workers up to 14 weeks of job-protected leave.
State Sen. Beth Liston, D-Dublin, and state Sen. Bill Blessing, R-Colerain Township, introduced Ohio Senate Bill 396 on Tuesday. The measure would provide paid leave for personal medical needs, caring for seriously ill family members, or caring for new children.
“It will help to grow our population by telling those workers who want to start families or to add to their families that Ohio has their back,” Blessing said.
Program Details and Funding
The proposed program would be funded through a state-maintained family leave fund financed by additional payroll contributions from both employees and employers of approximately 0.4%. The family and medical leave insurance fund would be held in custody of the state treasurer but would not be part of the state treasury.
Workers would be eligible for up to 14 weeks of job-protected paid leave under the program. The legislation aims to address a gap in workplace benefits for Ohio workers.
Current Leave Situation in Ohio
According to Time to Care Ohio, more than three-fourths of Ohioans currently do not have access to paid leave. A typical Ohio worker who takes four weeks of unpaid leave loses nearly $3,100 in income.
“That means when they have a family health emergency, they are faced with a devastating choice — do they stay home with a sick child? Do they care for an aging parent in need? Do they tend to their own health crisis, or do they keep their paycheck?” Blessing said.
Blessing emphasized that no Ohioan should have to make that choice between financial stability and family care.
Bipartisan Support
The bipartisan nature of the legislation reflects growing recognition across party lines that paid family leave is a significant workplace issue. The collaboration between Liston and Blessing demonstrates potential for cross-party cooperation on family-focused policy initiatives.
The bill now heads to committee for consideration as lawmakers examine the proposed program’s structure and implementation timeline. If passed, Ohio would join a growing number of states that have established paid family and medical leave programs to support working families during important life events.
