1. Political power shifts at the state level

Democratic or progressive influence increased in six states with prior proposed paid family leave legislation:

Hawaii already has statutory disability insurance, but a bill signed in 2018 appropriated funds for a study to evaluate other states' paid leave programs, impacts and costs — the results of which are due to the legislature in September. Prospects for final legislation look good.
Colorado flipped the balance in its state Senate, creating a Democratic trifecta, improving prospects for new paid family leave legislation.
Due to the new three-fifths super-majority in the Oregon Senate and House, advocates have high hopes that 2019 is the year that paid family leave is enacted in Oregon.
Democrats won control of both branches of the legislature in New Hampshire and, together with current Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, are likely to work toward creating a new paid family leave system during this term. A similar proposed bill has already been passed in the Senate.
Missouri Democrats have sponsored a bill for the 2019 legislative session that includes the Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Act. If signed, the act would still have to win state voters' approval as a referendum on the November 2020 election ballot.
Vermont's Democrats and progressives won a super-majority of 102 seats in the House of Representatives, enabling them to avoid a veto from the state's Republican governor and push a paid family leave bill over the finish line in 2019.

2. The issue is gaining prominence at the federal level

Both sides of the aisle sponsored paid family leave bills in 2018. But now that Democrats control the House, a reinvigorated FAMILY Act is set to be re-proposed and moved forward. The last proposal of this act was in 2017 and sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who intends to run for president. The bill proposes 12 weeks of paid leave for family and personal medical needs. It also calls for funding via a new 0.4 percent payroll tax, split between employers and employees.

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3 trends making leave management more complex

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