Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the historic paid parental leave bill into law, helping families spend more time together without worrying about work.
Gov. Ivey signed the bill into law while being surrounded by working parents, teachers, and public servants from across the state. SB199, known as the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025, delivers on a key promise that the lawmaker made in her State of the State address.
Alabama Passes Paid Parental Leave Bill Into Law
During the signing of the bill, the governor said that they are committed to "strengthening families and supporting those who serve our state." She added that the new law reflects her and her colleagues' values.
Ivey said that no parent should have to be forced to choose between their paycheck and spending time with a new member of their family. The official said that the new law sends a clear message, which is that they value families and the state's workforce, according to the Office of Alabama Governor.
The bill was originally sponsored by state Sen. Vivian Figures and Rep. Ginny Shaver and would provide paid parental leave for eligible public employees. These would include teachers and state workers.
Under the new law, female employees are given eight weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, stillbirth, or miscarriage of their child. Additionally, male employees get two weeks of paid parental leave under those same circumstances.
Furthermore, adoptive parents are also eligible to get paid parental leave if they adopt a child who is younger than three years. Either parent will receive eight weeks of paid parental leave, and the other will have two weeks of paid parental leave if both are eligible employees, the Alabama Reflector reported.
Helping Families Spend Time Together
On Mar. 20, 2025, the legislation passed unanimously 94-2, where the two oppositions were male representatives. They claimed that parents could take advantage of their accrued sick leave or "catastrophic" sick leave for parental leave.
However, Shaver, who is a longtime supporter of paid parental leave, argued against the two opposition lawmakers' claims. She noted that while teachers can earn one sick day per month for 10 months, it takes more than 10 days to recover from having a baby.
Supporters believe that the new law will positively impact the lives of roughly 29,000 state employees, approximately 57,000 public school staff, and more than 50,000 public university employees. Under the new law, individuals will become eligible for paid parental leave starting on July 1, 2025, as per A Better Balance.
