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VermontH.4612025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET

An act relating to expanding employee access to unpaid leave

Sponsored By: Emilie Krasnow (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Broader reasons for family health leave

Beginning July 1, 2025, family leave covers your own serious health condition and many family members’ serious health needs. A serious health condition includes risk of death, inpatient care, continuing treatment, and rehab, including treatment for substance use disorder. This applies if your employer has 15 or more workers who average at least 30 hours per week.

Expanded parental leave for birth and placement

Beginning July 1, 2025, parental leave covers pregnancy, recovery from childbirth or miscarriage, and bonding within one year of birth. It also covers adoption or foster placements for a child age 18 or younger, with bonding within one year of placement. This applies if your employer has 10 or more workers who average at least 30 hours per week.

More family relationships count for leave

Beginning July 1, 2025, more relationships count as family for leave. Children (by birth, adoption, foster, or step), any age, and legal wards are included. Parents, in‑laws, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouses, civil union partners, and domestic partners also count. A domestic partner qualifies if you lived together at least six months, are 18+, not closely related, not married to others, and agree to support each other. The law also covers people who stand in loco parentis, meaning day‑to‑day care like a parent.

Safe leave for violence and stalking

Beginning July 1, 2025, you can take safe leave if you or a family member is a victim or alleged victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. You may use leave for medical care, counseling, safety planning, moving to safe housing, recovery, or meeting with police or prosecutors. You cannot use safe leave if you are the perpetrator. The law uses Vermont’s legal definitions for domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Who qualifies as an eligible employee

Beginning July 1, 2025, you qualify for leave if you worked for the same employer for at least one year and averaged 30 or more hours per week. You also qualify if you meet the federal service test in 29 C.F.R. § 825.801.

Which employers must offer leave

Beginning July 1, 2025, businesses with 10 or more workers who average at least 30 hours per week must offer parental, bereavement, safe, and military‑exigency leave. Businesses with 15 or more such workers must also offer family leave for serious health conditions.

Clear rules for military exigency leave

Beginning July 1, 2025, qualifying exigency leave follows federal rules for needs tied to a family member’s active duty. The law lists covered U.S. Armed Forces branches, including all main branches, their reserves, and any state’s National Guard. This helps families know when military‑related leave applies.

Clear timing for bereavement leave

Beginning July 1, 2025, bereavement leave applies when a family member dies. You can use leave to handle the estate. All estate‑related leave must happen within one year of the death.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Emilie Krasnow

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. House message: Governor approved bill on May 22, 2025

    5/22/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on May 22, 2025

    5/22/2025House

  3. Delivered to the Governor on May 16, 2025

    5/16/2025House

  4. House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment

    5/16/2025Senate

  5. Senate proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/15/2025House

  6. Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/15/2025House

  7. Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/14/2025House

  8. Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/13/2025House

  9. Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/9/2025Senate

  10. Pending third reading, Senate proposal of amendment amended as moved by Senator(s) Chittenden

    5/9/2025Senate

  11. Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) Chittenden

    5/9/2025Senate

  12. New Business/Third Reading

    5/9/2025Senate

  13. 3rd reading ordered

    5/8/2025Senate

  14. Proposal of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs agreed to

    5/8/2025Senate

  15. Reported favorably by Senator Norris for Committee on Appropriations

    5/8/2025Senate

  16. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Chittenden for Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

    5/8/2025Senate

  17. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    5/8/2025Senate

  18. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

    5/8/2025Senate

  19. New Business/Second Reading

    5/8/2025Senate

  20. Favorable report by Committee on Appropriations

    5/7/2025Senate

  21. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

    5/7/2025Senate

  22. Second Reading

    5/7/2025Senate

  23. Entered on Notice Calendar

    5/7/2025Senate

  24. Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31

    5/1/2025Senate

  25. Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

    5/1/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 32)

    5/28/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    5/16/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    5/16/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment

    5/13/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/13/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House

    3/24/2025

    PDF

  • As Passed by the House (Unofficial)

    3/24/2025

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    3/7/2025

    PDF

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