# 119-hr-5222: ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act

119-hr-5222, ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5222
- As of: 2026-10-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5222
- Congress: 119
- Title: ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-09
- Sponsor: Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 74
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-15

## Summary

**Extends FMLA coverage to paraprofessionals and education support staff.** This bill would let many school support employees qualify for Family and Medical Leave Act protections using a work-hours test tied to their school-year assignment.

## Cosponsors (74)

- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3] (D-WA), 2025-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2025-11-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2025-11-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2025-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29] (D-CA), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2026-01-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2026-01-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2026-01-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2026-06-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- FMLA coverage for school support staff: benefit, medium. This bill would set a new FMLA hours test for paraprofessionals and education support staff at educational agencies or institutions. You would meet the hours requirement if you worked at least 60% of your job’s expected monthly hours from the prior school year. Employers would have to keep the expe…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act
- 119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act
- 119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains…
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5222 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5222)

## Related
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [119-hr-1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1810)
- [119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2550)
- [119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-70)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5222 (as of 2026-10-15).