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HR8207119th CongressWALLET

Parental Bereavement Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]

Introduced

Summary

A federal right to bereavement leave for parents would let workers take job-protected time off after the death of a son or daughter. The bill would add a new Family and Medical Leave Act entitlement that lasts for 12 months from the date of death, limits intermittent or reduced-schedule use without employer agreement, allows substitution of paid leave, and permits certification if regulations require it.

Show full summary
  • Families and parents: Parents could take job-protected leave after a child's death for up to 12 months and could use or substitute existing paid leave for that entitlement.
  • Private-sector employees: Employees eligible under the Family and Medical Leave Act would need to give notice when leave is foreseeable and could not take intermittent or reduced schedules without employer consent.
  • Federal workers and school staff: Civil service rules would mirror the change so federal employees gain the same bereavement right and agencies could require certification under Office of Personnel Management rules. Local educational agency employees would receive matching protections and notice requirements.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Bereavement leave for child loss

If enacted, you would be able to take FMLA or federal civil service leave because of the death of a son or daughter. The bill would treat a son or daughter as "any years of age", so adult children are included. You would have this death-related leave only during the 12 months after the date of death. You could substitute your accrued paid leave for this time under existing rules, but you could not take it intermittently or on a reduced schedule unless your employer agrees.

Employer and school leave rules

If enacted, employers could require certification for death-related FMLA leave only if the Secretary issues rules. Federal agencies could require similar certification only if OPM issues rules. If the Secretary or OPM requires certification, employees must provide it in a timely manner. The bill would also count death-related leave when applying the limit on shared leave for spouses who work for the same employer, and it updates school-district rules for notice and leave counting.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 4/6/2026

  • Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 4/6/2026

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/6/2026

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 4/22/2026

  • Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2026

  • Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

  • Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/1/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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