Healthy Families Act
Sponsored By: Senator Bernie Sanders
Introduced
Summary
National earned paid sick time. This bill would create a federal framework requiring covered employers to provide paid sick leave that accrues at 1 hour per 30 hours worked and can be used for personal illness, caregiving, preventive care, or needs related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Show full summary
- Families: Parents and caregivers can use paid sick time to care for children or other covered family members, attend medical appointments, or address safety and legal needs related to domestic violence or stalking.
- Workers: Employees earn 1 hour per 30 hours worked, can use leave after 60 days of employment, and may use up to 56 hours per year unless an employer offers a higher cap.
- Employers and federal staff: Employers that employed one or more employees for 20 or more workweeks must comply and must post notices, keep records, and follow certification and confidentiality rules. The Secretary of Labor can investigate violations and pursue civil remedies, and the bill explicitly covers entities like the Government Accountability Office and the Library of Congress.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Who is covered by paid sick time
If enacted, the bill would define which employers and workers must follow the law. Employers with at least one employee on each workday for 20 or more weeks this year or last year would be covered. The bill would also expressly include GAO and Library of Congress employees, rail carriers, successors, and persons acting for covered employers. These coverage rules would start 6 months after the Department of Labor issues required regulations.
Worker lawsuits and money remedies
If enacted, employees could sue in State or Federal court for violations. Courts could order employers to pay lost wages, salary, benefits, or other compensation. If no wages were lost, courts could award up to 56 hours of pay. Judges could also award interest, extra damages, reinstatement, and reasonable attorney and expert fees. These rules would start 6 months after the Department of Labor issues required regulations.
How you earn and use sick time
If enacted, employees would earn at least 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Annual accrual under the bill would be capped at 56 hours unless an employer gives more. Unused time would carry over each year but annual use could not exceed the cap. You would start earning on day one and could use paid sick time after 60 calendar days, and time must be reinstated if you are rehired within 12 months. Employers would not have to pay out unused sick time when you leave.
Protections against being punished
If enacted, it would be illegal for employers to interfere with or punish employees for using paid sick time. Employers could not fire, demote, or discriminate against you for taking leave. They also could not count paid sick time under no-fault attendance rules or require you to find a replacement worker to get paid sick time. These protections would start 6 months after the Department of Labor issues required regulations.
What you can use sick time for
If enacted, employees would be able to use paid sick time for their own physical or mental illness, diagnosis, treatment, or preventive care. You could use it to care for a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or a close family-like person. The bill would also let you use paid sick time for needs related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, like medical care, counseling, relocation, or going to court. These rules would start 6 months after the Department of Labor issues required regulations.
Data, studies, and outreach funding
If enacted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics would make an annual report on how much paid sick time workers have and how much they use by occupation and establishment type. The GAO would do a study and report to Congress within 5 years on implementation and access. The Secretary would report on rail-carrier enforcement actions within 3 years. The Secretary would also be authorized to run a public awareness campaign and Congress could provide whatever money is needed for it.
When rules start and enforcement timing
If enacted, the Secretary of Labor would have to issue implementing regulations within 180 days after enactment. The Act would generally take effect 6 months after those regulations are issued. Other agencies with covered employees would have 90 days after the Secretary's rules to issue matching rules. The bill would give the Secretary investigative and subpoena powers and set recordkeeping limits. The law would allow union contracts in effect to delay application until contract end, amendment, or 18 months after the Secretary's rules.
Employer notice and posting rules
If enacted, employers would have to tell every worker about paid sick time and include the rules in handbooks. Employers would also have to post a government-approved notice where workers can see it. An employer who willfully fails to post could be fined up to $100 for each separate offense. These requirements would start 6 months after required regulations are issued.
Employer proof and privacy rules
If enacted, employers could ask for a health-care provider note only when paid sick leave lasts more than 3 consecutive workdays. You would have to give the note within 30 days but your employer could not delay your leave while waiting. Rules would say how people without health insurance can prove need. Employers would have to keep medical and victim-related information in separate, confidential files and limit who sees it.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bernie Sanders
VT • I
Cosponsors
Charles Schumer
NY • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Patty Murray
WA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Tammy Baldwin
WI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Lisa Blunt Rochester
DE • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Maria Cantwell
WA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Richard Durbin
IL • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
John Fetterman
PA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Ruben Gallego
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Martin Heinrich
NM • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Mazie Hirono
HI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Edward Markey
MA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Christopher Murphy
CT • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
John Reed
RI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Brian Schatz
HI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Tina Smith
MN • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Elizabeth Warren
MA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Andy Kim
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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