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Virginia enacts paid family and medical leave, expanding PFML patchwork
The new Virginia program sets contributions to begin April 1, 2028, with benefits starting December 1, 2028, and could add compliance conflicts for employers operating in multiple states.
Virginia has become the first Southern state to enact mandatory paid family and medical leave, with Governor Abigail Spanberger signing Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 1207 on April 22, according to Insurance Business.
The law sets contributions to begin April 1, 2028, and benefits to go live December 1, 2028. The program provides up to 12 weeks of leave at 80 percent of an employee’s average weekly wage, administered by the Virginia Employment Commission.
With the signing, the number of US jurisdictions that have enacted paid family and medical leave programs rises to 16, Insurance Business reported. Delaware, Maine, and Minnesota launched benefits in 2026, and more than a dozen additional states have legislation under consideration.
For multistate employers, the outlet said the challenge is not the growing number of programs but differences across them, including documentation requirements and deadlines. It cited that short-term disability plans governed by ERISA can allow up to 45 days to return certification paperwork, while the Family and Medical Leave Act sets a 15-day deadline, and that California uses separate timelines for disability and paid family leave, creating increased compliance exposure when multiple programs overlap.