Family Definitions in State Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs (January 2026)

* CA expansion, passed in 2013 and implemented in 2014; NJ expansion, passed and implemented in 2019; NY expansion, passed in 2022 and implemented in 2023; RI expansion passed in 2025 and implemented in 2026; WA expansion passed in April and implemented in July 2021.
** "Child" includes adult children; FMLA and other states are limited to minor children and adult children who are incapable of self-care.
*** "Designated person" expansion in California was enacted in 2025 and takes effect July 1, 2028.
Note: Maryland allows "next of kin" to take paid leave for family caregiving purposes, consistent with federal FMLA; domestic partners were added through improvement legislation in May 2023 in anticipation of the program's implementation. Minnesota allows family caregiving to be provided by "an individual selected by the incapacitated person."

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Source: State program data, gathered from state paid leave laws.Get the data