Healthy Families Act
Senate Committee Reviews Healthy Families Act to Mandate Paid Sick Leave for Most U.S. Workers
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would require almost all employers to let their workers earn paid sick time. For every 30 hours you work, you would earn one hour of paid leave. You could earn up to 56 hours—about seven days—of paid sick time each year to use when you or a family member gets sick.
- The plan covers most employees, including those working for small businesses, the government, and the railroad industry. You can start using your earned time after being on the job for 60 days. It also allows you to carry over any unused sick time to the next year so you do not lose it if you stay healthy.
- You could use this time for your own health needs, to take a family member to the doctor, or even to attend school meetings for your child. It also provides paid time off for people dealing with domestic violence or stalking so they can seek legal help, go to court, or find a safe place to live.
- Employers would be banned from firing or punishing workers for using their earned sick time. They also could not count these absences against you in attendance policies that normally punish people for missing work. If an employer breaks these rules, the Department of Labor could step in, or workers could sue for lost wages.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
The bill covers any employer with 1 or more employees, meaning virtually every small business would need to provide paid sick leave. This creates new costs for businesses that currently don't offer paid leave, including tracking accrual, maintaining records, and covering shifts when workers are out. Small businesses with thin margins could face particular difficulty absorbing these costs.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesFEDERAL LEGISLATION—SENATORS INTRODUCE 'HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT' SEEKING TO GUARANTEE PAID SICK DAYS FOR EVERY U.S. WORKER
Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Rosa DeLauro introduced the Healthy Families Act in February 2026, aiming to guarantee workers up to seven paid sick days per year. The bill allows for one hour of leave per 30 hours worked and covers personal illness, family care, and domestic violence recovery.
Republicans Aren't Just Gutting Health Care. They're Taking Your Sick Leave, Too
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, sponsor of the Healthy Families Act, argues that the lack of national paid sick leave is a systemic failure. The bill would mandate seven days of job-protected leave for businesses with 15+ employees, a policy advocates say is essential for public health and economic security.
Sanders, DeLauro push for national paid sick leave
Lawmakers are making a renewed push for the Healthy Families Act, which would establish a national paid sick leave standard. While the bill has broad public support, it faces significant opposition from business groups concerned about the costs of new federal mandates on small employers.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Healthy Families Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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