MAINE – PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE BEGINS MAY 1, 2026
The Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Authority confirmed that benefits will begin on May 1, 2026. According to the law under which Paid Family and Medical Leave was authorized, benefits were set to begin on May 1; however, a delay would be allowed—up to 90 days—if necessary, to address solvency concerns. The appointed PFML Authority reviewed and discussed the actuarial study of the PFML Program and its Trust Fund, after which they voted unanimously to begin benefits on the first available date, May 1, 2026.
As part of the roll out process, your organization will need to designate a Claim Contact—the email address where notifications will be routed. If you do not designate a Claim Contact, all notifications will be sent to the email address your company used when registering for the Contributions Portal.
Further information is available on Maine’s Department of Labor website. Employers with additional questions can call (207) 621-5024 between 8 AM and 5 PM Monday through Friday, or send a message through the Maine Paid Leave Contributions Portal.
FLORIDA – NEW BILL WOULD ADD FURTHER REQUIREMENTS TO COLLECT BENEFITS
Florida Senate Bill 216, the Promoting Work, Deterring Fraud Act of 2026, would add additional causes for disqualification if a claimant fails to:
- Complete the required prospective employer contacts
- Appear on three or more occasions for a scheduled job interview without notice
- Return to employment after a temporary layoff
Florida claimants are already required to contact 3-5 potential employers (depending on locality) each week to maintain benefits and may be disqualified should they fail to do so or accept suitable work.
Text for the bill can be found here.
WASHINGTON – MASS LAYOFF EXEMPTION FOR THOSE ON PAID FAMILY OR MEDICAL LEAVE
On January 14, 2026, The Washington Employment Security Department filed a permanent rule addressing Senate Bill 5525. The legislation exempts employees who are on Paid Family or Medical Leave from being subject to a mass layoff except under certain circumstances described in the law. This permanent rule will go into effect 31 days after its January 14 filing date.
