Sponsors (34)
The bill extends a federal, enforceable paid‑sick‑leave floor that improves access, health outcomes, and worker protections for many Americans while imposing notable compliance costs, litigation exposure, and uneven implementation burdens that will fall disproportionately on small employers and complicate multi‑jurisdictional administration.
Low‑wage and hourly workers (including parents and caregivers) gain guaranteed paid sick leave that begins at hire — accrual at 1 hour per 30 worked up to 56 hours per year — increasing income security when ill or caring for family.
Employees can use paid sick time for a wide range of health needs — preventive care, mental-health care, and needs arising from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking — improving individual health outcomes and public health by reducing presenteeism.
Workers receive strengthened procedural and privacy protections — accrued time carries over and is reinstated if rehired within 12 months, employers must keep health information confidential, employees get clear written notices of rights and enforcement steps, and existing FMLA protections and anti‑retaliation rules are preserved.
Small businesses and other employers face substantial new costs and administrative burdens (tracking accruals, confidential health records, updating handbooks and postings, handling certification requests), which will fall hardest on small employers and could affect hiring and prices.
Expanded liability, fee‑shifting, liquidated damages, and a longer statute for willful violations substantially increase litigation risk and potential payouts for employers (including states that accept funds and waive sovereign immunity).
Because employers can retain superior voluntary leave or cite existing benefits, coverage can remain uneven across workplaces and sectors, producing variable protection for workers and complicating enforcement and comparability.
Based on analysis of 13 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal paid sick leave right: earn 1 hour per 30 worked (up to 56 hrs/yr), with carryover, anti-retaliation, enforcement, data collection, and preservation of stronger state/local laws.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Bernard Sanders · Last progress February 12, 2026
Creates a federal paid sick leave right requiring most employers to let employees earn at least 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year. Workers may use accrued time after 60 days for their own illness, medical care, preventive care, caring for family or family-like persons, and for issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The law includes posting and notice rules, anti-retaliation protections, enforcement by the Secretary (Department of Labor) and a private right of action, data collection and a GAO study, and preserves stronger state or local leave laws.