MIL FMLA Act

This bill updates the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to better support military families and veterans. It lets more kinds of relatives—and even someone with a close, family‑like bond—take up to 26 workweeks of leave in a year to care for a covered servicemember. It also gives veterans who are employees up to 26 workweeks of leave if a serious injury or illness keeps them from doing their job. The total amount of leave a worker can take for all reasons in a year would still be limited to 26 workweeks.

Leave can be taken all at once, or in smaller blocks or a reduced schedule. When veteran leave is foreseeable, employees must give reasonable, practical notice. Employers may ask for a doctor’s note in some cases, including if the worker still cannot do their job when leave ends. These changes also apply to federal civilian employees .

• Who is affected: Workers covered by FMLA; families of servicemembers; veterans who are employees; and federal civilian employees .
• What changes: Up to 26 weeks to care for a servicemember with a broader list of family relationships (including in‑laws, grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, and someone with a close, family‑like bond); up to 26 weeks for veteran employees’ own serious injury or illness; leave may be taken intermittently; reasonable notice and medical certification may be required; combined cap of 26 weeks in a year .