Paid time off to care for a new baby or a sick parent could move a lot closer to reality for millions of Ohio workers, if a new bipartisan plan at the Statehouse survives the legislative grind.
State Sens. Beth Liston (D - Dublin) and Louis W. Blessing III (R - Colerain Township) on Tuesday rolled out a proposal for a state-run paid family leave insurance program that would give eligible workers up to 14 weeks of paid time off each year. Covered reasons would include the birth or care of a new child, tending to an ill family member, or recovering from a serious health condition. The plan would be funded through a payroll contribution of about 0.8% of wages, split between employers and employees, with businesses that have fewer than 15 workers exempt from the employer share.
As reported by CW Columbus, the senators laid out the details in a joint release that highlights benefits for both full-time and part-time employees. That release pointed to data showing that roughly 72% of Ohio workers, nearly 4.5 million people, do not have access to paid family leave, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families. "No one should have to choose between their job and caring for themselves or their family," Liston said in the release, according to the station.
What is in the proposal
The draft legislation would create a state-maintained insurance fund that workers and employers pay into through payroll contributions. From that pool, benefits would be paid out to qualifying workers who need time off. Covered situations would include time to bond after the birth or adoption of a child, caring for a family member, and a worker’s own serious medical needs, with up to 14 weeks of paid leave available per year.
The filing is being tracked on the Ohio Senate's legislation pages for the 136th General Assembly, which list a House filing that deals with paid family leave insurance as lawmakers weigh companion approaches.
Why backers say Ohio needs it
Supporters of the bill frame it as a response to a major gap in basic benefits. A report from the National Partnership for Women & Families estimates that about 72% of Ohio workers do not have paid family leave through their employer, leaving close to 4.5 million people without that safety net.
Advocates argue that statewide insurance models help families afford time away from work so they can bond with new children and care for sick relatives, while also reducing turnover and training costs for employers. The bill’s carve-out for employers with fewer than 15 employees is designed to limit the cost burden on the smallest operations that often run on razor-thin margins.
Next steps at the Statehouse
The senators’ release notes that the proposal is still in its early days and is waiting on a formal bill number and committee assignment in the Ohio Senate, according to CW Columbus. A related House filing, House Bill 593, already appears in the legislature’s tracking system as concerning paid family leave insurance, which suggests sponsors may try to move companion bills through both chambers.
Before anything goes into effect, lawmakers will have to navigate committee hearings, secure fiscal analyses, and log multiple rounds of votes in Columbus.
What it would mean for Ohio
If it becomes law, the plan would put Ohio in the company of states that have adopted payroll-funded paid family and medical leave programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Backers say the shift would extend a crucial financial cushion to more workers who need time for caregiving or recovery.
Opponents are expected to raise concerns about costs and compliance requirements during the committee process. For now, Statehouse watchers will be tracking how the measure is numbered, assigned, and debated as it starts its formal run through the legislature.
