Senate
Adjourned Sine Die
2026 Regular Session

SB14

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AN ACT relating to paid maternity leave for state employees.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 61 to define "full-time position" and "qualifying employee"; permit a qualifying employee paid leave of absence of up to 30 days for the birth of a child; require leave of more than 1 child during a singular pregnancy to be taken concurrently; require the employee to use the leave within 1 year of the child's birth; require the employee to use the leave as a continuous 30-day block or as a 20-day block with the remainder to be used intermittently as full days; require the employee to request advance approval before using the leave; require the employee to use the paid leave before other types of accrued leave; require compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act; specify that any other type of leave not specified does not qualify for paid maternity leave; prohibit an employee from converting the unused balance of paid maternity leave to other types of paid leave, benefits, or compensation; require any administrative regulation in conflict with this Act to be amended, withdrawn, or repealed within 90 days of the effective date of the Act.

Introduced: January 6, 2026

Last action: January 6, 2026

To Committee On Committees (S)
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This bill would create a paid maternity leave program for qualifying Kentucky state employees, allowing up to 30 days of paid leave following the birth of a child. The leave must be used within one year of the birth, taken either as a continuous 30-day block or as a 20-day block with remaining days used intermittently, and requires advance approval. Unused leave cannot be converted into other pay or benefits. Who it may affect: Kentucky state government employees who give birth and meet the bill's definition of a qualifying full-time employee.

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Legislative History

Jan 6, 2026 ·
Introduced
Jan 6, 2026 ·
To Committee On Committees (S)

Primary Sponsor

Portrait of Matthew Deneen
Matthew Deneen

Senator · Senate District 10

Primary sponsor
matthew.deneen@kylegislature.gov
BallotpediaOfficial profile

Co-sponsors (6)

Portrait of Julie Raque Adams
Julie Raque Adams

Senator · Senate District 36

Co-sponsor
Julie.Adams@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Donald Douglas
Donald Douglas

Senator · Senate District 22

Co-sponsor
Donald.Douglas@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Greg Elkins
Greg Elkins

Senator · Senate District 28

Co-sponsor
greg.elkins@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Gerald Neal
Gerald Neal

Senator · Senate District 33

Co-sponsor
Gerald.Neal@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Craig Richardson
Craig Richardson

Senator · Senate District 03

Co-sponsor
craig.richardson@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Reginald Thomas
Reginald Thomas

Senator · Senate District 13

Co-sponsor
Reginald.Thomas@kylegislature.gov