Maine is poised to join other New England states in offering paid family and medical leave after the House approved a bill on Thursday. The 79-65 vote, largely along party lines, echoes a similar vote in the Senate a day earlier. The legislation now awaits review by Democratic Governor Janet Mills.
This program, a first for Maine, would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave annually to address personal illness, care for family members, or welcome a new child. Representative Kristen Cloutier, a Lewiston Democrat and bill sponsor alongside Senator Mattie Daughtry of Brunswick, emphasized the significance of this step, highlighting that Maine is currently the only New England state without such a program.
The initiative will be funded by a payroll tax shared between employers and employees, with a cap of 1% of wages. Eligible employees could utilize the leave for various reasons, including the birth or adoption of a child, their own serious health condition, caring for an ailing relative, or managing the transition from military deployment. Businesses with fewer than 15 employees are exempt, and employees must have worked for at least 120 days to qualify.
While initial cost projections for the bill were around $71 million, amendments have reduced the estimated startup cost to $12 million, with an additional $14 million projected for the first year of operation. The specific contribution rate and tiered wage replacement structure are yet to be determined.
