Find out how The DBL Center, Your Insurance Wholesaler, can help you leverage these required benefits in states with family leave laws to save your clients money and use these funds to expand your book of business and earn more commission.
This summer, Maine joined the growing list of states with family leave laws. It became the 13th state to establish a paid family and medical leave program. As more states provide this important benefit, The DBL Center helps brokers privatize this benefit for their clients and leverage the cost savings to expand their books of business,
Get a birds-eye view of new required family and medical leave programs in Maine, Maryland, Delaware and Minnesota. Then see how you can save businesses money by privatizing paid family and medical leave and use the savings to invest in group ancillary and voluntary worksite benefits.
See more states with family leave laws in our PFL Resource Center.
What We Know About Maine’s PFML Program
On July 11, 2023, Maine governor Janet Mills signed a budget that includes a Paid Family and Medical Leave Program for the state, according to a press release issued by Maine.gov. The program begins in 2026, giving eligible workers 12 weeks of paid time off to care for a relative or for their own medical condition, or for the birth of a child.
Contributions to the state plan will begin January 1, 2025, but employees won’t be able to start taking leave and receiving benefits until May 2026. The program will be funded by contributions from employers and employees.
Benefits will be calculated as 90% of the portion of an employee’s wages that is less than or equal to 50% of the state average weekly wage plus 66% of the portion of wages exceeding 50% of the state average weekly wage. Benefits will be capped at 100% of the state average weekly wage. The state AWW changes annually, so we will know more about exact benefit amounts when benefits become available.
Employers will have the option to participate in the state plan or opt out of the state plan and provide benefits under comparable private plans.
More States with Family Leave Laws: Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota
Paid Family Leave expands across more east coast states and makes its foray into the Midwest as Maryland, Delaware and Minnesota add statutory paid leave plans.
Visit our Paid Family Leave resource center and view our PFML map to see what states currently offer paid leave to care for children or ill family members.
Here’s what we know about paid leave programs in Maryland, Delaware and Minnesota so far.
Paid Family and Medical Leave in Maryland
Maryland’s paid leave program goes into effect January 1, 2026. According to the Maryland Department of Labor website, the program will be administered by the Division of Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) and will cover time off to care for a family member or an employee’s own medical condition.
The DBL Center sources tell us that employers will have five quarters of pre-funding, beginning in October 2024. This represents a tremendous opportunity for employers to save money with a private option.
Delaware Paid Family Leave
Also in January 2026, Delaware introduces its Paid Leave program. Businesses with 10 to 24 employees are mandated to provide parental leave only, while employers with 25+ employees must offer full coverage, including medical leave. Businesses of fewer than 10 employees, federal government employees and seasonal operations that shut down for a month or more are all exempt from providing coverage, according to the Delaware Department of Labor website.
Employers can opt-in to a private plan between September 1, 2024, and December 1, 2024. Benefits are funding by less than 1% of an employee’s weekly salary, and employers can require employees to contribute half that cost. The benefit will be up to 80% of an employee’s wages, up to $900 per week.
Minnesota Paid Family Leave
Paid leave comes to the Midwest as Minnesota introduces Paid Family and Medical Leave on January 1, 2026. Premium payments will also be due on this date. Few details are available on benefit amounts, coverage, or privatization options.
Right now, the Minnesota Department of Labor says that premiums will cost 0.70% of an employee’s taxable wages, split between the employer and employee. The employer may opt to cover the entire premium.
Help Your Clients Save and Enhance Their Benefits Packages
As the list of states with family leave laws grows, business owners need a reputable resource they can trust to help them write these crucial benefits. By privatizing PFML in states where that option is available, including Maine, you can save your clients money.
Leverage The DBL Center’s relationships with top carriers to save on PFL while providing benefits equal to or better than what the states provide. Then, take that savings and show your clients how to expand their group ancillary and voluntary worksite benefits to provide a more enticing package for employees.
Join The DBL Center’s growing team of insurance brokers who are saving clients money in states with family leave laws and increasing commissions by cross-selling other important employee benefits.
