Labor & Employment (Paid Leave)

HB 1663 protects employment for New Hampshire state legislators who work for private employers. It requires employers with 25+ employees to allow legislators to leave work for voting sessions without penalty, provided they give advance notice of session attendance. Employers may require use of accrued paid leave for these absences, but must grant unpaid leave if no leave is available. The law prohibits firing legislators for attending sessions and imposes civil penalties for violations, enforced by the labor commissioner.

HB 1761 establishes a publicly administered Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program to expand New Hampshire's existing paid family and medical leave system. The program will provide wage replacement benefits for eligible employees and self-employed individuals who meet income requirements during a defined base period, covering leave for qualifying family or medical reasons. It creates clear definitions for key terms like "covered individual," "application year," and "average weekly wage" to determine eligibility and benefit amounts. The Department of Insurance will administer the program and enforce protections against interference with leave rights.