Protecting Military Parental Leave Evaluations Act

This bill requires the Secretary of Defense to create regulations within 180 days that exempt active-duty military members taking parental leave (over 31 consecutive days) from performance evaluations during that leave period. It directly affects service members using the expanded 12-week paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or placement of a child. The key provision mandates that members can take this leave without needing special waivers from their commanding officer, addressing inconsistent current policies across military branches. The bill also aims to reduce paperwork burdens by allowing leave use within a two-year window after the birth or adoption event. These changes implement a 2022 policy expansion to ensure military parents aren't penalized for taking leave.