HB 1422: State employees; add stillbirth as a qualifying event for parental leave

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-20-17) already grants parental leave to eligible state employees, including certain executive, legislative, judicial, and local education agency workers, when they have a child through birth, adoption, or foster placement. Currently, stillbirth is not listed as a qualifying event, meaning an employee who experiences a stillbirth may not be entitled to the same parental leave benefit. This bill amends that Code section to add stillbirth as a fourth qualifying life event. It ties the definition of stillbirth to the meaning already used in Georgia's vital records law (O.C.G.A. § 31-10-1). The bill does not change who counts as an eligible employee or how much leave is granted; it only expands the list of events that trigger eligibility for the leave. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not state a separate effective date beyond the general session rules.

• Adds stillbirth, defined by reference to O.C.G.A. § 31-10-1, as a qualifying life event for parental leave under O.C.G.A. § 45-20-17.
• Leaves unchanged the existing qualifying events of birth, adoption, and foster care placement.
• Leaves unchanged the definitions of 'eligible employee' and 'employing entity' that determine who can use the leave.
• Repeals any state laws that conflict with the new provision.

Full-time state employees in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, along with certain full-time local education agency employees such as teachers, who are already eligible for parental leave under current Georgia law, and who experience a stillbirth.

Employees who suffer a stillbirth would gain access to the same parental leave benefit currently available for birth, adoption, or foster placement, potentially giving them paid time off during a difficult event that current law does not explicitly cover.

• Section 1 revises subsection (a) of O.C.G.A. § 45-20-17 to add a new qualifying event, subparagraph (D), covering stillbirth.
• The new provision defines stillbirth by cross-reference to paragraph (17) of Code Section 31-10-1, Georgia's vital records law.
• The existing qualifying events, birth of a child, adoption placement, and foster care placement, remain in place unchanged.
• Section 2 repeals any laws in conflict with the Act, a standard closing provision.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Eric Gisler (D, HD-121)Primary sponsor
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Debra Bazemore (D, HD-069)
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Doreen Carter (D, HD-093)

• parental leave
• state employees
• stillbirth
• personnel policy
• teacher benefits