HB1118: HB1118 Public officers and employees; 120 hours of maternal birth leave; provide

Georgia law currently does not guarantee a specific paid leave benefit for employees recovering from childbirth. HB1118 adds a new section to the state personnel code creating 120 hours of paid maternal birth leave for eligible full-time employees of state government (executive, legislative, and judicial branches) and local school systems, once they have worked six continuous months. The leave must be used within three weeks after childbirth and must be taken before any paid parental leave already allowed under Georgia law. Unused hours have no cash value when an employee leaves the job. The State Accounting Office must update its payroll and human resources software so this leave shows up as its own category by October 1, 2026. Employers cannot punish or retaliate against employees for using this leave, though they can still discipline someone who submits false documents to get it.

• Creates a new 120-hour paid maternal birth leave benefit for eligible full-time state and local school system employees after six continuous months of employment.
• Requires the leave to be used within three weeks after childbirth and taken before any other paid parental leave under existing law (O.C.G.A. § 45-20-17).
• Bars unused leave hours from being cashed out when an employee leaves their job.
• Prohibits employers from interfering with, denying, or retaliating against employees who use this leave, while allowing discipline for fraudulent claims.
• Directs the State Accounting Office to update payroll and HR software so the leave appears as its own benefit category by October 1, 2026.
• Requires employers to notify eligible employees of this benefit when hired and every year afterward.

Full-time employees of Georgia's executive, legislative, and judicial branches and local school systems (including certain hourly employees who meet a 700-hour work threshold), as well as the state agencies and school districts that employ them and the State Accounting Office, which must update its payroll systems.

Employees giving birth would gain a guaranteed 120 hours of paid time to recover, regardless of whether they qualify for leave under federal law, giving many state and school employees paid recovery time they may not currently have.

• Adds new Code Section 45-20-23 to Georgia's personnel administration law (O.C.G.A. Title 45, Chapter 20).
• Defines 'eligible employee,' 'employing entity,' 'maternal birth leave,' and 'qualifying life event' (giving birth to one or more children).
• Subsection (b) grants 120 hours of paid maternal birth leave after six continuous months of employment, regardless of federal leave eligibility.
• Subsection (c) limits use of the leave to the three weeks following birth and requires it precede any paid parental leave under O.C.G.A. § 45-20-17.
• Subsection (e) requires each employing entity (or the State Personnel Board for state departments and agencies) to adopt administrative rules covering documentation and coordination with federal leave.
• Subsection (f) sets an October 1, 2026 deadline for the State Accounting Office to update software so the leave appears as its own category.
• Subsection (g) extends eligibility to hourly employees who worked at least 700 hours in the prior six months.
• Subsection (h) prohibits retaliation against employees using the leave but allows adverse action against those submitting fraudulent documentation.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 413
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)Primary sponsor
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)
• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   170 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #604

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #833

• maternal leave
• state employees
• public school employees
• parental leave
• personnel policy