Bill delaying paid family, medical leave implementation tabled without vote on House Floor

A bill that would delay implementation of the Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave programs didn’t get a vote Monday, instead being immediately tabled on the House Floor.

Modeled after the state’s unemployment insurance fund, Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program offers workers partial wage replacement when they take leave from work to bond with a child, recover from a serious illness or take care of family members. It is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, with benefits available and premiums beginning to be collected on that date.

People gather outside of the House Chamber March 10 to demonstrate against HF11, a bill that would delay the implementation of the Minnesota Paid Leave Law by one year. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) has serious doubts the program can be successfully implemented with that timeline. He sponsors HF11, which was on Monday’s Supplemental Calendar of the Day, but was laid on the table before debate or a vote.

Explaining his bill on the floor, Baker said the program as it currently stands will cause a major financial strain for businesses that are dealing with increasing costs and difficulty finding workers. He also said the Department of Employment and Economic Development is still making rules, leading to confusion for employers who will be responsible for communicating the program to their staff.

“If we let this go out the door as it is, we have failed horribly,” Baker said.

Opponents of the delay, however, have previously countered that the program has been thoroughly vetted over the past decade, going back to when it was first introduced, and employers have had three years to prepare for its rollout. They cite testimony of DEED officials unequivocally stating the department is ready for rollout.

During a press conference earlier in the day Monday, House Speaker Emerita and DFL Leader Melissa Hortman DFL Leader Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) expressed confidence in DEED’s ability to manage the program, calling it basically a copy/paste for unemployment insurance. She said during COVID, Minnesota proved to be best in the country at putting out uninsurance checks.  

Moreover, they say families have made plans with a 2026 start date in mind.

“Minnesotans are desperate for the benefits of paid leave – and planning is on track for the start of the program next year,” said Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul) in a statement. “By contrast, this bill has been rushed through, with no evidence that a delay is needed, scant attention to cost, and no plan for how additional time would be used.”