Last Updated on May 15, 2025

Mississippi has taken a significant step toward supporting working families with the passage of the Mississippi State Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, set to take effect January 1, 2026. This legislation, signed into law in March of 2025, introduces paid parental leave for eligible state employees, aligning Mississippi with a growing number of states providing enhanced family leave benefits.

Overview of the Mississippi State Employees Paid Parental Leave Law

The Act grants up to six weeks of paid parental leave at 100% of regular salary for qualifying state employees who are the primary caregiver of a newborn or newly adopted child. Importantly, this leave must be taken within 12 weeks of the child’s birth or adoption and may be used only once in a 12-month period.

Key Eligibility Criteria

• The leave is available only to full-time state employees who have completed at least 12 consecutive months of service.
• Employees of K-12 public schools, public universities and community colleges are excluded from this benefit.
• If both parents are state employees, only one is eligible to take paid parental leave under the Act.

Coordination With Other Leave Benefits

• This paid parental leave is in addition to other available leave benefits. It does not reduce accrued personal or medical leave balances.
• Where applicable, the leave will run concurrently with federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitlements.
• Employees must provide a minimum of 30 calendar days’ notice before the anticipated start of the leave, when foreseeable. In urgent cases, employees are expected to notify their supervisor and HR as soon as possible.

Limitations of the Mississippi State Employees Paid Parental Leave Law

• Paid parental leave under this Act:
  • Cannot be accrued or carried over to a different year.
  • Cannot be used for retirement service credit.
  • Is not payable upon separation from state service.

Why This Matters

While this legislation applies specifically to certain Mississippi state employees, it reflects a broader trend across the U.S. toward recognizing the importance of parental leave in employee retention and workplace satisfaction. Employers in the private sector may wish to monitor the response to this new law as they evaluate their own family leave policies.

MyHRConcierge helps businesses stay compliant with ever-changing employment laws and support HR practices that align with evolving workforce expectations. If your organization is considering implementing or revising parental leave policies, now is an excellent time to do so- both to support your employees and to remain competitive in today’s labor market. To learn more, contact MyHRConcierge at 855-538-6947 ext. 108 or email ccooley@myhrconcierge.com. Or, schedule a free consultation below: