Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - More State Paid Leave Bills Introduced & more

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - More State Paid Leave Bills Introduced & more

4/18/2025

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- USBC Webpage Features Key Breastfeeding Reference Materials for Advocates and Researchers
International News
- Paris Declaration on Business & Nutrition 2030
National News
- RAPID Survey Findings Point to Disparities in Pregnancy, Labor, & Delivery Experiences
- AMCHP FY26 Appropriations Public Witness Testimony
State & Community News
- North Carolina Bill Introduced to Prohibit Workplace Pregnancy Discrimination
- Nevada Introduces Expansive Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill
- Ohio Bill Introduced to Provide Paid Parental Leave
- Illinois Bill Introduced to Provide Paid Family Leave for Firefighters
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

denotes a USBC member organization news item denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item

USBC Updates

USBC Webpage Features Key Breastfeeding Reference Materials for Advocates and Researchers

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosts the "Reference Materials for Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change (PSE)" webpage, featuring a compilation of resources and reference materials on a range of key topics relevant to the First Food field, including the public health case for breastfeeding, the economic case for breastfeeding, PSE factors impacting human milk feeding, and data and surveillance sources. The resource is meant to serve as a central space to support the lactation field's research, programmatic, and advocacy efforts.

International News

Paris Declaration on Business & Nutrition 2030

The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and the Paris Peace Forum released the "Paris Declaration on Business & Nutrition 2030." The Paris Declaration on Business & Nutrition 2030 establishes a shared 2030 vision for food systems transformation for improved nutrition, outlining how businesses, governments, investors, civil society, and international organizations can together establish a stronger “Nutrition Economy”. The Declaration presents stakeholder-specific calls to action to governments, companies/businesses, nonprofits and international organizations, investors, and all stakeholders. The Declaration outlines workplace actions for companies to improve their parental leave policies and implement policies that support and respect WHO guidelines for breastfeeding protection and support. It additionally issues calls to action around responsible marketing and consumer marketing, with specific calls for companies to adopt a "do no harm" approach on breastmilk substitutes. Read the press release.

National News

RAPID Survey Findings Point to Disparities in Pregnancy, Labor, & Delivery Experiences

The National Black Child Development Institute and the Black Infant & Maternal Health Task Force released the "Advancing Health Equity: Insights from RAPID and NBCDI's Vision for Black Families" report. The RAPID Survey Project, based at Stanford University’s Center on Early Childhood, aims to identify and understand inequities in maternal and infant health through rigorous data collection to develop data-informed policies. Their recent survey explored the experiences of parents of various racial backgrounds who faced racism during pregnancy and birth between May 2021 and June 2023. They found that pregnant parents across racial and ethnic groups faced difficulties accessing prenatal healthcare and services. RAPID researchers identified distinct disparities in pregnancy, labor, and delivery experiences.

AMCHP FY26 Appropriations Public Witness Testimony

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) submitted a "Public Witness Written Testimony re: Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations" to the Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. In the letter, AMCHP requests that the Subcommittee fund the Title V Maternal & Child Health Services Block Grant (Title V) administered by the Health Resources and Services Agency (HRSA) at $1 billion, reflecting increases for both the state formula fund as well as the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) portion of the grant program.

State & Community News

North Carolina Bill Introduced to Prohibit Workplace Pregnancy Discrimination

North Carolina Representative von Haefen introduced House Bill 940. The bill would protect individuals from employment discrimination related to pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, including lactation. The bill would require employers of 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations, including time and space for expressing breast milk.

Nevada Introduces Expansive Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill

Nevada Assemblymember Hatch introduced AB388, an expansive paid family and medical leave bill that would provide more leave to more workers. Key changes include requiring public and private employers with more than 50 workers to provide leave, expanding covered family members, providing safe leave, and more.

Ohio Bill Introduced to Provide Paid Parental Leave

Ohio Representatives Miller and Williams introduced House Bill 682. The bill would create tax credits for qualifying employers that provide paid parental leave to their employees. The bill would allow the tax credit for employers that offer their employees a minimum of 56 days of parental leave for the birth, stillbirth, or adoption of a child.

Illinois Bill Introduced to Provide Paid Family Leave for Firefighters

A group of Representatives in Illinois introduced House Bill 2490. The bill would provide job protection and six weeks of paid family leave to firefighters for the birth or adoption of a child, and to care for a family member with a serious health condition.