Paid leave is the law - and we need your voice to make the program work for all Mainers.

PFML Benefits Begin May 1, 2026

Paid Family and Medical Leave is available in Maine.

Applications for leave starting May 1 or after are available at maine.gov/paidleave

Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits start May 1st and payment of benefits will begin on May 7, 2026.

The Latest News

Maine Paid Leave Coalition celebrates launch of Paid Family & Medical Leave

Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program officially launches on Friday, May 1, after more than a year of contributions and a month of accepting applications. This is a historic moment for Maine workers and employers who now have a safety net to keep our communities healthy, cared for, and employed.

In 2023, Maine became the fourteenth state (including Washington D.C.) to pass a comprehensive paid leave program. Maine’s program is a result of years of public input, actuarial studies, and thoughtful implementation. Mainers can now apply for leave through the Maine Department of Labor’s paid leave portal at maine.gov/paidleave.

Maine Paid Leave Coalition applauds decision on Paid Leave benefits launch date

The Maine Paid Leave Coalition applauds the Maine Paid Leave Authority’s decision at its January meeting on Tuesday that benefits for Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program will begin on May 1, 2026.


This vote comes after a thorough actuary report and presentation from Spring Consulting Group. The Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Authority asked questions and considered the solvency of the PFML fund and took this vote as part of their fiduciary obligation to the program. Their thoughtful consideration now gives workers and employers – who have been contributing to the program since January 2025 – a clear timeline of when they can plan for benefits being available

The Maine Department of Labor continues to work through the development of PFML tools for Maine workers, and has continued to follow the timeline set by statute. The Maine Paid Leave Coalition commends both the Maine DOL and the Paid Leave Authority’s diligent work over several years to implement the program, and this latest step in the process brings us one step closer to paid leave for nearly all Maine workers.

“This is a major step toward establishing Paid Leave for working Mainers, and is a transformative moment for the state,” said Destie Hohman Sprague, executive director of the Maine Women’s Lobby. “We join 13 other states and the District of Columbia in ensuring that no one is forced to choose between their health, their families and their jobs. When benefits go live this spring, we will see the culmination of years of work toward a more just, equitable economy that values families, caregivers, and all workers.”

Study finds Maine’s PFML program is financially solvent

Maine’s Paid Leave Authority released an independent actuarial study on December 16, 2025, which studied the program’s overall financial picture after contributions to the Paid Family and Medical Leave program began in January 2025. 

According to the study, the PFML program has met its funding targets in time for the 2026 launch of employee benefits. PFML was carefully designed to be financially solvent. You can read the full report, completed by Spring Consulting Group, on the Maine Department of Labor’s Paid Leave Authority website.

The Paid Leave Authority will meet on January 20, 2026 to decide on a final launch date for benefits. A Zoom link to attend the meeting can be found here.

Older Updates

  • A ruling by Maine’s highest court upholds Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave law, striking down a challenge filed earlier this year by Bath Iron Works and the state Chamber of Commerce.

    Maine's paid leave law is commonsense policy that lifts up working families all across the state - especially for people who previously did not have access to any paid leave at all. People shouldn't have to choose between their financial security and their health or the health of a loved one.

    And whether your employer offers their own paid leave policy or not, that doesn't change the fact that everyone - regardless of where they work or how much money they make - deserves the right to care for themselves and their families without fear of losing crucial income, or their jobs. That's the power and the promise of paid leave, and that's what we're all fighting for.

  • Advocates and legislative leaders are celebrating a significant victory for Maine's working families - as of June 10, 2025, all proposed bills aiming to weaken or dismantle the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program have been defeated soundly in the Maine Legislature.

    Established in 2023, Maine's PFML program is set to provide eligible workers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave starting in 2026. This benefit will allow Mainers to care for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or recover from their own health conditions without the fear of losing income or employment.

    Despite a series of proposed bills this session that sought to roll back key components of the law, the legislature stood firm in its commitment to Maine's workers. It also stabilized the program by accepting clarifying and technical changes to the current law and passing a study to protect the program funds.

    "We’re encouraged that attempts to significantly alter Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program were rejected in both the House and Senate this week," said Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick). "This outcome reaffirms our commitment to implementing the program as it was thoughtfully designed and crafted with years of collaboration and input from Mainers across the state. It's important that we give the program a fair chance to launch as planned, gather real-world data, and make informed adjustments in the future if needed. At the end of the day, this program is about showing up for working families when they need it most—and we’re proud to stand behind that."

    “This is a victory for every Mainer who believes that care is essential, not optional,” said Destie Hohman-Sprague, Executive Director of the Maine Women’s Lobby. “By defeating these rollbacks, lawmakers sent a clear message: our paid leave program is here to stay—and it’s a cornerstone of a more just, equitable economy that values families, caregivers, and all workers.”

    A recently published research brief from the Roux Institute at Northeastern on current access to paid leave in Maine highlights the need for comprehensive, equitable, and accessible paid leave policies that support all Maine workers -- especially in rural areas, where access to paid leave is significantly more limited. 

    Currently, only 20 percent of U.S. private sector workers have access to paid family leave through an employer and only 42 percent have access to short-term disability insurance. Nearly one in four employed mothers return to work within two weeks of giving birth and one in five retirees leave the workforce earlier than planned to care for an ill family member. 

    The Maine Paid Leave Coalition is a group of partners who work together to create comprehensive system change related to paid family and medical leave, and to implement a system that works for all Mainers, leaving no one behind.  description

  • On Wednesday, April 23, Maine’s top legislative leaders joined members of the Maine Paid Family Leave Coalition and community advocates at a press event at the State House to oppose proposed legislation that would weaken the state’s newly enacted Paid Family and Medical Leave program. The event was held in advance of a public hearing on bills that would roll back key components of the law, which is set to provide job-protected paid leave to Maine workers starting in 2026.

    The press event, organized by the Maine Paid Family Leave Coalition, drew support from a broad range of voices, including Senate President Mattie Daughtry, Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau, health care professionals, caregivers, and Mainers who will personally benefit from access to paid leave.

    “Every Mainer deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing they won’t have to choose between their paycheck and caring for a loved one. With our paid family and medical leave program, we’re putting families first—whether it’s welcoming a new child, caring for an aging parent, or recovering from a serious illness,” said President Mattie Daughtry. “This program is about dignity, stability, and making sure working Mainers have the support they need when life happens.”

    “The thing is, no matter what age group you’re in or what part of Maine you live in, one day you may need to care for someone you love. Paid Family Medical Leave makes it possible for you to do that,” said House Speaker Ryan Fecteau. “Mainers want to work hard. They also want to be there for their family.” 

    While the program is still in the implementation phase, significant progress has been made towards its effective rollout in 2026. The Department of Labor has been working closely with stakeholders to build a user-friendly system, including accepting contributions from employers and employees, and adopting clear guidelines to ensure that the benefits will be accessible, equitable, and sustainable for all Maine workers.

    Advocates noted how the rollbacks in the proposed legislation would weaken the PFML program.

    “As someone who had to give up my job because there was no support in place, I can tell you exactly what these rollbacks would mean: more moms pushed out of the workforce,” said April Tardiff, a mom from Old Orchard Beach who spoke at the event. “More families struggling to make ends meet. More parents stuck in impossible situations with no help and no time.”

    Currently, only 20 percent of U.S. private sector workers have access to paid family leave through an employer and only 42 percent have access to short-term disability insurance. Nearly one in four employed mothers return to work within two weeks of giving birth and one in five retirees leave the workforce earlier than planned to care for an ill family member

  • A recent poll from the nonpartisan firm Pan-Atlantic Research indicates continued sweeping support of paid family and medical leave in Maine, with 70% of likely Maine voters supporting the creation of the program. The survey of 831 likely Maine voters was conducted from February 4, 2025 through March 14, 2025, and measured support for PFML as a part of the 65th Omnibus Poll.

    • Key findings from the poll highlight the broad popularity of PFML across demographics, with substantial backing across political affiliations, age groups, and regions across the state. More than six in ten respondents in every subgroup indicated support, including 65% of men and 76% of women;  86% of 18-34 year olds, 78% of 35-54 year olds, and  56% of those 55 and older; across all income brackets, including 70% of those making under $50,000 per year, 75% of those making $50-100k, and 64% of those making over $100,000 per year; and in both Congressional Districts (72% of CD1 voters and 67% CD2 voters support or very strongly support).

      • A summary of the findings is available here.

  • On January 13, 2025 the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Bath Iron Works filed a lawsuit challenging Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave rules.  Here is the official statement from the Maine Paid Leave Coalition:

    “Paid Family and Medical Leave is a commitment to support over 600,000 Maine workers, reduce financial stress and provide greater stability for families and small businesses. It’s a program that helps workers take care of themselves and their loved ones without losing income, which in turn strengthens Maine’s economy and supports local employers. The specific concern raised in the lawsuit filed by the Maine Chamber of Commerce and Bath Iron Works was already the result of a compromise and this legal action must not delay the implementation of the full program, which will bring crucial benefits to Maine families and workers. Our coalition is focused on ensuring the success of this program, and we will continue to educate and engage with communities to ensure that all Maine workers and businesses understand how they stand to benefit.”

  • After a comprehensive public process, the Maine Department of Labor issued the final rules that will govern the state's new Paid Family and Medical Leave program.

    The rules can be found at maine.gov/paidleave.

  • Do you have questions about Maine’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program?

    Visit maine.gov/paidleave for resources and materials for Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Resources and materials include:

    • Webinar recordings for employees and employers

    • Paid Family and Medical Leave Labor Law Poster

    • What Employers Need to Know for 2025 one-page document

    • Frequent Asked Questions

    Check updates from the Maine Department of Labor PFML program by visiting maine.gov/paidleave.

  • The proposed rules outline details not explained in the PFML law, including the application procedures, notice requirements and the process for employers to apply for a private plan substitution. 

    The Maine Department of Labor released proposed rules for public comment on May 20, 2024 and again on August 28, 204. The last public comment period closed on September 30, 2024. Hundreds of people provided feedback on the proposed rules, offering nearly 1,600 comments, to help MDOL develop Maine’s new paid family and medical leave program.

    For more information on the PFML program visit maine.gov/paidleave

  • Did you recently give birth in Maine?

    If you have a child under 2 and were working while you were pregnant with them, we want to hear from you! Researchers from The Roux Institute at Northeastern University in Portland are interested in how your leave experiences during this time.  Share your experiences in a short survey. Fill out there survey here:bit.ly/maple-survey

    Eligible participants will receive a $15.00 gift card!

    Questions about this research study? For more information contact l.smith@northeastern.edu

  • The Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Authority is a fifteen member body created to advise on the administration of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Eleven of the fifteen members are appointed by the Governor and reviewed by the joint standing committee on Labor and Housing and confirmed by the Maine State Senate.

    To view current Authority members and access meetings and minutes visit maine.gov/paidleave/authority.

  • October 25, 2023 is 90 days from when Governor Janet Mills signed the state’s budget, making the PFML policy law. The law includes a year of planning the program through December 31, 2024. After this planning period, contributions will begin January 2025 and benefits will be available May 2026. There will be opportunities to be involved in the planning process to implement a strong program for Maine workers.

  • Maine Department of Labor released a statement about their plan to start the rulemaking process in the Fall of 2023 for the new Paid Family Medical Leave Program.

    October 2023 the budget will go into effect and DOL will begin the rulemaking process.

    It will start with an informal information gathering, followed by a formal process.

    To find Department of Labor updates visit: https://www.maine.gov/labor/pfml

  • Maine Governor Janet Mills signs paid family and medical leave system into law through the state budget addendum on July 11, 2023.

    We could not be more grateful to be in community with all of our coalition partners and wonderful advocates who have worked for years to make this happen.

    Join us and take a moment to thank your lawmakers for making PFML a reality!