I–PLAN Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 3090

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Labor and Employment

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2025-07-21T19:44:15Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Interstate Paid Leave Action Network Act of 2025 (I-PLAN Act) aims to create a federal framework that encourages states to collaborate on paid family and medical leave programs. It establishes a network to develop an interstate agreement that simplifies how benefits are delivered, cuts down on paperwork and costs for administrators, and aligns state programs. This is intended to make these programs more effective for workers taking leave for family or health reasons, while helping states and businesses operate more efficiently.

Key Provisions

• Definitions: The bill defines key terms, such as:
• "Paid leave" as compensated time off for "qualifying reasons" (e.g., caring for a newborn, a family member's serious health condition, or one's own serious health issue, based on the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993).
• "State paid family and medical leave program" as a state-run system offering at least 6 weeks of paid leave over 24 months for qualifying reasons.
• "I-PLAN" as the new Interstate Paid Leave Action Network, and "State focal" as a designated state official to lead participation.

• Establishment of the I-PLAN Network:
• Creates a network of state representatives (focals) from participating states to meet at least three times a year.
• Requires the network to produce and update an interstate agreement that sets uniform:
• Policy standards (e.g., definitions for benefit periods, eligibility, family members covered, and wage calculations).
• Administrative standards (e.g., how employers report employee data, notify workers, collect contributions, and handle records; also standards for "employer plans" that meet or exceed state requirements).
• Benefit coordination process for workers with jobs in multiple states, allowing one state to calculate benefits using work history from all involved states.
• Develops an annual roadmap with success metrics and allows states to set internal processes for agreement and participation.

• National Intermediary Support:
• Awards a grant to one experienced national nonprofit organization to run I-PLAN activities for 5 years, including:
• Organizing meetings and publishing agendas/outcomes and the roadmap.
• Producing annual public reports comparing state programs (e.g., eligibility, benefit amounts, financing, coordination with other leave types).
• Conducting outreach to stakeholders like state leaders, workers, employers, self-employed individuals, experts, and Tribal governments.
• Building a secure, shared technology system for wage reporting, claim processing, and data trends (e.g., claim numbers, payment times) that works across state systems.
• Providing training, guidance, and technical help; the Department of Labor (DOL) oversees compliance.

• Grants to States:
• Conforming grants (up to $8 million per state, based on employment size): For states that appoint a focal and participate in good faith; funds cover admin costs (e.g., staffing, tech, outreach) and small business aid (e.g., help with payroll contributions).
• Implementation grants (similar amounts): For states that join the interstate agreement; limited to 4 years post-adoption unless compliance continues.
• DOL can withhold funds for non-participation but restore them if issues are fixed.

• Funding Authorization: Up to $10 million for the national intermediary grant and $40 million each for conforming and implementation grants, for fiscal years 2026–2028.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces entirely new federal mechanisms without altering core laws like the Family and Medical Leave Act (which provides unpaid leave) or existing state paid leave programs. It adds incentives (grants) and a collaborative structure to harmonize varying state programs—currently about a dozen states have such programs with different rules—promoting voluntary interstate consistency rather than imposing national standards. No mandates on states without programs; it only supports those already offering at least 6 weeks of paid leave.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The DOL gains responsibilities for granting funds, monitoring compliance, and evaluating the intermediary, potentially increasing administrative workload but enabling better data sharing on leave trends. States receive financial help to modernize systems, reducing long-term costs.
• Citizens (Employees): Workers, especially those with multi-state jobs, could access benefits more easily and quickly through coordinated claims and uniform rules, improving support for family or medical needs without gaps in coverage.
• Employers: Multi-state businesses benefit from simpler compliance (one set of standards) and less paperwork; small employers get targeted aid, potentially lowering barriers to participation in leave programs.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic state-federal coordination.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• States: Those with paid leave programs (e.g., California, New York) as primary participants; others may join voluntarily.
• Employees and Families: Workers needing leave for qualifying reasons, particularly in interstate work scenarios.
• Employers: Especially multi-state companies and small businesses (under 50 employees), who face reduced admin burdens.
• National Intermediary: A selected nonprofit gains funding to lead coordination.
• Federal Government: DOL as administrator and funder.
• Other Groups: Self-employed individuals, policy experts, Tribal governments, and state legislatures/governors involved in outreach.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies on federal spending power (Congress's authority to attach conditions to grants) to encourage state action without mandates, respecting state sovereignty. The agreement is voluntary and non-binding beyond grant terms; it builds on the Family and Medical Leave Act by referencing its qualifying reasons but focuses on paid aspects handled at the state level.
• Constitutional: Aligns with federalism principles by fostering interstate compacts (similar to those for driver's licenses or taxes) through incentives, avoiding direct federal overreach into state programs.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from both parties) suggests broad appeal for worker protections and business efficiency; could set a model for future federal-state collaborations on social benefits, potentially influencing expansion of paid leave nationwide if successful. No major controversies noted in the bill text, emphasizing cooperation over regulation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-30: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Interstate Paid Leave Action Network Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (20 pages)