At a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee sales and income tax subcommittee, members adopted an amendment to S.11 and voted to give the bill a favorable report as amended, sending it to the full committee. The bill and amendment change who qualifies as an eligible state employee under the state’s Paid Parental Leave Act.

The amendment revises the bill’s original definitional change so the statute covers "a person employed by any department, institution, commission, board, or other unit of government who occupies a position eligible to earn annual leave," according to committee staff. The amendment also sets an effective date to give state human resources time to update payroll and leave systems; the amended text moves the effective date to Oct. 1, 2025.

Grant, a committee staff member, told the panel S.11 would expand access to paid parental leave for some time‑limited full‑time employees who currently accrue leave and benefits but are excluded by the statute’s existing phrasing. "There are some time‑limited employees that are full time employees, but they are time limited in their positions… they accrue leave, they have benefits," Grant said, explaining the intent to include those workers.

Supporters at the hearing said the change aligns with the original purpose of the parental‑leave law. Ashley Leto, an advocate who testified in favor, said the bill "corrects what your original intention was" and argued it will benefit maternal and infant health as well as state workforce retention. Chase Bailey, a full‑time statistical and research analyst at the Children’s Law Center speaking in a personal capacity, described how limited accrued leave had affected his family and urged the subcommittee to approve the amendment to broaden access for families.

Connelly Ann Ragley of the Department of Social Services reported that 31 of her agency’s roughly 4,600 employees did not qualify under the current definition; she said the amendment would help the agency recruit and retain employees in grant‑funded or temporary full‑time roles.

On procedure, Miss Turner moved adoption of the amendment; the subcommittee vocalized approval and the amendment was adopted. A motion for a favorable report as amended was made and the subcommittee approved it by voice vote. The committee recorded the outcome as a favorable report and forwarded S.11 to the full Senate Finance Committee.

The amendment focuses the statutory definition on positions eligible to earn annual leave so that employees who accrue leave and other benefits are included. The bill as amended takes effect Oct. 1, 2025, according to staff testimony, to allow the state time to implement necessary payroll and human resources changes.

The subcommittee did not record a roll‑call tally in the hearing transcript; the minutes reflect voice votes and the chair’s announcement that "the ayes have it." The bill will next be considered by the full committee.