TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Governor Kay Ivey recently approved a law that will grant paid parental leave for public employees, teachers, and state workers. 

For years, Alabama parents have had to juggle between spending time with their newborn baby and earning their paycheck. SB199, also know as the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025, aims to make that balance easier to find.

“Having parental leave will add to the family structure,” said Dana Wilson, executive director of Sav-A-Life Troy Woman’s Life Center. “While the mom is going through the physicality of having a baby, the father can also be there to witness and experience that.”

The law offers eight weeks of paid parental leave for female employees and two weeks for male employees. In her State of the State Address, Ivey said the legislation serves as another way to strengthen our families.

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“It takes a lot of the tangible stress off of the mother, and so the intangible changes she goes through chemically and biologically are more supported with the other person being there,” Wilson said.

The law is just another resource offered to new parents. Wilson explained how it affects our community.

“This bill will add to the support for mothers and fathers, strengthening families because they’ll know they have what they need,” she said.

Serving nearly 1,500 clients a year, Sav-A-Life helps expectant parents who may not always be able to get the resources they need. Wilson said paid parental leave supports the organization’s mission of strengthening family bonds by providing additional help for families.

“Economic worries plague our families, and so this bill will help alleviate that stress,” she said.

The Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025 will also be extended to adoptive parents of a child three years or younger. The law goes into effect July 1, 2025.