HI HB695

Establishes a state-administered paid family and medical leave insurance program, with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations collecting payroll contributions beginning January 1, 2027, and paying benefits starting January 1, 2028

Provides up to 12 weeks of family leave benefits per year for caring for a new child, family member with serious health condition, qualifying military exigency, or domestic abuse situations, and up to 26 weeks of medical leave for an employee's own serious health condition

Calculates weekly benefits using a tiered formula based on wages relative to state average weekly wage (90% for wages up to 50% of state average, 66% for wages between 50-100%, and 55% for wages above 100%), capped at the state average weekly wage

Requires employers with 5+ employees to remit 100% of payroll contributions, while smaller employers remit 50%; employers may deduct up to 50% of contributions from employee wages

Provides job protection requiring employers to restore employees to equivalent positions after leave, maintain health benefits during leave, and prohibits retaliatory actions against employees exercising leave rights