House Bill 1044 Summary

• Requires employers with 18 or more employees to provide paid sick and safe leave: 3 days (24 hours) in 2022, 4 days (32 hours) in 2023, and 5 days (40 hours) annually thereafter.

• Employees accrue minimum of 1 hour per 35 hours worked; leave may be used for employee or family member illness, medical care, public health emergencies, or domestic violence/sexual assault/stalking situations.

• Exempts employers offering at least 24-40 hours of paid time off annually, employers with fewer than 18 employees, state and municipal employees, and certain healthcare workers on flexible schedules.

• Prohibits municipalities from imposing sick leave requirements exceeding state minimums and prevents employers from requiring disclosure of health or domestic violence details as condition of leave use.

• Establishes civil penalties of at least $100 for violations; Attorney General must develop regulations and multilingual outreach program to inform employers and employees of requirements.