Lawson, Giraldo bill to strengthen state’s family leave program signed into law
STATE HOUSE — Legislation introduced by Senate President Valarie J. Lawson and Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo to expand paid family leave through the Temporary Caregiver Insurance, or TCI, program has been signed into law.
The legislation (2025-S 0974aa, 2025-H 6066A) will raise the Temporary Disability Insurance and TCI wage replacement rates from the current 60% to 70% starting in January 2027, followed by 75% in January 2028.
“Rhode Island was once a national leader in providing paid time off for workers to spend with a new child or a sick loved one, but we have fallen behind other states. This puts our state at a competitive disadvantage when competing for talent, and it is unfair to workers who need that time at critical periods in their lives. A society in which people have the time to bond with their babies and care for their loved ones is a healthier society, in every sense of the word. This proven program is funded not through employers but through a modest assessment on the workers themselves. It is an investment in our workforce and in our children, one that will pay off for generations,” said President Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence).
This expansion will be funded through an increase of the payroll contribution cap from $89,200 to $100,000. There will be no impact to the state budget. The formulary changes depending on usage to keep the fund stable, but under current usage conditions, a worker making up to $89,200 will see no increase in contributions. For a worker making $100,000, the increase will equate to $2.70 a week.
“No one should ever have to choose between their job and their family,” said Representative Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls). “By increasing the wage reimbursement, we can help ease the burden of those who have to care for loved ones. I know from my own experience as a father of a daughter born prematurely that the gift of time that TCI provides is priceless.”
President Lawson and Representative Giraldo have been at the forefront of temporary caregiver reform. Last year, the two legislators sponsored a law (2024-S 2121Aaa, 2024-H 7171Aaa) to expand the TCI program from six weeks to eight, allowing new parents more time for parental leave and caregivers more time to care for a critically ill family member.