New Hampshire HB 1250: relative to notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements under leave of absence for childbirth, postpartum, and pediatric medical appointments.

Bill Text

HB 1250-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2752

 06/08

HOUSE BILL 1250-FN

AN ACT relative to notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements under leave of absence for childbirth, postpartum, and pediatric medical appointments.

SPONSORS: Rep. Berry, Hills. 44

COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

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ANALYSIS

 This bill clarifies that employees shall give at least 15 days’ notice to take leave for childbirth-related medical appointments and allows employers to deny job reinstatement if doing so would unduly disrupt operations.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2752

 06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements under leave of absence for childbirth, postpartum, and pediatric medical appointments.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Leave of Absence to Attend Medical Appointments for Childbirth, Postpartum Care, and Infant Pediatric Medical Appointments. Amend RSA 275:37-f to read as follows: 

 275:37-f Leave of Absence to Attend Medical Appointments for Childbirth, Postpartum Care, and Infant Pediatric Medical Appointments. No employer with 20 employees or more, shall deny an employee leave from work up to a total of 25 hours to attend the employee's own medical appointments for childbirth, postpartum care, or the employee's child's pediatric medical appointments within the first year of the child's birth or adoption. In the case where both parents of a child are employees of the same employer, the parents collectively may take unpaid leave according to this section, for a total of 25 hours in their child's first year. An employer is not required to pay an employee for any time taken as leave pursuant to this section. However, an employee shall be permitted to substitute any accrued vacation time or other appropriate paid leave for any leave taken pursuant to this section provided doing so does not violate any terms of employment. When the employee returns from their own or their child's health appointments, that employee's original job shall be made available to the employee by the employer if the job is still available and doing so would not unduly disrupt the operations of the employer. An employee who wishes to request leave under this section shall provide [reasonable] at least 15 calendar days' notice to the employer prior to the leave and make a reasonable effort to schedule the leave so as not to unduly disrupt the operations of the employer. An employer may ask for, and the employee shall then provide, documentation from the employee to ensure the time is being used for its intended purpose. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

 LBA

 26-2752

 11/4/25

HB 1250-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements under leave of absence for childbirth, postpartum, and pediatric medical appointments.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Revenue Fund

None

 Expenditures*

Indeterminable

 Funding Source

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Funding Source

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 County Expenditures

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Local Expenditures

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association