North Carolina SB 635: Healthy Families and Workplaces/Paid Sick Leave.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 635

Short Title: Healthy Families & Workplaces/Paid Sick Leave. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Bradley, Chitlik, and Salvador (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S635-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES AND HEALTHY WORKPLACES BY 2
ENSURING THAT ALL WORKERS HAVE EARNED PAID SICK DAYS TO ADDRESS 3
THEIR OWN HEALTH NEEDS AND THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILIES. 4
Whereas, nearly every worker in North Carolina is likely to need, during any given 5
year, time off to attend to his or her own illness or that of an immediate family member or for 6
routine medical care; and 7
Whereas, paid sick days have been shown to slow the spread of COVID-19, saving 8
lives and reducing the strain on North Carolina's medical system; and 9
Whereas, paid sick days are a first line of defense in any contagious disease outbreak; 10
and 11
Whereas, many high-contact industries where contagious illnesses are most likely to 12
spread are also those with the lowest paid sick days access rates in North Carolina, including the 13
child care, home- and facility-based senior care, and food and drink sectors; and 14
Whereas, North Carolinians working in low-wage industries are both least likely to 15
have access to paid sick days and least able to afford to take time off for illness without pay; and 16
Whereas, working North Carolinians who are Black and Latino are less likely to have 17
access to employer-provided paid sick days; and 18
Whereas, the lack of paid sick days contributes to workforce attrition and detachment 19
for women; and 20
Whereas, when parents are available to care for their children who become sick, the 21
children's recovery is faster, more serious illnesses are prevented, and the children's overall health 22
is improved; and 23
Whereas, parents who cannot afford to miss work must send children with a 24
contagious illness to child care or school, contributing to the high rate of infections in child care 25
centers and schools; and 26
Whereas, over 62,967 North Carolinians reported physical abuse or sexual assault 27
between July 2017 and June 2018, and there were 1,036 domestic violence-related homicides in 28
North Carolina between 2004 and 2018; and 29
Whereas, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault need time off to care for 30
their health or to seek solutions, such as a restraining order or housing, to avoid or prevent abuse, 31
and are forced to lose days of paid employment; and 32
Whereas, 38% or over 1.6 million private-sector workers in North Carolina are not 33
entitled to any earned paid sick days to care for their own health needs or the health needs of 34
members of their families; and 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 635-First Edition
Whereas, low-income workers are significantly less likely to have earned paid sick 1
days, with 60% of those earning less than $20,000 per year lacking access to earned paid sick 2
days; Now, therefore, 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Chapter 95 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article 5
to read: 6
"Article 3A. 7
"Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act. 8
"§ 95-31.1. Short title and legislative purpose. 9
(a) This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Healthy Families and Healthy 10
Workplaces Act." 11
(b) The public policy of this State is declared as follows: The health and safety needs of 12
employees and their families and the protection of employees from losing their jobs and pay 13
while they seek medical care for themselves, and their family members, are subjects of concern 14
requiring legislation to promote the general welfare of the people of the State without 15
jeopardizing the competitive position of North Carolina business and industry. The General 16
Assembly declares that the general welfare of the State requires the enactment of this law under 17
the police power of the State. 18
"§ 95-31.2. Definitions. 19
The following definitions apply in this Article: 20
(1) Child. – A biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or child 21
of a parent standing in loco parentis. 22
(2) Domestic violence. – As defined in G.S. 50B-1. 23
(3) Employ. – As defined by G.S. 95-25.2(3). 24
(4) Employee. – As defined by G.S. 95-25.2(4). 25
(5) Employer. – As defined by G.S. 95-25.2(5). 26
(6) Health care provider. – Any of the following: 27
a. A doctor of medicine or osteopathy licensed to practice medicine 28
under federal law, any state law, or the laws of another country 29
wherein the person practices. 30
b. A physician assistant licensed in this State licensed to practice under 31
federal law, any state law, or the laws of another country wherein the 32
person practices. 33
c. A family nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife licensed to 34
practice under federal law, any state law, or the laws of another 35