Parental Bereavement Act of 2026

This legislation aims to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to include the death of a son or daughter as a qualifying reason for taking leave. Currently, the federal law provides eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons, such as the birth of a child or a serious health condition. This bill would extend those protections to grieving parents, allowing them time off from work to manage the aftermath of a child's passing without the risk of losing their employment. If enacted, the bill would provide a standardized federal framework for bereavement leave under the FMLA. This would ensure that workers in both the private and public sectors have access to a period of leave to cope with the loss of a child. The proposal has been referred to several committees, including Education and the Workforce, where it must be reviewed before it can move forward in the legislative process.