Overview
- Minnesotans who had or adopted a child in 2025 can begin applying Wednesday for up to 12 weeks of 2026 bonding leave, usable within a year of the child’s arrival.
- The new program, set to begin statewide Jan. 1, 2026, offers up to 12 weeks of family leave and 12 weeks of medical leave with a 20‑week annual cap and partial pay up to roughly $1,400 per week.
- Officials say the program is financed by a 0.88% payroll tax split between employers and employees, with qualifying private plans allowed in lieu of the state premium.
- DEED reports a month‑plus beta test and says multiple layers of identity and need verification will precede payments, using a system built by the vendor behind Massachusetts’ program.
- The paid leave office expects roughly 5,000 eligible early parental applicants and projects more than 132,000 total claims in 2026, as business groups brief employers who remain concerned about costs and staffing coverage.