SB26-127 • 2026

Family Medical Leave Insurance Duration Extensions

With regard to the family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI) program, the bill: Defines a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the duration extension that applies to a covered individual who has a

Children Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Sen. J. Bridges, Rep. Y. Zokaie
Last action: 2026-04-09
Official status: Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Postpone Indefinitely
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included an extension of up to four weeks for children needing care in a NICU, but the official summary only mentions additional leave for claims arising from January 1, 2026, if a child needs inpatient care in a NICU.

Family Medical Leave Insurance Duration Extensions

This bill changes Colorado's Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program to extend leave for parents of newborns in NICUs and adds two weeks of paid leave if a family member dies while the person was on leave caring for them.

What This Bill Does

Defines what a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is for the FAMLI program.
Extends the duration of paid FAMLI leave by up to four weeks for claims arising from January 1, 2026, if a child needs inpatient care in a NICU.
Adds two more weeks of paid leave after January 1, 2027, if a family member dies while the person was on leave caring for them.

Who It Names or Affects

People who use Colorado's FAMLI program to take time off work for medical or family reasons.
New parents whose children are in NICUs.
Individuals who lose a family member while they were using paid leave to care for that person.

Terms To Know

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A special hospital unit where newborn babies get medical care when they are very sick or premature.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the additional leave will be funded.
It is unclear if there are any limits on who can use this extended leave beyond what is stated in the bill.

Bill History

2026-04-09 Senate
Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Postpone Indefinitely
2026-02-25 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology

Official Summary Text

With regard to the family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI) program, the bill:
Defines a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the duration extension that applies to a covered individual who has a child receiving care in a NICU; and
Extends the duration of paid FAMLI leave for claims arising on or after January 1, 2027, up to an additional 2 weeks, following the death of a family member for whom a covered individual cared for while using such leave.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 26-0125.01 Renee Leone x2695 SENATE BILL 26-127
Senate Committees House Committees
Business, Labor, & Technology
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING CHANGES TO PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE101
DURATION EXTENSIONS.102
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
With regard to the family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI)
program, the bill:
! Defines a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the
duration extension that applies to a covered individual who
has a child receiving care in a NICU; and
! Extends the duration of paid FAMLI leave for claims
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Bridges,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Zokaie,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
arising on or after January 1, 2027, up to an additional 2
weeks, following the death of a family member for whom
a covered individual cared for while using such leave.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-13.3-503, add2
(14.5) as follows:3
8-13.3-503. Definitions.4
As used in this part 5, unless the context otherwise requires:5
(14.5) (a) "N EONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT " MEANS AN6
INPATIENT FACILITY THAT IS EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS ,7
SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE FOR CRITICALLY ILL OR MEDICALLY FRAGILE8
INFANTS.9
(b) "NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT" INCLUDES AN INTENSIVE10
CARE UNIT INTO WHICH AN INFANT IS TRANSFERRED DIRECTLY AFTER11
BIRTH OR, IF THE TRANSFER IS DUE TO AN ESCALATION OF THE INFANT 'S12
MEDICAL NEEDS, FROM ANOTHER NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.13
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-13.3-505, amend14
(1) as follows:15
8-13.3-505. Duration.16
(1) The maximum number of weeks for which a covered17
individual may take paid family and medical leave and for which family18
and medical leave insurance benefits are payable for any purpose, or19
purposes in aggregate, under section 8-13.3-504 (2) in an application year20
is twelve weeks; except that benefits are payable up to:21
(a) An additional four weeks to a covered individual with a22
serious health condition related to pregnancy complications or childbirth23
complications; and24
SB26-127-2-
(b) For claims arising on or after January 1, 2026, an additional1
twelve weeks to a covered individual who has a child receiving inpatient2
care in a neonatal intensive care unit for the duration that the child is3
receiving care in the neonatal intensive care unit; AND4
(c) F OR CLAIMS ARISING ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2027, AN5
ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS TO A COVERED INDIVIDUAL FOLLOWING THE6
DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER FOR WHOM THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL USED7
PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE TO PROVIDE CARE , PURSUANT TO8
SECTION 8-13.3-504 (2), WHICH ADDITIONAL LEAVE MUST BE USED WITHIN9
ONE YEAR FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THE FAMILY MEMBER AND WITHIN10
ONE YEAR OF THE END OF THE APPLICATION YEAR.11
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,12
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate13
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for14
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state15
institutions.16
SB26-127-3-