SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Legislature has officially passed House Bill 329 State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments, expanding paid maternity leave for state employees and strengthening protections for breastfeeding mothers. Sponsored by Representative Ariel Defay and Senator Michael McKell, the bill received strong support throughout the legislative process, including unanimous approval in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. The bill now heads to Governor Spencer Cox’s desk to be signed into law.
House Bill 329 extends paid maternity leave for state employees from six weeks to nine weeks and expands eligibility to include the adoption of children ages 0 to 5. The bill also clarifies existing law to explicitly allow mothers to pump breast milk in any public space where breastfeeding is permitted.
“More than anything, extending maternity leave through HB329 is a tangible way for the state to show families that we are serious about supporting them,” said Representative Ariel Defay, R-Kaysville. “By investing upstream in the health and well-being of both mother and baby, we send a clear message that strong families matter in Utah.”
Research consistently shows that paid maternity leave leads to positive outcomes for both families and employers. Longer leave is associated with improved child development outcomes, stronger early parent-child bonding, and better maternal health. Studies have also found that access to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave can reduce turnover among working mothers by as much as 70 percent.
“Welcoming a new child into a family is one of life’s most important transitions,” said Emily Bell McCormick, President of The Policy Project. “Policies like HB329 help ensure parents have the time they need to care for their children while also supporting healthier families and a stronger workforce. This is a meaningful step forward for Utah families.”
House Bill 329 is part of a broader series of policies The Policy Project is advancing during the 2026 legislative session to take a holistic approach to boosting family affordability.
About The Policy Project
The Policy Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that acts as a policy accelerator to do real good for real people. The Policy Project develops thoughtful policy solutions to drive systemic change and engage community members to foster cultural change—taking both a top-down and bottom-up approach to improve the lives of children and families in every corner of Utah.
In just a few short years, this approach has delivered lasting impact. Through thoughtful policy and the power of community, The Policy Project’s legislative initiatives have provided period products in every Utah school, built Teen Resource Centers in 86 high schools to help vulnerable students graduate and thrive, expanded child sexual abuse prevention education to K-6 students, limited distracting cell phone use in classrooms, and expanded access to free school meals.
And they’re just getting started. The next chapter will focus on bold policy solutions to expand access to housing, child care solutions, and other critical supports for families across Utah.