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HB 945

State employees; authorize to buy back leave time used while taking FMLA leave.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Carolyn Crawford

Mississippi bill allowing state employees to repurchase leave time used during unpaid FMLA leave to restore accrued benefits.

Died In Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 945

Legislative bill overview

HB 945 would allow Mississippi state employees to repurchase leave time that was used while they were on Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protected leave. Essentially, employees could restore previously-used vacation, sick, or personal leave by buying it back, potentially at their own expense or through some compensation mechanism. The bill died in committee in early 2025 without advancing further.

Why is this important

FMLA leave is often unpaid or partially paid, leaving employees in a difficult position where they lose accrued leave time while caring for family members or managing serious health conditions. This bill attempts to address that gap by giving employees a mechanism to recover lost leave. However, the practical implementation—particularly how buyback would be funded and whether it would be mandatory or voluntary—significantly affects whether this helps or burdens employees financially.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding mechanism: Unclear whether employees would pay out-of-pocket to restore leave, potentially creating a financial barrier for lower-wage workers or those already struggling with medical expenses
  • Equity concerns: Could benefit higher-paid employees more than lower-paid ones if buyback costs are uniform rather than adjusted by salary level
  • Budget impact: State government would need to account for restored leave liability on its books, affecting budget projections and leave payout obligations upon retirement or termination

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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