California grants firefighters 26 weeks of paid postpartum leave
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1024 (Chapter 419, Statutes of 2026) on September 20, 2026, adding Chapter 9.6.1 to the Government Code. From January 1, 2027, city, county, district, CSU and Cal Fire departments must grant active firefighters with 1,250 hours of service in the prior year up to 26 weeks of fully paid leave when disabled by pregnancy, childbirth or a related condition, without requiring them to exhaust sick, vacation or compensatory leave, with benefits continuing.