Currently, state employees who have a baby are not granted paid parental leave. Instead, the worker must use accumulated vacation or sick time. They can also take unpaid time off under the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
Bipartisanship is still alive in the Texas Legislature.
While on many hot-button issues that's not the case, on Wednesday afternoon the Senate unanimously passed SB 222, a bill that would grant paid parental leave to state employees. It's also a measure some Republicans have said is necessary after the state banned nearly all abortions.
Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, said his bill would promote "maternal mental and physical health and reduce healthcare costs for the state." He also said it would send a signal.