[ST. PAUL, MN] –Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today provided an update on the rollout of Minnesota's Paid Leave program. Since applications opened, 17,983 people have applied to the program and 3,510 people have started their leave. Photos from the event are available online here.

"Paid Leave is doing exactly what we promised: helping Minnesotans care for their families without worrying about making ends meet," said Governor Walz. "We built this program carefully with employers and launched it on time and under budget. Paid Leave is one of the most important investments we've made in working families, because life doesn't pause when you welcome a child or get sick — and neither should your paycheck."

"After many months of hard work and effort from DEED staff and partners, we're absolutely thrilled to share Paid Leave with our fellow Minnesotans," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "Great things take time to build. Thank you to all of DEED's partners, employers and Minnesota officials for putting in the work and dedication to make this program successful and long-lasting." 

The Paid Leave Law, passed in 2023 and signed by Governor Walz, created a statewide paid family and medical leave program providing eligible workers with paid time off for major life events like welcoming a child or caring for themselves or a family member. Paid Leave guarantees eligible workers up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave to welcome a new child, care for a loved one, or manage their own medical needs. Workers needing both family and medical leave in the same benefit year may take up to 20 weeks total. 

Paid Leave began taking applications from new parents last month and from all Minnesotans earlier this week. Launch of the intuitive, accessible program makes Minnesota only the 13th state in the nation to offer paid leave for families welcoming a child or taking care of medical needs.

The program's arrival comes after more than two and a half years of design, construction, and testing to ensure an effective launch. DEED and Paid Leave worked closely with employers in building the Paid Leave employer portal, and leveraged Minnesota's Unemployment Insurance (UI) program to build on an existing wage reporting system that employers already know and trust. The program launched with strong systems in place to verify identities and work histories and to detect and prevent fraud and came in significantly under the implementation budget set by the legislature.

In December, Governor Walz visited Marty's Deli to highlight the importance of Paid Leave for workers and employers. Minnesotans planning to take leave in 2026 for bonding, caregiving, or medical reasons are encouraged to explore eligibility, estimate benefits, and apply through the state's Paid Leave website.