In a move that could significantly simplify paid family and medical leave administration, Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) have unveiled the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act, a bipartisan package aimed at expanding access to paid leave while easing compliance burdens for employers operating across state lines.
 

The legislative package includes two components: the Paid Family Leave Public Partnerships Act and the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network Act (I-PLAN Act). Together, they seek to support state-driven leave programs while introducing coordination tools to reduce regulatory complexity for multistate employers.

For HR leaders, the I-PLAN Act is especially relevant. It proposes a formal network of participating states that would collaborate on a shared framework for paid leave administration, data sharing, and employee benefit coordination. This could lead to standardized compliance protocols, reduced paperwork, and smoother onboarding for employees with cross-state work histories.

The I-PLAN would also enable federal grants to fund technology upgrades and administrative support for participating states, ensuring that leave requests can be managed more efficiently. Employers may benefit from clearer rules, faster processing times, and a more unified approach to employee communication.

The Public Partnerships Act, meanwhile, encourages states to launch paid leave programs in collaboration with private insurers. To qualify for funding, states must provide at least six weeks of paid leave and adopt income-based wage replacement. Crucially, participation in I-PLAN is required.

 
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