Senator César J. Blanco Passes Bill to Allow Counties to Create Shared Family Leave Pools

Press Release Contact: Taylor Sanchez
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Taylor.sanchez@senate.texas.gov
May 13, 2025
Senator César J. Blanco Passes Bill to Allow Counties
to Create Shared Family Leave Pools
Austin, Texas – Today, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 334, sponsored by Senator César J. Blanco and
authored by Representative Claudia Ordaz, to give counties across Texas the option to create family leave pool
programs for their employees.
In critical times, such as the birth of a child or a serious illness, many county employees quickly exhaust their
sick or vacation leave, leaving them without the time or resources to care for themselves or their loved ones. HB
334 allows county commissioners courts to establish shared leave pools, allowing employees to donate unused
leave to coworkers facing extended emergencies or medical hardship.
Senator Blanco issued the following statement:
“When someone is dealing with a major health crisis or welcoming a new child into their home, the last thing
they should have to worry about is running out of time to care for their family or themselves.
“Whether it's a parent taking time to bond with a newborn, a caregiver looking after a sick relative, or an
employee facing a serious illness, HB334 gives counties the flexibility to create a shared leave program so
coworkers can step up and support each other when it matters most.”
Representative Claudia Ordaz issued the following statement:
“I’m so grateful that HB 334 passed the Senate this morning with unanimous support. This legislation gives
county employees the opportunity to take time off when it matters most – whether to welcome a new family
member or care for a sick loved one at home. It’s modeled after the parental state employee leave law I
authored and passed during the 87th session. This bill reflects our continued commitment to supporting
hardworking parents and caregivers across Texas, while ensuring fiscal responsibility at the local level. I’m so
proud of what we accomplished!”
The bill now heads to Governor Abbott’s desk for final signature.
For further information, please contact Taylor Sanchez at Taylor.Sanchez@senate.texas.gov.