Virginia is now the first state in the south and the 15th nationwide to create a paid family and medical leave program.

Its been about a decade in the making and after being vetoed twice in the last administration it goes live in 2028. Virginia's paid family and medical leave program will pay about 80 percent of the leave taker's average weekly wage, for up to 12 weeks ... time off to welcome a new welcome a new child, to care for loved ones or to recover from a long term illness