A newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is one of the most emotional, exhausting moments a parent can face — and in that moment, no one should have to ask: Can I afford to be here?
Thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado parents won’t have to. In January of 2026, Colorado is set to become the first state in the country to support parents with newborns receiving intensive care with additional paid leave — meaning even more Coloradans won’t have to choose between a paycheck and being present.
Here’s what to know about the new law:
What It Means
This new type of leave — known as Neonatal Care Leave — will allow parents to take up to 12 additional weeks of paid time off while their newborns are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. That means:
- Parents can be by their baby’s side during critical early days and weeks without fearing a loss of income, and
- Still take the full 12 weeks of bonding leave offered by FAMLI after their child is discharged.
Governor Polis said it best: “Having a newborn in the NICU is incredibly challenging, and during this time parents should not have to think about whether they can take the time off of work to care for their little one.”
How We Got Here
The change was championed by Colorado parents who were being forced to do exactly that. One of those parents happened to be Rep. Yara Zokaie, who shared the heart-wrenching dilemma she faced when her son was born.
“At that time where I should’ve been able to be fully present for him and for my family, I was working to make sure we could make rent that month,” she said. “It was incredibly scary as a new parent.”
Sen. Jeff Bridges — who joined Rep. Zokaie in sponsoring the bill — called his own first-hand experience with a son who needed intensive care “terrifying and consuming.”
“We need to make it easier for parents with kids in the NICU,” he said.
Now, FAMLI will do just that.
What Else Is Changing?
The new law doesn’t only address the needs of new parents. The measure also lowers premiums for all Colorado workers and employers, from 0.9% of wages to 0.88% of wages, starting in 2026.
The reduction makes coverage even more affordable for Colorado workers to take the time they need during critical life events — and for employers to help them do so. According to projections from state fiscal analysts, the change will save Colorado workers and employers some $35 million next fiscal year.
The new law also gives the FAMLI Division additional tools to manage premiums and avoid volatility from year to year.
“We’re proud to say Colorado trusts the FAMLI Division to both protect parents and this fund,” said FAMLI Division Director Tracy Marshall. “We’ll continue to make the necessary adjustments to keep this essential safety net on solid financial footing.”
Altogether, SB25-144 isn’t just a policy win — it’s a care win. Colorado is proving that paid leave isn’t just about paperwork or percentages. It’s about protecting the rights of workers, the prosperity of business, and the value of family, all at once.
What’s Next
The FAMLI Division is already hard at work crafting details about how parents can file for and receive paid neonatal leave. Colorado can expect to see public hearings and discussion about the details this fall.
We know that there will be lots of questions about this new law from parents, health care providers and all workers and employers — and we’ll be ready to answer as much as we can.
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For all you do in support of FAMLI — thank you!