Governor Newsom Signs SB 590, Ensuring that California Workers Can Use Paid Family Leave to Care for Chosen and Extended Family Members
California Work & Family Coalition
For Immediate Release
October 15th, 2025
Contact:
Katie Duberg, 443-844-8320, katie@workfamilyca.org
Governor Newsom Signs SB 590, Ensuring that California Workers Can Use Paid Family Leave to Care for Chosen and Extended Family Members
California - On October 13th, 2025 Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 590, authored Senator María Elena Durazo, into law. California’s entirely worked funded Paid Family Leave program allows California workers to receive partial income while on leave to care for a seriously ill family member or bonding with a new child. SB 590 will ensure that qualifying workers can use Paid Family Leave to care for seriously ill chosen and extended families, effective July 1, 2028. As a result, California’s Paid Family Leave program will be more inclusive and equitable for older adults, LGBTQ+ and immigrant workers, all of whom are more likely to rely on chosen and extended family for care.
"This is a victory for working families across California. By signing SB 590, Governor Newsom has recognized that family is about more than legal or biological ties - it's about the people we love and who depend on us,” said Senator María Elena Durazo (D Los Angeles). “No one should have to choose between their paycheck and caring for a seriously ill loved one, and now workers who've been paying into Paid Family Leave will finally be able to use those benefits for their extended and chosen family. California joins seven other states in honoring these meaningful relationships, and I'm proud we could deliver this with bipartisan support."
“The signing of SB 590 marks a major milestone in formally and legally recognizing that family isn't always who we're related to by blood, family can also be who we choose,” said Yvette Cervantes, resident of Orange County. “Now LGBTQ people and their chosen family and long-time unmarried couples can show up to take care of one another and have their families be seen as equals under California law."
“SB 590 is a critical step forward in recognizing the changing dynamics of California’s families,” said Michael Murray, AARP California State Director. “This is an important enhancement to the paid family leave program for older Californians, many of whom do not have children or large, extended families to care for them when they become seriously ill. SB 590 gives Californians of all ages more options when they or a loved one are in need of caregiving support.”
“SB 590 ensures that California’s Paid Family Leave program is more equitable and inclusive,” said Mariko Yoshihara, Policy Director for the California Employment Lawyers Association. “All hard-working Californians, regardless of their family structure, deserve access to the Paid Family Leave program that allows them to be there for their loved ones when it matters most.
“Everyone deserves to be able to care for their loved ones in times of need. It’s heartbreaking that until now, California workers caring for a member of their chosen or extended family were unable to access Paid Family Leave, even if they were contributing to the Paid Family Leave program, “ said Katie Duberg, Political Organizing Director at California Work & Family Coalition. “We are delighted that California’s Paid Family Leave program now recognizes how Californians are already caring for each other. We are grateful to the many community members who spoke up about their personal experiences caring for a chosen or extended family member, to Senator Durazo for authoring this legislation and to Governor Newsom for signing it into law.”
“Many workers cannot afford to take time off work to care for a seriously ill loved one without paid family leave benefits,” said Kel O’Hara, Senior Staff Attorney with Equal Rights Advocates. “SB 590 makes California's Paid Family Leave program more inclusive of LGBTQI+ workers and others who care for extended and chosen family members by addressing critical gaps in our state's existing protections. Modern definitions of family extend beyond biological and legal ties, and all families deserve equal support and recognition. We are thrilled this will now be reflected in California law.”
“SB 590 recognizes that families come in many forms — and no worker should have to choose between their job and caring for a loved one in a time of serious illness,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. “This bill is the culmination of years of work to make California’s Paid Family Leave program more equitable and inclusive for LGBTQ+ people and all California families. We are grateful to Senator Durazo for her leadership, to Governor Newsom for supporting California workers, and to the many community partners who helped make this bill a reality.”
“It is critical that immigrant and LGBTQ families have the same access to paid leave as all other Californians workers,” said Shazzy Kamali, Staff Attorney with Legal Aid at Work. “We are grateful to Senator Durazo for her leadership and Governor Newsom for signing SB 590. This simple fix to bring paid family leave wage replacement benefits in line with unpaid leave laws will go a long way to making caregiving leave a reality for California workers.”
“UNITE-LA is thrilled that Governor Newsom has signed SB 590,” said Alysia Bell, President of UNITE-LA. “This important expansion of Paid Family Leave strengthens California’s commitment to working families—both chosen and blood—and ensures more Californians can care for their loved ones without sacrificing economic security. We’re grateful to Senator Durazo for championing this critical legislation.”
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