Summary At a Glance
- Effective July 1, 2026, Hawaii’s Family Leave Law will allow eligible employees to take leave for a qualifying military exigency.
- The new leave reason applies when the exigency relates to active-duty service by an employee’s child, spouse, reciprocal beneficiary, sibling, grandchild, or parent in the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Covered employers should review and update leave policies, request forms, and HR procedures before the effective date.
Background
Hawaii has enacted Act 13, formerly Senate Bill 3082, expanding the Hawaii Family Leave Law (HFLL) to include leave for a qualifying military exigency, in addition to, existing leave for the birth or adoption of a child and leave to care for certain family members with a serious health condition. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
Hawaii’s HFLL generally provides eligible employees who work for employers with 100 or more employees up to four weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave during any calendar year for qualifying family leave reasons.
Recommended Next Steps for Employers
Employers covered by HFLL should review and update their leave policies, handbooks, and forms to include qualifying military exigency leave as a covered reason for leave under Hawaii law.
Employers should also train HR personnel, managers, and supervisors on the new leave reason, including how to recognize requests for military exigency leave, what documentation may be requested, and how HFLL may interact with federal FMLA when both laws apply.
In addition, employers should review leave administration procedures to ensure that requests are documented consistently and that employees are not discouraged from taking protected leave for qualifying military-related reasons.
How HR Works Can Help
Managing employee leaves of absence can be complex, particularly when state and federal leave laws overlap. HR Works’ Leave Administration services help employers navigate these requirements by supporting leave tracking, employee communications, documentation, compliance deadlines, and coordination with applicable federal and state leave laws.
HR Works can also assist employers with updating leave policies, handbook language, forms, and internal procedures to reflect Hawaii’s expanded Family Leave Law.
Current clients may contact their designated HR Works Consultant for additional information about addressing this change.
Not an HR Works client? To learn more about how HR Works can help manage the complexities of employee leave administration, contact us by visiting our website and completing a “Contact Us” form or calling us toll-free at 1-877-219-9062.
