A new bill filed by State Rep. Kanika Brown in the North Carolina House seeks to expand sick leave use to include caring for close family members, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 398 on March 13 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Enact KinCare & Safe Days.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill, known as the “KinCare Act,” amends the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act to allow employees to use their accrued sick leave to care for family members, including children, spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, and others with a close familial relationship. Employees can use up to five consecutive days of sick leave for this purpose each year, subject to the same conditions as their personal sick leave. The act clarifies that this provision does not extend leave rights under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Additionally, it prohibits retaliation against employees who file complaints or take actions related to these rights. The act takes effect Oct. 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Carla D. Cunningham proposed the most bills (16) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Brown, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 71st House district, replacing previous state representative Evelyn Terry.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanika Brown, Amos L. Quick, III, Becky Carney, and Carla D. Cunningham | HB 398 | 03/13/2025 | Enact KinCare & Safe Days. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 392 | 03/13/2025 | Funds/Forsyth United Way/Summer Learning. |
| Kanika Brown and Amber M. Baker | HB 393 | 03/13/2025 | Funds for One Love Festival. |
| Kanika Brown, Aisha O. Dew, Bryan Cohn, and Carolyn G. Logan | HB 374 | 03/11/2025 | NCARCOG Funding/Operations Improvements. |
| Kanika Brown, Julie von Haefen, Pricey Harrison, and Zack Hawkins | HB 344 | 03/10/2025 | Litter Reduction Act of 2025. |
| Kanika Brown, Marcia Morey, Maria Cervania, and Pricey Harrison | HB 345 | 03/10/2025 | Rights of Nature/Certain River Basins. |
| Kanika Brown, Bryan Cohn, Carolyn G. Logan, and Sarah Crawford | HB 269 | 03/03/2025 | Workforce Freedom and Protection Act. |
| Kanika Brown, Bryan Cohn, Sarah Crawford, and Tracy Clark | HB 115 | 02/12/2025 | Child Care Facility Tax Exemption. |
