Roundup of selected state health developments, fourth-quarter 2025 

The fourth quarter of 2025 saw a flurry of mostly routine or minor developments in the paid family and medical leave space.

California and New York City expanded their paid sick and safe leave laws. California and Illinois imposed restrictions on pharmacy benefit manager activities. California passed two laws: one that will ultimately limit the use of prior authorizations and another that will increase the coverage of its benchmark plan to include fertility services.

Other noteworthy developments occurred in Iowa, New Mexico, and Washington.

This GRIST summarizes these and other state health-related developments in the fourth quarter of 2025.

• State paid family and medical leave contributions and benefits (February 6, 2026)
• IRS clarifies taxation of state and DC PFML contributions, benefits (January 13, 2026)
• Roundup of selected state health developments, third-quarter 2025 (October 21, 2025)
• Some states look to strengthen PBM standards (September 25, 2025)
• San Francisco contractor-lessee health plan standards, pay rates updated (September 5, 2025)
• Roundup of selected state health developments, second-quarter 2025 (August 5, 2025)
• Roundup: State accrued paid leave mandates (July 23, 2025)
• Beyond state lines: A primer on insurance law extraterritoriality (March 26, 2025)
• Roundup of selected state health developments, fourth-quarter 2024 (February 20, 2025)

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