New Jersey is a national leader in paid family leave. Currently, only five states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation that allow parents to take paid leave to bond with their new children, whether that child was born into the family, adopted or is being fostered. Thanks to new legislation signed by Governor Murphy in February 2019, major improvements are coming to both programs to make them more accessible and affordable. Having access to paid leave time ensures that families have critical time to bond and adjust in the first few weeks, helping to build a strong relationship between the child and their most important caregivers, especially during this critical time period for babies.