If action is required, we will notify you on the "Action Alert" page.

Current Breastfeeding Laws

For laws at the federal, state, and local level that affect breastfeeding mothers, see our "Breastfeeding and the Law" page.

California State Legislation

Good News! SB 502 has been signed by Gov. Jerry Brown!

SB 502: Hospital Infant Feeding Protection Act - (De León and Pavley)

Startjng January 1, 2014, requires all hospitals with perinatal units to have an infant feeding policy that promotes breastfeeding. This policy is to be based on the Baby-Friendly USA policy or the Department of Public Health's Model Policies. Both policies encourage breastfeeding in hospital settings. The policy must be routinely communicated to staff working on a perinatal unit.

National Legislation

Breastfeeding Promotion Act-(Merkley and Maloney)

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act would help moms and babies by:

•Protecting Breastfeeding Under Civil Rights Law.  This will ensure that women cannot be fired or discriminated against in the workplace for expressing milk or breastfeeding during lunch or breaks

•Expanding the Breastfeeding Provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act to Cover Salaried Office Workers:  Thanks to Merkley and Maloney's efforts, the Affordable Care Act amended Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act to provide mothers who are classified as non-exempt employees with reasonable break times to express milk in a private, non-bathroom environment while at work.  The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011 would expand this provision to cover salaried employees who work in traditional office environments.  The expansion would cover an additional approximate 13.5 million executive, administrative, and professional women in the workplace.