Public Employees Have Right to Express Breast Milk in the Workplace in Texas

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Effective on September 1, 2015,  HB 786 creates the right for Texas public employees to express breast milk in the workplace and prohibits public employers from discriminating against employees because they assert their right to express breast milk.

Studies have shown short- and long-term health benefits of breastfeeding for both the child and mother, such as reduced obesity.  Unfortunately,  working mothers, especially Latina mothers, face many barriers to breastfeeding, thus do not continue for as long they intend.  Texas is 38.6% Latino.

Public employers in Texas are required to provide time and a place for employees to express breast milk.  The location must be private and cannot be a bathroom.  According to the HB 786 summary analysis:

“For many, the bathroom is the only available space at their workplace for this purpose. Bathrooms often lack the necessary electrical outlets for breast pumps or may not be sufficiently sanitary. These conditions and the difficulties associated with taking a break to express breast milk force many employees to choose between their jobs and continuing to breastfeed their children. This is not fair to the employee or child.”

Public employers include county, municipality, or another political subdivision of Texas, including a school district, or a board, commission, office, department, or another agency in the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of state government, including an institution of higher education.

In order to prevent Latino childhood obesity, ALL employers should support their employees after giving birth by providing them time and a place to express breast milk at the workplace.

Learn more about this bill here.

Read a summary analysis of the bill here.