Pregnant women in Indiana can request lighter duty while at work when they are pregnant, but businesses in the state are not going to be required to offer it.

House Enrolled Act 1309 requires employers to respond in writing in a timely fashion to pregnancy-accommodation requests, but it does not require them to grant those requests. It also prevents employers from retaliating against women along with requiring them to provide the same accommodations for pregnant people as they do to those who are injured, under certain circumstances.

After Holcomb signed the bill this week, he issued the following statement:

While I have pushed for different language to become law in each of the last two sessions, I agree with members from both sides of the aisle that voted in favor of the bill as a step forward in assisting pregnant women in the workforce. I’ll always be looking for ways to continue making progress on this and every other front when it comes to removing barriers in the workplace.

Those in favor of the bill say it is a good compromise between both the interest of workers and businesses. Those not in favor of it believe the legislation does not go far enough to help pregnant women.

The law goes into effect July 1.