Military families will have more unpaid leave under a measure signed into law by Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire. 

Also, during periods of military conflict, employees are entitled to up to 15 days of unpaid leave before their spouse is deployed or while their spouse is on leave from deployment.

The measure increases from 15 to 21 the number of days each year a state or local officer or employee who is a member of the Washington National Guard or Reserves is entitled to a military leave of absence from employment.  

Gregoire also signed into law a measure to issue a special license plate to the parents of military who have died while in service.