Compare Bills

Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget2025-03-26

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill appropriates $30 million per year for a two-year pilot program (2025-2027) that provides child care expansion assistance grants to help licensed child care programs offer free or reduced child care to their full-time employees earning up to 85% of state median income. The state would cover 75% of tuition costs for up to two children per eligible employee, with the child care program covering the remaining 25%.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill addresses critical child care shortages and affordability barriers that prevent parents from working.
• •By helping child care workers afford care for their own children, the program can reduce staff turnover, stabilize the child care workforce, and expand capacity to serve more young children.
• •The pilot prioritizes counties with the greatest need and requires progress reporting to evaluate effectiveness.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may question whether $30 million is sufficient to create meaningful change across the state, whether the program should be permanent rather than temporary, and whether subsidizing child care for higher-income employees (up to 85% of median income) is the best use of public funds.
• •Some may also be concerned about administrative complexity, the requirement for child care programs to cover 25% of costs, and whether this approach effectively addresses broader affordability issues for all working families.