Welcome to Legislative Trends, your go-to source for the latest updates on state policy action affecting infants, toddlers, and their families during legislative sessions. Each week, our team of policy analysts tracks key legislative movements, from state budget proposals impacting Medicaid and SNAP to bills advancing paid family leave, child care, and other critical prenatal-to-3 policies. Below is a sampling of legislation we’re tracking from across the country, all grounded in the evidence-based policies highlighted in our Prenatal-to-3 Policy Roadmap. Stay informed and ahead of the curve with our timely analysis of the trends shaping early childhood policy. 

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Child Care: Iowa, Montana, and South Dakota have introduced legislation to make child care workers eligible for child care subsidies.
• Doulas: Several states are advancing bills to require Medicaid coverage of doula services. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Child Care

• Iowa S.B. 1135 would provide child care subsidies for child care providers who accept subsidies. 
• Montana H.B. 456 would make child care workers eligible for child care subsidies regardless of income. H.B. 457 would increase the initial income eligibility limit for child care subsidies from 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL)—which is approximately 60% of the state median income (SMI)—up to 85% of the SMI.  
• New York A. 5413 would make any family that qualifies for Medicaid and SNAP categorically eligible for subsidies and would establish a cost-sharing model between employers, employees, and the state. 
• North Carolina S. 98 would appropriate $1.5 million in recurring funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. 
• Rhode Island S.B. 240 would increase child care subsidy eligibility up to 85% of the SMI, set continuing eligibility at 100% of the SMI, and make child support compliance voluntary for subsidy receipt.  
• South Dakota H.B. 1132, which would make child care workers eligible for subsidies, passed the House with an amendment to limit income eligibility to 300% of the FPL.  

Doulas

• Arkansas S.B. 213/H.B. 1427 also known as the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, passed the House and the Senate. The bill makes multiple changes to improve maternal health including requiring Medicaid coverage for doula and community health worker home visitations for prenatal and postpartum care.
• Kentucky H.B. 553 would require Medicaid coverage for doula services and would establish a Doula Advisory Council to oversee doula training and credentialing.  
• Utah S.B. 284 would require Medicaid reimbursement for doula services.  
• West Virginia S.B. 292 would require that the Public Employees Insurance Agency and Medicaid cover doula services and would permit the Commissioner of Health to issue a statewide standing recommendation regarding the benefit of doula services.  

Early Intervention

• Florida H.B. 591/S.B.112 would expand services and support for children with developmental disabilities, especially children with autism spectrum disorder.  

Home Visiting

• Idaho S.B. 1108 would hold steady the state's investment of $1 million in general funds for evidence-based home visiting programs.  
• Oregon S.B. 240 would appropriate $3 million in general funds to expand and sustain home visiting services provided by Healthy Families Oregon.  

Medicaid

• Idaho H.B. 138 which would require stipulations on continued Medicaid expansion such as lifetime limits, enrollment caps, and suspensions of automatic renewals, passed out of the House and is headed to the Senate. 
• Missouri S.J.R. 43, a constitutional amendment proposal to add work requirements for Medicaid recipients ages 18 to 49, was heard in committee. 
• Wisconsin A.B. 50 and S.B. 45 would include provisions to expand Medicaid per the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months.  

 Paid Family and Medical Leave

• Montana S.B. 325 would create a PFML program providing up to 12 weeks of leave and was heard in committee last week. 
• Virginia H.B. 2531 would create a PFML program providing up to 12 weeks of leave. The bill was officially sent to Governor Glenn Youngkin last week.

State Minimum Wage

• Kansas H.B. 2151 would increase the state minimum wage (SMW) to $15.00. S.B. 218 would also increase the SMW to $15.00 and would annually adjust the wage for inflation.  
• Michigan S.B 8 which changes the current increases scheduled such that the SMW would gradually increase to $15.00 by January 2027 with annual adjustments for inflation thereafter, was signed by Governor Whitmer.  
• Virginia H.B. 1928 would gradually increase the SMW until it reached $15.00 by 2027 and annually adjust the wage for inflation thereafter.  

Tax Credits

• Georgia S.B. 89 would create a nonrefundable state child tax credit (CTC) worth $250 per child under age 7 effective tax year (TY) 2025 and increase the generosity of the state's nonrefundable child and dependent care tax credit (CDCTC) from 30% to 40% of the federal credit.  
• Indiana S.B. 497 would create a refundable newborn tax credit of up to $500 per newborn child. This bill passed the Senate and is headed to the House. 
• Montana S.B. 232 would increase the generosity of the state's refundable earned income tax credit (EITC) from 10% to 15% of the federal credit and lower the state income tax rate.  
• Oregon S.B. 694 would increase the state's refundable CTC to $1,200 (from $1,000) effective tax year 2026.

Thank you for staying up to date with this week’s legislative updates. Our team is dedicated to monitoring the policies and trends that impact the prenatal-to-3 space and beyond. For deeper insights into the evidence-based policies driving early childhood progress, explore our Prenatal-to-3 Policy Roadmap. If you have any questions or have an important update from your state, please contact Alyssa Rafa, Assistant Policy Director, at alyssa.rafa@vanderbilt.edu. Let’s work together to drive lasting progress for young children and their families.

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Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center