This Week in Legislative Trends: February 3, 2025

Welcome to Legislative Trends, a new weekly update tracking the latest 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

Paid Family and Medical Leave: Hawaii, New Mexico, and Virginia are advancing bills to establish statewide paid family and medical leave programs.
Child Care: States are exploring new and dedicated sources of funding for child care.
Tax Credits: Child tax credits and state earned income tax credits have been proposed in several states so far this session.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Administrative Burden

Hawaii H.B. 696 and S.B. 1055 would extend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) certification periods for all households to at least 12 months and require commission reports on resulting changes to administrative costs and participation rates.
Indiana S.B. 529 and S.B. 536 would remove the asset tests for families receiving SNAP through categorical eligibility.

Child Care

Illinois H.B. 1109 would make child care workers eligible for subsidies if their income is under 325% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
Massachusetts S.D. 948 would establish the Educational Opportunity for All Trust Fund to fund child care subsidies.
Nebraska L.B. 442 would establish a 0.52% payroll contribution (0.13% covered by employees and the rest by employers) to cover the cost of a child care subsidy program for families between 130% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and 400%.
Oregon S.B. 467 would establish a refundable income tax credit of up to $2,000 for child care workers.
South Dakota H.B. 1132 would make child care workers eligible for subsidies regardless of their income.
Utah S.B. 189 would establish the Employer-Based, State-Assisted Child Care Capacity Expansion Program, which would involve retrofitting state-owned buildings to serve as child care facilities. Employers would lease the spaces and contract with a child care provider to operate these facilities.
Virginia H.B. 2747 would establish a 20% tax on electronic gaming revenue, allocating 25% of the collected funds to child care subsidies and the state preschool program.
Washington H.B. 1593 would create the Children’s Social Equity Land Trust under the state Department of Natural Resources. Revenue generated from state-managed forests would fund grants to help child care providers start programs in child care deserts.

Doulas

Arkansas H.B. 1252 directs the Department of Health to oversee community-based doula certification and registry and requires the Department of Human Services to enact rules to reimburse doula services through Medicaid.
Iowa S.F. 132 directs the Department of Health and Human Services to enact rules to reimburse doula services through Medicaid.
North Dakota H.B. 1464 would allow for Medicaid reimbursement of postpartum doula services.

Home Visiting

Iowa S.F. 131 would require the Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to identify and leverage federal funding sources to expand evidence-based home visiting programs. The bill also authorizes the Department to seek a waiver to have Medicaid cover evidence-based home visiting services.

Medicaid

Georgia H.B. 97 and S.B. 50 would expand Medicaid eligibility up to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL) by providing premium assistance. Both bills make expansion contingent on the continued 90% federal match.
Montana H.B. 185 would require three years of continuous coverage for children under age six, starting at birth or time of enrollment/re-enrollment.
Rhode Island H.B. 5205 would establish continuous Medicaid coverage for children from birth to age three.
South Carolina Gov. McMaster requested the state work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on a proposal that would expand Medicaid eligibility for adults up to 100% of the FPL while establishing work requirements for recipients.
Texas H.B. 2019 would expand eligibility to those under age 26 for whom federal matching dollars are available, which would mean those with incomes below 138% of the FPL.

Paid Family and Medical Leave

Hawaii lawmakers have introduced multiple bills to create a paid family and medical leave (PFML) program. H.B. 755, which would create a PFML program providing up to 12 weeks of family leave and up to 26 weeks of medical leave, is scheduled to be heard in committee.
Indiana S.B. 115, which would create a PFML program providing up to 12 weeks of leave, was introduced with bipartisan support.
New Mexico H.B. 11, which would create a PFML program providing up to 12 weeks of family leave and up to 9 weeks of medical leave (up to 12 cumulative weeks of leave), was passed favorably out of the first House committee.
Virginia S.B. 1122, which would create a PFML program providing up to 12 weeks of leave, was voted favorably out of the Senate.

State Minimum Wage

Mississippi H.B. 898 would increase the state minimum wage (SMW) to $10.00, effective July 1, 2025.
New Hampshire H.B. 726 would gradually increase the SMW until it reaches $15.00 by 2028.
Virginia H.B. 1928 would gradually increase the SMW until it reaches $15.00 by 2027, with cost-of-living adjustments beginning thereafter.

Tax Credits

Arizona H.B. 2685 would establish a refundable state earned income tax credit (EITC) of $350 per household, regardless of size, effective tax year 2025.
Arkansas H.B. 1015 would establish a refundable child tax credit (CTC) equal to $300 per qualifying child under 18 years old, effective tax year 2025.
Nebraska L.B. 710 would increase the generosity of the state EITC from 10% to 20% of the federal credit. L.B. 157 would create a refundable CTC equal to $1,000 per qualifying child 6 years old or younger, effective tax year 2026.
Missouri H.B. 813 would create a refundable CTC equal to $7,200 per qualifying child under 7 years old and $3,600 per qualifying child 7 to 17 years old, 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