Connecticut, Florida, Utah, and Virginia aim to expand Doula programs, while Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah work to establish Child Tax Credits. Plus, key updates on child care, PFML, Medicaid, and minimum wage.
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:Bills to support the child care workforce and to create child care funds are advancing.
Tax Credits: States are considering child tax credits, earned income tax credits, and child and dependent care tax credits as avenues for supporting children and families.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Administrative Burden
Illinois S.B. 32 would make any household that includes a veteran or member of the armed forces categorically eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if their income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
Iowa H.B. 216 (now H.F. 796) would limit which foods families can use SNAP benefits to purchase to "healthy food based on necessary nutrition for good health." The bill, which also appropriates $1 million to Iowa's Double Up Food Bucks nutrition incentive program, was renumbered and referred to the Appropriations committee.
Oklahoma H.B. 1575 would require the state Department of Human Services to create a streamlined eligibility and enrollment system for several programs, including SNAP, child care subsidies, and Medicaid, within one year of the bill’s passage.
Child Care
FloridaS.B. 1780/H.B. 1623 would establish the Early Education Workforce Support Pilot Program for two years to provide free early education services to eligible children of early education workers in two counties.
GeorgiaH.R. 396 proposes an amendment to the state’s constitution to authorize the creation of the Georgia's Children First Trust Fund to provide scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance for child care services.
HawaiiH.B. 549 would establish an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to provide financial support for early learning program providers in the state to participate in apprenticeship programs.
IowaS.F. 434 would create a child care solutions fund, providing a state match of $2 for every $1 of private investment a community obtains to increase the wages of child care workers.
Rhode IslandH.B. 5321 would establish the Office for Early Learning, increase income eligibility for child care subsidies to 200% state median income (SMI) by 2030, and require the convening of an early educator and care provider compensation task force.
South DakotaH.B. 1132 makes child care workers eligible for child care subsidies regardless of their income. The bill passed the House and the Senate and awaits the governor’s signature.
TexasS.B. 1739 and S.J.R. 56 propose a constitutional amendment to create the Child Care Protection and Enhancement Fund to increase subsidized child care rates and capacity.
Doulas
ConnecticutH.B. 7102 would, along with making other changes regarding birth centers, raise reimbursement rates for doulas receiving payment through the HUSKY maternity bundle.
FloridaH.B. 747/S.B. 780 would establish the Doula Support for Healthy Births pilot program in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.
Utah S.B. 284 would require Medicaid reimbursement for doula services and would require the Department of Health to establish training and registration requirements.
VirginiaH.B. 1614/S.B. 1418 would allow doulas to bill Medicaid for 10 doula visits. The state currently allows reimbursement for 8 total visits during the perinatal period. This bill passed both chambers and is awaiting action by the Governor.
Early Intervention
New YorkA.6537/S.5538 would expand EI automatic eligibility to include elevated blood lead levels.
Medicaid
Idaho H.B. 328 would require legislative approval for the state to submit any waiver or state plan amendment for the Medicaid program that either expands eligibility or increases costs to the state.
Kentucky H.B. 695, which would require that the Cabinet for Health and Family Services receive authorization from the legislature before making any changes to Medicaid eligibility, coverage, benefits, or reimbursement rates, passed the House.
South Dakota H.J.R. 5001, which would make continued implementation of Medicaid expansion in the state contingent on the 90% federal matching rate, was approved. This proposed amendment will head to the voters in the next general election.
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Alabama S.B. 199, which would provide paid parental leave for eligible state employees, passed the Senate.
New Mexico H.B. 11, which would provide up to 6 weeks of “family wellness leave” as well as a “welcome child” benefit, passed the House.
Oklahoma S.B. 254 would require the state Department of Labor to conduct an actuarial study for a PFML program.
State Minimum Wage
Georgia S.B. 55, which would phase out and fully eliminate the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities by July 1, 2027, passed the Senate.
Oklahoma H.B. 1833 would create a task force to develop a plan to phase out the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities.
Tax Credits
IowaH.F. 661 would establish a nonrefundable state child and dependent care tax credit (CDCTC) worth 100% of the federal credit.
OhioH.B. 96 includes a provision to establish a refundable state child tax credit (CTC) worth up to $1,000.
PennsylvaniaH.B. 820 would create a refundable state earned income tax credit (EITC) worth 30% of the federal EITC.
Utah H.B. 106, which would expand the state's nonrefundable CTC to include children under the age of 6 (the credit can currently only be claimed for children aged 1-4), passed both chambers.
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.
Did someone forward you this email? You can sign up for the newsletter here.
