Georgia enacts new child and employer child care tax credits. States expand Medicaid coverage for doulas. Key updates on SNAP, child care access, early intervention, PFML, and state minimum wage changes.
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.
Note:In observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, the next Legislative Trends will be delivered on Tuesday, May 27.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Tax Credits:Georgia enacted a child tax credit alongside an employer child care tax credit.
Doulas:States continue to act to expand access to doula services through Medicaid.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Administrative Burden
OklahomaH.B. 1575 would establish a unified and streamlined eligibility and enrollment system in the Department of Human Services that would include SNAP and other programs. The bill passed both chambers.
Child Care
Georgia H.B. 136 was enacted to create a nonrefundable tax credit for employers who contribute at least $1,000 to an employee’s child care expenses.
IowaS.F. 657 would repeal the employer-sponsored child care tax credit in 2026. The bill passed the Senate.
TexasS.B. 462 would establish priority for child care workers on waitlists to receive a child care subsidy. The bill passed both chambers.
Doulas
LouisianaH.B. 454 would require Medicaid to cover doula services effective January 1, 2026. Covered benefits would include at least five prenatal and three postpartum visits and attendance at labor and delivery.
MissouriS.B. 94 would codify the existing doula Medicaid benefit and include separate coverage for childbirth education classes.
Early Intervention
ConnecticutS.B. 6 would provide various supports for children birth to age five including advertising screenings for EI services in an existing one-pager provided by the Office of Early Childhood to parents concerned that their child has not met developmental milestones. The bill passed the Senate.
Paid Family and Medical Leave
IowaH.F. 889, which would provide paid parental leave for eligible state employees, passed both chambers. Parents who give birth would receive up to 4 weeks of leave and parents who did not give birth would receive up to 1 week.
State Minimum Wage
MissouriH.B. 567 would repeal annual cost-of-living adjustments to the state minimum wage. The bill passed both chambers.
Tax Credits
Georgia H.B. 136 was enacted to create a nonrefundable child tax credit (CTC) equal to $250 per child under the age of 6. The bill also provides a tax incentive for employers who directly pay for a portion of their employee's child care costs.
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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