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: States continue to pursue bills to increase funding and supports for child care. 
• Early Intervention: Florida and Illinois are advancing bills to expand access to EI services. 
• Tax Credits: Montana enacted legislation to increase the generosity of the state earned income tax credit. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Administrative Burden

• Alaska S.B. 186 would prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase soft drinks.  
• Hawaii S.B. 960 would appropriate additional funds to strengthen access to SNAP, including by implementing pay increases for staff working on the SNAP program, creating additional positions, and other program incentives that may improve SNAP participation rates. The bill passed both chambers. 

Child Care

• Montana H.B. 924 would establish the Montana Growth and Opportunity Trust, allocating a portion of funds to a new Montana early childhood state special revenue account. The bill passed both chambers. 
• Montana H.B. 456 would make child care workers eligible for child care subsidies if their income is less than twice the state’s median income (SMI). The bill passed both chambers. 
• North Dakota S.B. 2282 would create a child care contribution tax credit for employers effective tax year 2025. The bill has been sent to the Governor. 
• Oklahoma H.B. 1849 would make child care workers eligible for child care subsidies regardless of income and waive copayments for child care workers who qualify for the subsidy program based on income. 

Doulas

• Alabama H.J.R. 275 would formally recognize the improved birth outcomes and financial benefits of doula care.  
• Montana S.B. 319 would create a licensing process for doulas and allow for Medicaid coverage of certified doula services. The bill passed both chambers. 

Early Intervention

• Florida S.B.112 would expand services and support for children with developmental disabilities, especially children with autism spectrum disorder. The bill would also create the Early Steps Extended Option to allow children to continue with the Early Steps Program until 4 years of age. The bill passed both chambers. 
• Illinois H.B. 3327 would expand EI eligibility to infants with birth weights under 1,000 grams and require a public awareness campaign for the new requirements. Additionally, the bill would require the Department of Early Childhood to assume the role of lead agency for EI services. 

Medicaid

• Alaska H.B. 151 would require the state to implement continuous Medicaid eligibility for children from birth to age 6.  
• North Carolina S.B. 403, which would require the state seek and implement work requirements for Medicaid that are approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, passed the Senate.
• Texas S.B. 921 would prohibit the state from using data provided by participants in other public assistance programs as verifiable data to be used in ex parte renewals to automatically redetermine recipients' Medicaid eligibility (except as required by federal law). 

Paid Family and Medical Leave 

• Colorado S.B. 144 would expand the PFML program to provide an additional 12 weeks of paid leave for parents when they have a child in the neonatal intensive care unit. The bill passed both chambers.  
• South Carolina H.B. 3645 would increase paid parental leave for state employees to 12 weeks for parents who give birth and 4 weeks for all other parents.  
• Tennessee S.B. 322/H.B. 915 would expand paid leave for state employees by providing 6 weeks of leave to provide care for a family member with a serious health condition at the end of their life. The bill has been sent to the Governor.  

State Minimum Wage 

• Pennsylvania S.B. 19 would increase the state minimum wage to $15.00.  

Tax Credits

• California A.B. 398 would restructure the state earned income tax credit (EITC) to establish a minimum credit amount of $300 for families claiming the state EITC. 
• Montana H.B. 337 will increase the generosity of the state's refundable EITC from 10% to 20% of the federal credit and adjust income tax brackets and rates effective tax year 2026. The bill was signed by the Governor. 
• Pennsylvania H.B. 820 would create a refundable state EITC worth 30% of the federal EITC.

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