March News Roundup!

Over the past month, Connecticut has actively pursued legislative initiatives to enhance child care accessibility and affordability. Here’s a comprehensive roundup of recent developments:

Senate Bill 1: Increasing Resources for Students, Schools, and Special Education

On March 19, 2025, the Education Committee held a public hearing to discuss Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), titled “An Act Increasing Resources for Students, Schools, and Special Education.” This bill aims to bolster the quality of education for children across the state by allocating additional resources to students, schools, and special education programs. This bill aims to enhance support systems for children by enhancing the tri-share model. The hearing took place at 10:00 A.M. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.   

During the hearing, various stakeholders, including educators, parents, and advocacy groups, provided testimony on the bill’s potential impact. Commissioner Beth Bye of the Office of Early Childhood submitted written testimony supporting SB 1, emphasizing the importance of increased funding for early childhood education and special education services. 

House Bill 5003: Early Childhood Care and Education Fund

House Bill 5003 proposes the utilization of the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund to enhance the state’s early childhood system. The bill aims to expand the child care subsidy program by raising the income eligibility threshold to 85% of the state-wide median income, allowing recipients to continue receiving prorated benefits until their income reaches 100% of the median income. Additionally, it includes a competitive grant program for constructing and renovating child care facilities and provisions to support early childhood educators, such as subsidies for health savings accounts and health insurance premiums.

A public hearing on HB 5003 was held on March 4, 2025, before the Committee on Children, where it received overwhelming support during public testimony.

Senate Bill 1369: Workforce Child Care Support

Senate Bill 1369 seeks to establish the Workforce Child Care Fund to assist working families with child care costs and to cap these costs at 7% of a family’s annual household income. The bill also proposes the creation of the Workforce Child Care Program, administered by the Workforce Child Care Board, to provide financial assistance to early care and education program providers to support operational and workforce needs.

The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Children on February 20, 2025, and a public hearing was held on February 27, 2025. Subsequently, on March 6, 2025, the Committee on Children gave a Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

Public Hearings and Advocacy

On February 27, 2025, legislators and advocates gathered to discuss the urgent need to support the child care workforce. The discussions highlighted the critical role of child care in the state’s economy and the necessity of investing in child care infrastructure and workforce to ensure accessible and affordable services for families.

These legislative efforts underscore Connecticut’s commitment to addressing the challenges of child care affordability and accessibility, aiming to support working families and strengthen the early childhood education system.