Child Care Bills We’re Watching

We’ve made it to the a halfway point of the 2023 Montana Legislative Session. Here are some of the the early childhood bills that we’ve been keeping up with so far. You can keep up too, with Zero to Five’s Legislative Session Tracker. Want to learn more about how to engage during the legislative session? Visit our Public Policy Page for resources and tools to connect with your legislators.  Check out the bills we’re watching below:

Child Care Laws

• HB422- Revise child to staff child care ratios (Rep. Terry Falk)- This bill aims to increase child to staff ratios and maximum group sizes in a child care centers. This bill passed in the House and will be heard in the Senate next.
• SB450-Personal Freedom/Right of Conscience Act related to immunizations and drugs (Sen. Daniel Emrich)- This bill would require child care providers to accept religious or conscience exemptions provided for an immunization or medication. This bill was passed in the senate and will be heard in the House next. 
• HB556- Revise definitions related to day-care facilities and family day-care homes (Rep. Jennifer Carlson)- This bill would eliminate the requirement to be licensed for individuals caring for 6 or fewer children in a private residence to be licensed/ registered with the State of MT (unless they want to care for children on the Best Beginnings Scholarship.  Child Care Licensing provides safety protections for children and upholds the quality care, ensuring:
  • • • All adults associated with child care have FBI background checks
      • Caregivers are certified in CPR & First Aid
      • A limited number of infants receive care at one time
      • Businesses have insurance coverage This bill passed the house and will be heard in the senate next.

Child Care Assistance

• HB467- Provide for Child Care Assistance (Rep Jane Gillette)- Bill Withdrawn
• HB238- Provide for the best beginnings scholarship program (Rep. SJ Howell)- Tabled in Committee
• HB648- Provide for the Best Beginnings Scholarship Program (Rep. Alice Buckley)- This bill would increase income eligibility for the Best Beginnings Scholarship to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Eligible families with an income less than 100%  would be responsible for a copay of $10, and families above 100% of the federal poverty level would pay a copayment based on a sliding fee scale not to exceed 7% of their income. HB648 has been referred to the (H) Human Services Committee and will be scheduled for a committee hearing next. 

HOA Bills

•  HB187- Establish that child care is a residential use of property (Rep. Alice Buckley)- This bill clarifies that child care is a residential use and purpose of property.  This bill passed in the House and had a hearing in the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee on (02/23)
• SB376- Revise Covenant Laws (Sen. Kenneth Bogner)- This eliminate residential covenants (such as HOA covenants) ability to prohibit child care programs from operating. This bill passed in the Senate and will be heard in the House of Representatives next.

Tax Credits

• HB268 Establish a child tax credit through the individual income tax (Rep. Jacob Kassmier)- Tabled in Committee
• HB249-Create a child tax credit for the individual income tax (Rep. Ed Stafman)- Tabled in Committee