Appropriations panel agrees to direct payments for infant and toddler childcare, trims related line items

At a meeting of the Senate Appropriations — Human Resources Division, committee members agreed by consensus to advance an amendment reshaping some of the childcare funding in House Bill 10‑12.

Sponsor Senator Cleary proposed the amendment to target additional support to providers serving children ages 0 through 3, arguing those age groups are the hardest and most expensive to serve. The amendment as described would authorize direct payments to participating providers of up to $300 per month per child for ages 0 through 17 months and $180 per month for children 18 through 36 months, limited to providers participating in the state’s quality‑rating system (two‑ to four‑star programs). Cleary said she reduced the amendment’s requested appropriation from about $15.5 million to roughly $13.535 million after accounting for other bonuses that some providers already receive.

Why it matters: Committee…