Bill would prioritize childcare workers’ children for state subsidies, sponsors say it’s a targeted incentive

Senate Bill 462, as presented in committee with a committee substitute, would add children of childcare workers to the state priority list for Child Care Services scholarships, placing them in the second priority group after federally required priorities (TANF/SNAP recipients and similar categories). Eligibility would require childcare workers to work a minimum of 25 hours per week and to remain employed in the field at each annual redetermination in order to keep priority status; the substitute clarifies that finding a worker ineligible during redetermination would remove priority status but would not automatically terminate services.

Author Senator Kolkhorst said the change is a narrowly targeted way to incentivize people to work in child care by ensuring their own children have access to subsidies. Providers who testified, including Latoya Mayberry (owner, Toya's Precious Jewels Academy, Midland) and other center operators, described concrete staffing risks when employees lose childcare coverage: maternity leaves and NICU stays that delayed coverage, long wait lists, and examples where centers absorbed childcare for employees at no charge to avoid losing staff.

Reagan Miller of the Texas Workforce Commission served as a resource witness; committee members asked questions about the mechanics of redetermination and eligibility. The chair closed public testimony and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair.

Ending: Sponsors and provider witnesses framed SB 462 as a low‑cost, administratively simple incentive to stabilize child‑care staffing; the committee left the substitute pending for further consideration.