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Senators hear push to restore $3.7 million for therapeutic childcare; House passed reduced funding
Summary
House Bill 185 would continue funding for therapeutic-childcare grants that serve children birth to 5 with developmental delays or trauma; the House passed a $1.5 million annual mandate for FY2027'FY2029, while providers seek restoration of a $3.7 million level passed by the Senate cross-file.
House Bill 185 would fund the Therapeutic Childcare Grant Program that supports therapeutic childcare for at-risk children from birth to age 5, Delegate Bernice Merricku North told the committee.
The sponsor described the program’s client base — children with developmental delays and trauma — and said the House passed an amended funding posture that mandates $1.5 million annually from fiscal 2027 to 2029. She said the Senate cross-file passed with a higher authorization of $3.7 million and described provider and family requests to restore the larger amount. The sponsor said the fiscal note accompanying the House version now reflects no assumed effect on general fund expenditures for the current fiscal plan because the $1.5 million aligns with funding already included in the FY2026 introduced budget.
The sponsor and committee members emphasized the program’s earlier unanimous bipartisan support in both bodies and urged continued investment even as the legislature addresses fiscal challenges this session. Supporters invited senators to visit programs to see impacts firsthand.
Provenance: Testimony for House Bill 185 begins around s=3951.885 and concludes around s=4152.455 in the hearing transcript.
Ending: Sponsor sought a favorable report and urged negotiation between the chambers over final funding levels; the committee recorded discussion but no formal committee vote in the hearing transcript.
