February 2024 Email Update |
GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUES DELIBERATIONS OVER LEGISLATION, STATE BUDGET |
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With the 2024 General Assembly session set to adjourn on Saturday, Mar. 9, the House of Delegates and State Senate remain hard at work deliberating over remaining bills and the 2025-2026 state budget. Over the month of February, the General Assembly reached a number of important milestones in the legislative and budget development process. |
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Tuesday, Feb. 13 marked "crossover" or the date by which the Senate had to finish its work on Senate bills and the House had to act on House bills. The bills that were passed in their "chamber of origin" then moved to the opposite chamber for consideration.
The following Sunday, Feb. 18, the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees released their Committee-approved amendments to the proposed state budget. On Thursday, Feb. 22, following deliberations on the full House and Senate floors, the House passed their budget proposal (75-Y 24-N), and the Senate passed their proposal (38-Y 2-N).
Now that both chambers have voted to pass their proposals, a budget conference committee with representatives from both the House and Senate will work to resolve differences between the two versions. Members of the budget conference committee - known as "budget conferees" - will likely begin negotiations over the state budget beginning this weekend and into next week. As these deliberations continue, the Partnership has been hard at work tracking and speaking out on legislative and budget items that will impact Virginia’s children, families, and workforce. Find updates on the House and Senate budget proposals as well as priority legislation below! |
Find below an overview of important provisions related to child care in the House and Senate budget proposals released earlier this month: House Budget: -
Provides an additional $73.7 million of child care funding for FY25 and FY26 to the introduced budget, including:
- $15.7 million per year to maintain current Child Care Subsidy co-pay rates
- $5.9 million (FY25) and $12.9 (FY26) to fund additional Child Care Subsidy slots
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$7.8 million per year to maintain the Local Composite Index (LCI) Cap for the Virginia Preschool Initiative
- $2 million per year to pilot a new Employee Child Care Assistance Program to be established under
HB 1216 if signed into law. The pilot program would provide matching funds to participating Virginia employers in order to incentivize employers to contribute to the child care costs of their employees.
- Removes $1 million from Governor Youngkin's proposed "digital wallet"
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This platform would facilitate child care cost-sharing.
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Removes $15 million from the initial $25 million for Governor Youngkin's proposed Early Learning Capital Incentives Fund
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This is a competitive grant fund to increase supply of quality ECCE in child care deserts.
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Adds $10 million to the RecognizeB5 early childhood educator incentive program in FY25 for a total of $20 million, but eliminates funding in FY26
Senate Budget: - Removes $17.2 million from the Child Care Subsidy program in FY26
- Funding is provided in each year to maintain child care slots based on the number of children served in FY24
- Copayments charged to families shall not exceed more than 7% of a family’s income
- Provides $42.9 million (FY25) and $43.7 million (FY26) to maintain the Local Composite Index (LCI) Cap and restore expansion of the Virginia Preschool Initiative
- Removes $1 million from Governor Youngkin's proposed "digital wallet"
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This platform would facilitate child care cost-sharing.
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Removes $25 million for Governor Youngkin's proposed Early Learning Capital Incentives Fund
- This is a competitive grant fund to increase supply of quality ECCE in child care deserts.
- Maintains $10 million per year for the RecognizeB5 early childhood educator incentive program
Once budget conferees complete their negotiations, a single compromise budget will be sent back to each chamber for approval. If approved by the House and Senate, the compromise bill will then be sent to the Governor for his signature. More about the budget process HERE!
As negotiations over a compromise budget begin, VPP sent a letter to budget conferees this morning outlining our priorities for a final package. Read our letter to conferees through the button below. |
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Monday, Feb. 26: Del. Amy Laufer's (D-Charlottesville) HB 1277, which incorporates Del. Carrie Coyner's (R-Chesterfield) HB 475, passed the Senate (40-Y 0-N). This bill would improve and streamline the background check process to address child care staffing shortages while upholding the safety of Virginia’s children. The bill now goes to Governor Youngkin's desk for his signature. (MORE HERE)
- Thursday, Feb. 29:
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Sen. Mamie Locke's (D-Hampton) Senate Bill (SB) 54 passed the House with a substitute (90-Y 9-N). The substitute replaces the content of the bill to match its "companion bill," Del. David Bulova's (D-Fairfax) House Bill (HB) 419. This legislation would help to ensure and maximize sustainable, stable funding for Virginia's child care system that is responsive to parent choice. (MORE HERE)
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Del. David Bulova's (D-Fairfax) House Bill (HB) 419 was reported out of the Senate Education and Health Committee with a substitute (15-Y 0-N). The substitute replaces the content of the bill to match its "companion bill," Sen. Mamie Locke's (D-Hampton) Senate Bill (SB) 54. The bill was rereferred and will now be considered by the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. (MORE HERE)
Because differences remain between SB 54 and HB 419, if and when HB 419 passes out of the Senate, a small conference committee will be created to negotiate a compromise and a single bill will be sent back to both chambers for a final vote.
We are continuing to closely monitor these bills as they make their way towards a resolution.
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VPP ADVOCATES & MEMBERS JOIN REP. MCCLELLAN FOR CHILD CARE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION |
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On Feb. 9, Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) welcomed Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) for a roundtable discussion at YWCA Richmond with local elected officials, child care providers, and advocacy groups to discuss America’s child care crisis and policy solutions to ensure quality, affordable child care for families. Several VPP advocates joined for the discussion, including Blessings From Above Child Development Center owner and VPP Provider Advisory Vice Chair Cheryl Morman and YWCA Richmond CEO and VPP Provider Advisory member Rupa Murthy. |
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Additionally, representatives from a number of VPP member organizations participated, including River’s Bend Children’s Center owner and Virginia Child Care Association President Clark Anders, Voices for Virginia's Children CEO Rachael Deane and Senior Director of Policy and Programs Allison Gilbreath, and Save the Children Action Network State Manager Matt Hatfield.
Participants discussed the importance of quality early childhood care and education, the impact of expiring federal child care funds, and widespread staffing shortages in the early education sector. Learn more about the event from WWBT 12 here. |
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Del. David Bulova (D-Fairfax), Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield), Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), and Sen. Todd Pillion (R-Abingdon) published a joint op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Thursday, Feb. 15 entitled, "For a stronger economy, and a better Virginia, invest in early education." Read the full op-ed HERE.
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