MontanaChild-care workers could receive Best Beginnings scholarships
If enacted, child-care workers at licensed centers or registered homes could receive scholarships for their children, backed by proposed state funding.
What it does
Eligible workers at licensed child-care centers or registered homes could receive Best Beginnings scholarships for their children without meeting the program’s family-income limits.
The proposal would have set aside $5.5 million each year for two years to pay Best Beginnings scholarships for eligible child-care workers.
Argument forScholarships could help child-care workers pay for care while they work, which might make it easier for them to remain in the field.
Argument againstThe program could face more demand than its two-year funding supports, potentially leaving some eligible workers without scholarships.
More detail
The department would allow eligible child-care workers to receive Best Beginnings scholarships. Workers must be employed by a licensed day-care center or a registered family or group day-care home, and their child must receive care from an authorized provider or facility. Workers must take part in activities set by the department under federal rules for at least the required minimum number of hours. The family-income rules for low-income applicants would not apply to otherwise eligible child-care workers. The proposed eligibility rule would apply beginning July 1, 2025, if the act took effect.
The state would set aside $5.5 million from the general fund for the department to provide these scholarships. The money would support Best Beginnings scholarships for eligible child-care workers. The funding would be available only for the stated scholarship purposes. Because the measure was vetoed, the proposed funding would not take effect under this bill. The appropriation would cover each year of the two-year budget period beginning July 1, 2025.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 19(H) Vetoed by Governor Greg GianforteLatest
- Jun 9(S) Signed by PresidentPassed Senate
- Jun 2(H) Signed by SpeakerPassed House
- Apr 29(H) Returned from Enrolling
- Apr 25(H) Sent to Enrolling
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 25(S) 3rd Reading
- Apr 25(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 24(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 23(S) Take from Committee; Place on 2nd Reading - (S) Public Health, Welfare and SafetyMinor
- Vote recorded Take HB 456 from Comm-Smith. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 17(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Public Health, Welfare and SafetyMinor
- Vote recorded to_table. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15(S) Hearing - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety
- Apr 10(S) Hearing - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety
- Apr 9(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Public Health, Welfare and SafetyMinor
- Apr 9(S) 1st Reading
- Apr 8(H) Transmitted to Senate
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8(H) 3rd Reading
- Apr 8(H) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 7(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Mar 29(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
- Mar 28(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
- Vote recorded do_pass_as_amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25(H) Fiscal Note Printed
- Mar 25(H) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- Mar 24(H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- Mar 24(H) Hearing Canceled - (H) Appropriations
- Mar 24(H) Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Mar 21(H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 21(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 21(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Mar 18(H) Fiscal Note Requested
- Feb 24(H) Committee Report - (H) Business and Labor
- Vote recorded do_pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Business and Labor
- Feb 20(H) Hearing - (H) Business and Labor
- Feb 13(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Business and LaborMinor
- Feb 13(H) Hearing Canceled - (H) Human Services
- Feb 12(H) Hearing - (H) Human Services
- Feb 12(H) 1st Reading
- Feb 12(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Human ServicesMinor
- Feb 12(H) Introduced
- Feb 10(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Feb 10(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Feb 7(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Feb 7(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Feb 6(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Feb 4(LC) Draft in Edit
- Feb 3(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- 2024
- Nov 21(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
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