They met with children, observed classrooms, and held a roundtable on child care costs and the Gov’s budget proposals with parents & staff.

Gov. Tim Walz has proposed billions to expand a child care tax credit, increase subsidy rates for low-income families and provide monthly payments for child care teachers. How much will pass the Legislature? Read more.

The workforce shortage exists everywhere in the state, but it is especially acute in Greater Minnesota. One way to reduce that shortage is to have affordable child care available to parents so they can return to the workforce, says Rep. Jeff Brand (DFL-St. Peter).

But he said the low population density in Greater Minnesota makes it very difficult for child care centers to be economically viable, resulting in a shortage of 42,000 child care slots in rural areas. Read more.

State leaders are redoubling their efforts to prop up struggling daycares and help families pay for child care.

Governors and lawmakers in both red and blue states this year have proposed increasing child care subsidies for low-income families, raising reimbursement rates for providers that serve subsidized children, expanding publicly funded kindergarten and preschool, and creating new child care-related tax breaks. Read more.

ST PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota House Monday passed two bills designed to bolster childcare providers, including one that would increase payments to in the Child Care Assistance Program for lower-income families.

Childcare advocates, teachers, parents and others chanted and cheered as lawmakers made their way into the chamber for the afternoon session. Read more.

The Minnesota House is reviewing two bills that would shore up finances for daycare providers and increase the number of families that can qualify for assistance. Learn more.

(ABC 6 News) – The Minnesota House passed two bills to improve access to affordable child care and early learning. HF 13 increases the maximum rates for all Child Care Assistance Program-eligible children.

HF 150 delivers a $52.5 million emergency investment in child care stabilization grants and early learning scholarships. Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester) voted for the legislation. Read more.

(St. Paul, MN) -- Two bills are seeking approval from the Minnesota Senate following their passage in the state House.

Minnesota House members passed HF 13 (69-59) and HF 150 (70-60). The bills are aiming to increasing the rates of pay for childcare providers, invest tens of millions in child care stabilization grants, and and expand early learning scholarships. Read more.

The Great Start for All Minnesota Children Task Force was proposed by early care and education advocates and legislators, and signed into law in 2021 by Governor Walz. The legislation establishing the Task Force had bipartisan support. The purpose of the Task Force was to develop a state plan to accomplish the goal for “all families to have access to affordable, high-quality early care and education that enriches, nurtures, and supports children and their families” (Minnesota 2021 Session Law, First Special Session, Chapter 7, Article 14, Section 18, Subd. 2). The Task Force was comprised of 11 voting members appointed by the Governor, 4 voting members appointed by legislative leadership, and 22 non-voting members appointed by varying individuals. Read more.

Access to affordable childcare – or lack thereof – has lately become a hot topic throughout Faribault County, and throughout the state of Minnesota.

Acutely aware of the issue, many area Economic Development Authority (EDA) boards have been taking measures to support current childcare providers and incentivize new providers to enter the business.

Most recently, the issue caught the attention of the Faribault County EDA. Following in the footsteps of several city EDAs, the county EDA is now offering a program geared toward making providers’ jobs a little bit easier.

“Throughout the county, and in all of our communities, childcare has been a big topic,” Faribault County EDA specialist Jennifer Howard observes. Read more.