LB856 updates eligibility for the federal Child Care Subsidy, raising the income limit to 185% of the federal poverty level until 2026, then lowering it to 130%. It provides transitional aid for families exceeding the limit, requires childcare providers to accommodate working parents, and adjusts payments based on income.
The Nebraska State Senate passed LB856 on April 11, 2024 by a vote of 38 to 7. We have assigned pluses to the nays because it is neither the government’s nor the taxpayers’ responsibility to fund childcare for others. States should reject federal funding for socialist programs that benefit only certain segments of society. Childcare costs should be controlled by the free market, not influenced by government interference.