directing the department of health and human services to seek clarification from the Administration for Children and Families regarding the use of TANF reserve funds and repealing the requirement that the department of health and human services' biennial budget request include funding for certain child care workforce programs.
What changed between versions
The contingent $15 million General Fund appropriation for FY2027 (triggered if federal TANF funds were denied by July 1, 2026) was completely removed. The bill now has no fiscal impact.
Instead of appropriating funds, the bill now directs DHHS to seek clarification from the federal Administration for Children and Families on specific allowable uses of TANF reserve funds, including conditions for transferring them to other funds like the Child Care and Development Fund, and specifically on using them for child care employee recruitment and retention.
New requirement that within one month of receiving ACF's response, DHHS must submit that response to the joint fiscal committee and the house and senate finance committees.
The deadline for DHHS to seek federal approval changed from August 1, 2025 to August 1, 2026, giving the department a full additional year.
If ACF determines TANF reserve funds cannot be used for these purposes, DHHS must seek a waiver within one month of that determination (previously the waiver language was tied to the initial request).
New repeal of 2025, 141:431, VI, which had required DHHS to include the amount necessary to fully fund certain child care workforce programs in its biennial budget request. This removes a standing budget obligation.
